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Bindery Machine Operator

Legislative Branch
Government Publishing Office
Government Secure and Intelligent Documents

Summary

GPO employees possess a diverse array of talent in many administrative fields and trades. We provide other agencies with innovative services for the printing, publishing, storage, and distribution of digital content. If you are an energetic, inventive individual looking for a challenging, yet rewarding career opportunity, GPO may be the place for you.

This position is part of the Government Secure and Intelligent Documents, Government Publishing Office in Stennis Space Center, MS.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Posted this week · Apply by 06/25/27
Due by 11:59 p.m. ET on June 25, 2027
This job will close when we have received 400 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Location
6 vacancies in the following location:
Work site options
Telework eligible
No
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$41.11 - $41.11 per hour
Pay scale & grade
KB 2
Promotion potential
2
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
Not required
Appointment type
Permanent
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Competitive Service
Represented by a union
Yes
Drug test
Yes
Security clearance
Secret
Position sensitivity and risk
Noncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate Risk
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Financial disclosure required
Yes
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number
26-12935562-DE-SL
Control number
874478400

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

All U.S. Citizens

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Duties

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  • Complete bindery jobs by setting up and operating one or more powered, semi- and fully automatic bindery machines, and assisting with the activities of the Bindery Machine Operators assigned to the machine.
  • Assists in starting equipment via touch screen, adjusts and help operate a variety of automatic bindery machines containing multiple functions and station capabilities.
  • Assists in combining electro-mechanically with other equipment and devices to produce a complete bindery and finishing unit that processes printed sheets into final books, catalogs, manuals, directories, magazines or other completed products.
  • Assists in making needed adjustments to coordinate the multiple workstations on a single machine.
  • Observes how to interpret job orders, which may be for one-of-a-kind materials; documents how to plan bindery operations utilizing the most efficient procedures and methods to meet job requirements to complete a combined finishing operation.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship is Required.
  • Selectee must pass all preemployment requirements prior to appointment.
  • Selectee must obtain and maintain a Secret Security Clearance.
  • Males born after 12/03/59 must be registered for Selective Service.
  • Selectee may be required to serve a one year probationary period.
  • Selectees must pass a physical examination prior to appointment.
  • Strength test may be required.
  • Confidential Financial Disclosure Report is required.
  • Physical Effort: This level of effort involves having to continually lift, carry, or otherwise handle printed materials and paper stock weighing up to 10 pounds. Occasionally, may be required to handle items or materials weighing up to 40 pounds.
  • Physical Effort: The work involves standing for prolonged periods while operating or monitoring bindery machines. Frequent stooping, bending, and reaching to make machine adjustments, remove mis-routed materials, and other operational activities.
  • Working Conditions: Duties are performed in a production environment that is well lit, heated, and ventilated. May be exposed to low and high frequency noise generated by adjacent machine operations and vibrations during peak production periods.
  • Working Conditions: The operators are also exposed to the possibility of minor cuts from paper materials and more serious injuries such as broken bones and severe bruises or lacerations from high-speed machine operations.
  • Working Conditions: The area is exposed to low frequency noise generated by Production equipment.

Qualifications

To qualify for the Bindery Machine Operator, you must meet the following requirements:

Applicants must meet the following Screen-Out element #1 Ability to do the work of the position without more than normal supervision to be considered for this position. Your qualifications will first be evaluated against the prescribed screen out element, which usually appears as question 1 in the online questionnaire. If your knowledge and ability in the SCREEN OUT ELEMENT below is not sufficient, you will receive no further consideration. The screen-out element for this position is:

1) Experience and/or interest for learning skills as an Production Technician without more than normal supervision.
2) Ability to follow simple directions.
3) Ability to work safely.
4) Dexterity, reliability, and dependability.
5) Basic knowledge of mathematics (i.e. decimals, metric units) to understand dimensional requirements contained in job orders and to make adjustments as needed.
6) Ability to use Personal Computers (PCs), desktops or laptops for common applications, such as spreadsheet programs, databases, and word processing.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement to be considered.

This Open Continuous announcement allows acceptance of applications through June 25, 2027, or until 400 applications have been received or all positions have been filled whichever occurs first.

The intent of this announcement is to establish a standing register of qualified candidates to refer for consideration. Applicants that self-assess as qualified and that meet the eligibility requirements will then be further evaluated by completing a series of progressive hurdle assessments. Assessments that may include online assessments, work sample assessments, and/or interviews. Each assessment has a pre-determined cut score which must be achieved or exceeded to be "best qualified (BQ) and advance to the next assessment." Upon completion of all required hurdle assessments, applicants will be referred to the selecting official for consideration after their resume has been reviewed for qualifications and found qualified by the staffing specialist.

