Government Publishing Office Logo
Position Title
Lead Printing Specialist
Agency
Government Publishing Office
Announcement Number
25-12671465-ST-CL Opens in new window
Open Period
Thursday, February 27, 2025 to Thursday, March 13, 2025
For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.
Eligibilities
1. Do you claim Veterans’ Preference? (limit characters)
2. Do you meet one of the following Competitive Merit Promotion Eligibilities:
 
• Transfer or Reinstatement Eligibles: Current Federal or former employees with career or career-conditional appointments in the competitive service that hold, or have held a career or career-conditional position at a lower grade level as the position being announced; or,
• Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) eligibles
 
To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation. For example, a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50) or equivalent personnel action form reflecting your competitive status or a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, Member-4 copy of the DD-214 (or equivalent documentation indicating Character of Service) or other proof of your service. This includes any official document or statement from the Armed Forces showing separation, discharge or release from active duty is under honorable conditions (Honorable or General Discharge).  Note:  Only the branch of service in which the individual served can certify active duty service was performed "Under Honorable Conditions".

SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action- If you are a current or former federal employee, you must submit a SF-50 showing the highest grade level held in the position for which you are using to qualify. Your SF-50 must also include the Position Title and Series, Step, Salary, Tenure, Position Occupied, and promotion potential (if applicable) to verify your status and eligibility. An award SF-50 is not acceptable. If you are unable to provide your most recent SF-50, you should submit a written statement explaining why it was not obtainable. This explanation should include your Position Title and Series, Step, Salary, Tenure, Position Occupied, and promotion potential. Failure to submit the required SF50 document or statement of explanation will result in an ineligible rating under merit promotion procedures.

All required documentation will be outlined in the Job Opportunity Announcement.
(limit characters)
3. Were you formerly employed as a federal civilian on a permanent competitive appointment but are not currently a permanent competitive federal employee?
If eligible, submit a copy of your separation Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 or equivalent personnel action form reflecting your permanent, competitive status.

• Your separation Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (or equivalent personnel action form) must reflect career or career-conditional (Tenure 1 or 2) AND
• Your separation Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (or equivalent personnel action form) must reflect your status was in the competitive service (Position Occupied is 1).
(limit characters)
4. Do you have a severe physical, psychiatric or mental disability that qualifies you for a Schedule A Disability appointment?
 
For more information, review USAJOBS Individuals with Disabilities resources.  https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/individuals-with-disabilities/

To verify your eligibility, you must provide appropriate medical documentation, i.e., a letter signed by a licensed medical professional or licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist stating your condition and restrictions.
(limit characters)
5.

You are required to submit acceptable proof of your appointment eligibility by submitting a copy of your most recent SF-50 (block 24 must be a "1" or "2"AND block 34 must be a "1"), Notification of Personnel Action, documenting your current position title, pay plan, series, grade, tenure and position occupied for a competitive service appointment AND you must submit your current Fiscal Year Performance Appraisal (FY2024) showing you have performed at an acceptable level. 

If you are unable to submit your current Fiscal Year (FY2024) Performance Appraisal you must submit a written explanation as to why it was not obtainable. In this explanation you should include your final rating. Failure to submit your current Fiscal Year (FY2024) Performance Appraisal or a written statement explaining why it was not obtainable will disqualify you from further consideration

(limit characters)
6. Are you a veteran whose latest discharge was under honorable conditions and you:

• served three or more years of continuous active duty service in the military (NOTE: if released shortly before completing a 3-year tour, you are considered to meet the eligibility) OR
• are entitled to veterans' preference

If eligible, submit a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (copy indicating character of service) or other proof of your service which includes character of service.

For more information, review USAJOBS Veterans resources. https://www.usajobs.gov/Veterans
(limit characters)
7. Do you meet one of the following Non-Competitive Merit Promotion Eligibilities: 

• Disabled Veteran receiving 30% or more disability compensation from the VA;

• Transfer or reinstatement eligible: current Federal or former employee with career or career-conditional appointment in the competitive service that hold, or have previously held a career or career-conditional position at the same or higher grade level with the same or higher promotion potential as the position being announced; or,

• Individual eligible under other non-competitive appointment authorities such as: Veterans Recruitment Authority; Military spouses under E.O. 13473; Certain former overseas employees; Present and former Peace Corps, VISTA or Action volunteers; Former White House staff; present and former Foreign Service officers and employees; certain National Guard technicians; Schedule A; OPM Interchange Agreement and other miscellaneous authorities. 

