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Plate Printer Apprentice

Department of the Treasury
Bureau of Engraving and Printing
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located at Bureau of Engraving and Printing, within the respective Plate Printing departments of the Eastern Currency Facility and Western Currency Facility. As a Plate Printer Apprentice, you will work as part of a printing press crew in a non-journeyperson status - demonstrating technical and mechanical vocational competencies and building upon skills to successfully perform the full scope of duties required of a Journeyperson Plate Printer.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
06/30/2025 to 07/14/2025
Salary
$33.36 to - $54.55 per hour
Pay scale & grade
WE 1
Locations
Washington, DC
4 vacancies
Fort Worth, TX
4 vacancies
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time - Must be available all 3 shifts (day, evening, midnight); specific shift timings may vary based upon location.
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
3
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
Yes
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
Yes - 1535 Local 2 - Washington Plate Printers Union International Plate Printers, Die Stampers & Engravers Union of North America (Plate Printers - Intaglio)
Announcement number
25-BEP-12746683-A
Control number
839478600

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

All candidates who are: (1) Current Bureau of Engraving and Printing employees who are qualifying as Status Eligibles or currently serving on a permanent Veterans Recruitment Appointment (VRA) (2) CTAP eligibles

Duties

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The BEP is currently in the process of having a new facility built in Beltsville, MD and expect to move to the new facility within the next 5 years. If selected for the Washington DC location, you may be sent and/or reassigned to the new Beltsville facility. By applying to this position, you understand this potential requirement.

As a Plate Printer Apprentice, and upon successful completion of the training program, you will be able to perform the Full Potential Level (FPL) of a Journeyperson Plate Printer and able to complete the following duties with minimal supervision:

  • Make press ready to print in accordance with established procedures.
  • Install and position plates or cylinders; secure and check materials need such as denominated paper, inks, rigging boards, wiping rolls, etc., paying particular attention to those specialized materials needed for intaglio printing.
  • Lubricate press as necessary, load press, and make all adjustments of peripheral devices and attachments. Operate the press, stopping and starting it as necessary.
  • Continuously observe production of the press and make all single and multiple operating adjustments including the impression and plate mechanisms, wiping and polishing devices, ink fountains, feeder and delivery devices, etc.
  • Stop and secure the press at the end of the production run or shift and ensure the security of all stock. As required, make reports of press operation and production data.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

You must meet the Physical Requirements as outlined in the Additional Information section.
AND
You must show in your experience in online application that you possess the knowledge, skill and abilities to perform the duties of the position.

  • A one-year probationary period may be required.
  • Public Trust - Background Investigation will be required.
  • Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment, at the time requested by the agency.
  • Have your salary sent to a financial institution of your choice by Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer.
  • If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so.
  • Go through a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms of identification from the Form I-9. Federal law requires verification of the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires in the U.S.
  • Obtain and use a government-issued charge card for business-related travel.
  • Submit to a drug test prior to your appointment and random drug testing while you occupy the position.
  • Pass a pre-employment physical examination.
  • Wear required safety clothing and/or equipment required by the position. This may include safety shoes, hard hats, hearing protection, gloves, masks, etc.
  • Shift Work: This facility operates on a 24 hour per day, three-shift basis. Assignment to a specific shift cannot be guaranteed. The successful applicant must be available to work on all three shifts on a rotational basis.
  • Weekend work and overtime, if applicable, will be scheduled when needed based on production requirements as determined by Management.
Key Requirements:
  1. Click "Print Preview" to review the entire announcement before applying.
  2. Must be U.S. Citizen or U.S. National

Qualifications

You must meet the following requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

You must meet the screen-out element, Ability to Do the Work of the Position Without More Than Normal Supervision, normally addressed at the beginning of the online questions.

To meet the screen-out element, applicants must have:
I have ability to perform common duties associated with intaglio printing. I can follow established procedures to perform my work under general supervision.

In addition, you must also obtain an average score of two (2) for the following elements for this position as addressed through the online question in order to be considered minimally qualified. Your application will be evaluated in the following areas: Ability to Do the Work of the Position Without More Than Normal Supervision (screen-out element), Ability to Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment, Ability to Interpret Instructions, Specifications, etc. (other than blueprint reading), and Technical Practices (theoretical, precise, artistic).

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

Physical Requirements:
Work is performed in a standing position and considerable bending, stooping, crouching, climbing and stretching are required to operate the equipment and to make necessary adjustments. There is also moderate to heavy lifting of materials. Pushing and pulling requirements by use of a manual floor jack for moving loads up to and around the equipment.

Good eyesight is required as well as hand-eye coordination. Eyesight required is use of both eyes, depth perception, ability to distinguish basic colors and shades of colors. Hearing required (aid permitted).

Manual dexterity is required for the operation and adjustment of equipment and for the hand operations associated with printing activities. Must be extremely alert and attentive to work and equipment operations to ensure accuracy, detect equipment malfunctions and defective products, to avoid spoilage, and to ensure adherence to all safety requirements.

  • We may select from this announcement or any other source to fill one or more vacancies.
  • During the application process you will have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
  • The facility typically shuts down annually between Christmas and New Year's Day. As such, all BEP employees must take leave for workdays during the shutdown period.
  • This position requires that the successful candidate undergo personnel vetting, which includes a background investigation and enrollment upon onboarding into "Continuous Vetting." Enrollment in Continuous Vetting will result in automated record checks being conducted throughout one's employment with Treasury. The successful candidate will also be enrolled into FBI's Rap Back service, which will allow Treasury to receive notification from the FBI of criminal matters (e.g., arrests, charges, convictions) involving enrolled individuals in near real-time. For more information about individual rights, Noncriminal Justice Applicant's Privacy Rights - FBI, FD-258 Privacy Act Statement - FBI, and SEAD-3-Reporting-U.pdf (dni.gov).
  • SUITABILITY, CLEARANCE & REQUIREMENTS: A background investigation will be required for all new hires. Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for disqualification in the hiring process. The background investigation process conducted by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing is very thorough. Therefore, it is imperative that applicants exercise candor and honesty when answering background questionnaires, especially as it relates to arrest, employment, education, finances, illegal drug use, and/or other criminal history. Falsification discovered in security documents or during the background investigation process may result in an immediate negative suitability determination or immediate revocation of your interim clearance (if applicable).

How you will be evaluated

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

Your application includes your résumé, responses to the online questions, and required supporting documents. Please be sure that your résumé includes detailed information to support your qualifications for this position; failure to provide sufficient evidence in your résumé may result in a "not qualified" determination.

Rating: Your application will be evaluated in the following areas: Ability to Do the Work of the Position Without More Than Normal Supervision (screen-out element), Ability to Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment, Ability to Interpret Instructions, Specifications, etc. (other than blueprint reading), and Technical Practices (theoretical, precise, artistic).

Your application will be rated and ranked among others, based on your responses to the online questions, regarding your experience, education, training, performance appraisals and awards relevant to the duties of this position.

A subject matter expert may be used in the evaluation. Your rating may be lowered if your responses to the online questions are not supported by the education and/or experience described in your application.

Referral: If you are among the top qualified candidates, your application may be referred to a selecting official for consideration. You may be required to participate in a selection interview. We will not reimburse costs related to the interview such as travel to and from the interview site.

If you are a displaced or surplus Federal employee (eligible for the Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) you must be assigned the top category or better to be rated as "well qualified" to receive special selection priority.

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