Applications will be reviewed and referred for selection as vacancies occur within the Business Unit. The initial cut off for the referral list is July 24, 2026, or until 100 applicants are within reach. The remaining cut-off dates are listed below.

Eligible applications Additional application cut-off dates are as follows:

  • 1st Cut-off: 07/24/2026 or when 100 applications have been reached, whichever occurs first.
  • 2nd Cut-off: 10/23/2027 or when 200 applications have been reached, whichever occurs first.
  • 3rd Cut-off: 02/24/2027 or when 300 applications have been reached, whichever occurs first.
  • 4th Cut-off: 06/24/2027 or when 400 applications have been reached, whichever occurs first.
  • Final Closing date: 06/25/2027
****ONCE ALL SELECTIONS ARE MADE, THIS ANNOUNCEMENT WILL BE CLOSED WITHOUT FURTHER NOTICE.*****

Education

Substitution of education in lieu of experience may not be used for this grade level.

Additional information

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." For further information visit: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/5/3110 and https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/5/2302

Background Investigation:
To ensure the accomplishment of its mission, the GPO requires every employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet those standards, all selected applicants must undergo and successfully completed a background investigation for a Secret Clearance. This review could include financial issues such as delinquency in the payment of debts, child support and/or tax obligations, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs. Depending on the type of background investigation required, the security process may take between 6 weeks to 12 months.

The Agency may rescind the tentative offer if the candidate is unable to obtain an interim clearance.

Schedule A (Disability Appointment):
Documentation of eligibility for employment under Schedule A can be obtained from a licensed medical professional (e.g., a physician or other medical professional certified by a state, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. territory to practice medicine); a licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist (i.e., state or private); or any Federal agency, state agency, or agency of the District of Columbia or a U.S. territory that issues or provides disability benefits. The letter must be printed on a "medical professional's" letterhead and signed.

Reasonable Accommodation:
This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process you must contact the HC Specialist on the vacancy announcement at least seven business days before the closing date of this announcement to receive assistance. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

The selectee will work Shift 1. Shift hours 7:00 am. - 5:15 pm Monday- Thursday / 4/10 hours days.

Additional vacancies may be filled in addition to the number stated in this announcement.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Once the application process is complete, a review of your application will be made to ensure you meet the job requirements. To determine if you are qualified for this position, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the occupational questionnaire. The rating you receive is based on your responses to the questionnaire and supporting documents. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, you may be excluded from further consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating.

Those who meet the minimum level of experience and training for the screen-out element will then be evaluated in each of the following job elements:

  • Ability to Do the Work of the Position without More Than Normal Supervision (Screen-Out)
  • Ability to Interpret Instructions, Specifications, etc. (Other Than Blueprint Reading)
  • Ability to Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment
  • Knowledge of Materials
  • Operation of Job Family Specify Equipment, Machinery, etc.
  • Technical Practices (Theoretical, Precise, Artistic)
We DO NOT require a separate narrative statement responding to the competencies, however your resume should CLEARLY show possession of these competencies.

If you meet the qualification requirements listed above, your application will be rated based on your online questionnaire and supporting documents. Your application will be placed in one of three categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified. Within these categories, applicants eligible for veteran's preference will receive selection priority over non-veterans. If your final rating places you among the top candidates, your application will be referred to the selecting official for further review..

Government Publishing Office

Come be a part of one of the largest digital information facilities in the world

Established by Congress in 1861, GPO is transforming itself as an agency and as a business. We provide other agencies with innovative services for the printing, publishing, storage, and distribution of digital content. The public will enjoy permanent access to digital government information, acquiring it quickly, easily, and with confidence in its authenticity. GPO employees are proud of their abilities and passionate about their craft. Whether your expertise is in putting ink on paper, commanding a digital output system, or engineering the delivery of information online, we would like to talk to you.

Agency contact information

Sindy Leon
Phone
202-805-8732
Email
sleon@gpo.gov
Address
US Government Publishing Office
732 North Capitol St. NW
Washington, DC 20401
US

Visit our careers page

Learn more about what it's like to work at Government Publishing Office, what the agency does, and about the types of careers this agency offers.

http://www.gpo.gov/

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