To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation. For example, a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (Member 4 Copy) indicating Character of Service or other proof of your service which includes Character of Service; a copy of your Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50); etc. All required documentation will be outlined in the Job Opportunity Announcement. 
(limit characters)
8. Are you a current Excepted Service employee of a Federal Agency that has a valid interchange agreement with the Office of Personnel Management? 

For more information, review Interchange Agreements with Other Merit Systems.  https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/competitive-hiring/#url=InterchangeAgreementsWithOtherMeritSystems

-OR-

Are you a current: 

• Postal Career Service Employee;
• Postal Rate Commission Employee;
• Government Accountability Office (GAO) Employee; or,
• Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts Employee?
 
For more information, review Miscellaneous Authorities Not Regulated By U.S. Office of Personnel Management.  https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/competitive-hiring/#url=MiscellaneousAuthoritiesNotRegulated.  

To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form (SF-50) reflecting your status. 
(limit characters)
9. Are you currently employed as a civilian employee in the competitive service in a federal agency other than the agency hiring for this position?

If eligible, submit a copy of your separation Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 or equivalent personnel action form reflecting your permanent, competitive status.

• Your Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (or equivalent personnel action form) must reflect career or career-conditional (Tenure 1 or 2) and
• Your Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (or equivalent personnel action form) must reflect your status was in the competitive service (Position Occupied is 1).
(limit characters)
10. Are you applying based upon the Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) to Hire Heroes Act of 2011?
 
Many service members begin their civilian job search prior to being released from Active Duty service, and may not have a DD-214 form to submit along with their resume. VOW allows certain Active Duty service members to be treated as preference eligibles in the competitive or excepted service, even though the service member has not been discharged or released from Active Duty. Under the VOW Act, tentative preference will be granted to a active duty service member who meets the following:Submit a certification (in lieu of a DD-214 form) along with their job application materials. (Agencies will verify the individual meets the definition of 'preference eligible' under 5.U.S.C. 2108 prior to appointment).
A "certification" is any written document from the Armed Forces that certifies the service member is expected to be discharged or released from Active Duty service in the Armed Forces within 120 days after the certification is submitted by the applicant.
The certification letter should be on letterhead of the appropriate military branch of service and contain (1) the military service dates including the expected discharge or release date; and (2) the Character of Service.Note:  If the certification has expired; you must provide documentation (e.g., a copy of the DD form 214) that demonstrates the service member is a preference eligible per 5 U.S.C. 2108, in your application package before veterans' preference can be awarded.

To Learn more about VOW, please go to: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/veterans-employment-initiative/vet-guide
(limit characters)
Preferences
Employment of Relatives
Section 3110 of Title 5, U.S. Code, prohibits a Federal official from appointing, promoting, or advocating the appointment or promotion of a relative in the agency where the official is serving or exercises jurisdiction. In addition, Section 2302(b)(7) of Title 5, U.S. Code, makes it a "prohibited personnel practice" for a person in authority to "appoint, employ, promote, advance, or advocate for the appointment, employment, promotion, or advancement of a relative.

Please respond to the following questions below:
(limit characters)
1. Do you have any relatives working for the Agency for which you are applying? (limit characters)
2.
  • If you answered yes to the previous question, please provide the name, relationship, organization employed within, and location if known.
  • If you did not answer yes to the previous questions, please state not applicable (N/A) in the text box.
(limit characters)
3.
If you are a male at least 18 years of age, born after December 31, 1959, have you registered with the Selective Service System (select "Not applicable" if this question does not apply to you)?
(limit characters)
4. If you are a Federal employee, under what type of appointment are you currently serving? (limit characters)
5. If you are, or ever were a Federal civilian employee, indicate the pay plan of the highest graded position you have ever held. (limit characters)
6. If you are, or ever were a Federal civilian employee, indicate the grade level or pay band of the highest graded position you have ever held. (limit characters)
7. Are you a retiree receiving a Federal annuity, either military or civilian?

Note: If you are an annuitant, your salary or annuity may be reduced upon employment.
(limit characters)
8. This position requires that the applicant must submit to a Public Trust Security Background Investigation. Are you willing to submit to a Public Background Investigation? (limit characters)
This position has requirements which must be met prior to employment; and, conditions for continued employment. Your answers to the questions in this section will indicate your understanding of, or possession of, these requirements and conditions. (limit characters)
9. This position requires you to successfully pass pre-employment prior to appointment. Are you willing undergo the pre-employment process prior to appointment? (limit characters)
10. Resume Reminder- Your resume must include the following information for each job listed:
  • Job title Duties (be as detailed as possible)
  • Month & year start/end dates (e.g. June 2007 to April 2008)
  • Full-time or part-time status (include hours worked per week)
  • Series and Grade, if applicable, for all Federal positions you have held
Please be aware that your answers will be verified against information provided on your resume. Be sure that your resume clearly supports your responses to all of the questions by addressing your work experience in detail.

Recommended: Even though we do not require a specific resume format, your resume must be clear so that we are able to fully evaluate your qualifications. To ensure you receive appropriate consideration, please list the duties you performed under each individual job title. If we are unable to match your experiences with the positions held, you may lose consideration for this vacancy. We cannot make assumptions regarding your qualifications.

Have you included all of the above information in your resume
(limit characters)
Assessment 1
Thank you for your interest in the Lead Printing Specialist position located in the Congressional Publishing Services (CPS), Government Publishing Office (GPO).  You will be evaluated on your responses to the assessment questionnaire; then we will compare your responses against your resume and supporting documentation. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this position. Please Note: Your resume MUST clearly identify the dates that support this experience (month/year); as well as the number of hours per week for each position. (limit characters)
1. The Basic Requirements for PG-1654:

The Individual Occupational Requirements (IOR)

Education:

Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major study -- journalism, business administration, English composition, commerce, accounting, printing or printing engineering, graphic or commercial art, industrial engineering, or economics.

For the Lead Printing Specialist PG 1654-13 position, you must possess specialized experience equivalent to the PG-12 grade level or higher in the Federal Service. The specialized experience includes:

Determining specifications for the printing of manuscript, i.e., selection of typography, layout, composition, format, paper stock, and other printer's instructions.
Negotiating or administering contracts for procurement of manuscript and illustrations, printing, binding and allied services, or printing stocks (paper, inks, etc.).
Managing a printing plant that produces printing either for the government or private industry customers.
Performing production control work in a large printing plant.
Serving as a sales representative for a wide variety of printing equipment.
Analyzing the price and cost of preparation and production of printing.
Planning, estimating, and scheduling printing on a full-time basis for a variety of publications.
Performing substantive administrative support or policy functions directly related to publishing and printing program management or operations.
(limit characters)
2. To minimally qualify for the PG-13 you must have one year of specialized experience at the PG-12 (or equivalent) level or higher.

The specialized experience includes:
1.  Respond to customer inquires internally and externally.
2.  Utilize various electronic technology.
3. Manage human resources issues with staff.
(limit characters)
Select the response below that best describes your experience performing the work of an Lead Printing Specialist. Please provide evidence of this skill and ability in your resume. Select only one response. (limit characters)
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided. (limit characters)
3. Provide pre-planning technical assistance and liaison service between Congressional staff and Congreesional Publishing Service (CPS). (limit characters)
4. Oversee and support the coordination, administration, and production requirement of new state-of-the-art electronic technologies and product. (limit characters)
5. Technical authority for the internal processes that are critical to the mission. (limit characters)
6. Ensure timely delivery of products to customer for hight priority meetings. (limit characters)
7. Maintain a list of high priority and urgent items to customer. (limit characters)
8. Improve and reduce the cost of the products. (limit characters)
9. Respond to customer inquires by congressional staff, the agency and or private concerns. (limit characters)
10. Assist in the promotion and development of congressional capitabiities for the electronic transmission of data. (limit characters)
11. Prepare various Congressional products available on line, e-pubs and social media. (limit characters)
12. Recommend to the supervisor, awards of recognition for the group/team and individuals. (limit characters)
13. Inform supervisor of performance management issues. (limit characters)
14. Research methods that assess, analyze and improve the team's effectiveness, efficiency and work performance (limit characters)