Quality Assurance Specialist

Clarification from the agency

All candidates who are: (1) Current Bureau of Engraving and Printing internal employees who are qualifying as Status Eligibles or currently serving on a permanent Veterans Recruitment Appointment (VRA) (GS-11 and GS-9 Only) (2) CTAP eligibles

The following are the duties of this position at the GS-12. If you are selected at a lower grade level, you will have the opportunity to learn to perform all these duties, and will receive training to help you grow in this position.

As a Quality Assurance Specialist, you will be doing, but not limited to, the following duties:

• Prepare reports of findings, trends and recommended actions.
• Operate a full range of laboratory equipment which includes physical and optical test equipment such as density meter, crumple tester, abrasion tester. UV IR lamp, Image Capture Analysis Systems, micrometer, fold tester, tear tester, microscopes and universal mechanical testing systems.
• Evaluate and interpret analytical data and prepare reports which include analytical procedures, conditions, and results.
• Write standardized test procedures and reports with justifications for any recommended changes in methods or procedures.
• Perform visual inspections of semi and finished currency or ink prints and evaluate or rate appearance.
• As needed, lead and/or participate In Internal quality audits, investigations, and or special studies to resolve production processing problems as well as method deficiencies or equipment issues which were not fully resolved by lower grade assistants/technicians to determine casual factors and ways to prevent recurrences.

Conditions of employment

• All newly appointed employees to the competitive (or excepted) service are subject to a probationary (or trial) period. During this time, your performance, conduct, and suitability for continued employment will be evaluated. You will not automatically convert to permanent status at the end of the probationary (or trial) period. Your supervisor must affirmatively determine that continued employment is in the best interest of the Federal service. If no certification is made before the probationary (or trial) period ends, your appointment will be terminated. You are encouraged to actively engage with your supervisor, seek feedback, and understand role expectations. Additional guidance and support will be provided during onboarding.
• Undergo a tax compliance review.
• 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.
• Wear required safety clothing and/or equipment required by the position. This may include safety shoes, hard hats, hearing protection, gloves, masks, etc.
• Weekend work and overtime, if applicable, will be scheduled when needed based on production requirements as determined by Management.

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.

Specialized Experience:

For the GS-12, you must have one year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service.

Specialized experience for this position includes:
-Responding to International Organization for Standardization (ISO) audits, manufacturing operations, and the quality systems that govern them.; AND
-Reviewing and revising quality management operations according to Standard Operating Procedures (SOP); AND
-Providing training to less experienced team members to perform quality management operations according to Standard Operating Procedures (SOP).; AND
-Providing training to less experienced team members on how to comply with security and accountability protocols.

For the GS-11, you must have one year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-9 grade level in the Federal service.

Specialized experience for this position includes:
-Demonstrating quality assurance principles, concepts, and methodology.; AND
-Participating in International Organization for Standardization (ISO) audits, manufacturing operations and the quality systems that govern them.; AND
-Evaluating quality management operations according to Standard Operating Procedures (SOP).

OR
You may substitute education for general or specialized experience as follows:
Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M.,Degree must be in a major study of- quality assurance, statistics, mathematics, production management, industrial management, computer science, engineering, engineering technology, physical sciences, textiles, or other fields related to the position.

OR
You may qualify by a combination of experience and education. Options for qualifying based on a combination will be identified in the online questions.
When combining education with experience, first determine your total qualifying education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level; then determine your experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level; finally, add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify for that grade level. Only graduate level education in excess of the first 36 semester hours (54 quarter hours) may be combined to be considered for qualifying education.

For the GS-9, you must have one year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-7 grade level in the Federal service.

Specialized experience for this position includes:
-Applying quality assurance principles, concepts, and methodology.; AND-Performing quality management operations according to Standard Operating Procedures (SOP).; AND
-Complying with security and accountability protocols to maintain possession and accurate inventory of government property and/or security items.

OR

You may substitute education for general or specialized experience as follows:
Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related: Major study - quality assurance, statistics, mathematics, production management, industrial management, computer science, engineering, engineering technology, physical sciences, textiles, or other fields related to the position.

OR
You may qualify by a combination of experience and education. Options for qualifying based on a combination will be identified in the online questions.
To combine education and experience, the total percentage of experience at the required grade level compared to the requirement, as well as the percentage of completed education compared to the requirement must equal at least 100 percent. Only graduate level education in excess of the first 18 semester hours (27 quarter hours) may be combined to be considered for qualifying education.

In addition to the above requirements, you must meet the following time-in-grade requirement(s), if applicable:

• For the GS-12, you must have been at the GS-11 level for 52 weeks.
• For the GS-11, you must have been at the GS-9 level for 52 weeks.
• For the GS-9 you must have been at the GS-7 level for 52 weeks.

How you will be evaluated

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

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position.

To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

A subject matter expert may be used in the evaluation.

If you are asked to take the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be presented with a unique URL to access the USA Hire system. Access to USA Hire is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials. Be sure to review all instructions prior to beginning your USA Hire Assessments. Click here for Computer System Requirements (https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=USA_Hire_System_Requirements)

Note, set aside at least 2 hours to take these assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue at a later time, you can re-use the URL sent to you via email and also found on the Additional Application Information page that can be located in the application record in your USAJOBS account.

You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

• Attention to Detail
• Customer Service
• Decision Making
• Flexibility
• Integrity/Honesty
• Interpersonal Skills
• Learning
• Reading Comprehension
• Reasoning
• Self-Management
• Stress Tolerance
• Teamwork

Please note that if you do not provide all required information, as specified in this announcement, you may not be considered for this position (or may not receive the special consideration for which you may be eligible). Please ensure all required documents, including any required work samples, narratives, or other materials as stated in this announcement, are attached to your application package.

To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes:

All applicants must submit a résumé showing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment and duties performed. The experience may have been gained in either the public, private sector or volunteer service. One year of experience refers to full-time work; part-time work is considered on a prorated basis. All applicants are required to submit arésumé either by creating one in USAJOBS or uploading one of their own choosing. (Cover letters are optional.) Please limit your resume to two-pages. Applicants with resumes exceeding two-pages will be removed from consideration. We suggest that you preview the online questions, as you may need to customize your résumé to ensure that it supports your responses to these questions. Please view résumé tips.

All applicants must submit a Performance Appraisal or explanation: a copy of your most recent, signed, completed annual performance appraisal which includes the final rating. If it is not dated within the last 18 months, or if you have not received a performance appraisal, please explain why in your application. Note that 'N/A' is not an acceptable answer. If you do not provide a copy of the performance appraisal, or a statement advising why it is unavailable, you will be removed from further consideration.

CURRENT FEDERAL EMPLOYEES -- Documentation Relating to Your Federal Employment:
- Submit a copy of your SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, which shows your current (or most recent) grade and competitive service status. (The "position occupied" block on the SF-50 should show a "1" and your "tenure" block should show a "1" or "2".)
- If you are currently on a Veterans Recruitment Appointment (VRA), submit a copy of an SF-50 showing that. Also, you must submit a copy of your DD214 or other documentation showing dates of service and type of discharge and any other applicable documents such as SF-15, VA letters, etc.
- Indicate on your application the highest permanent grade you have held; if this grade is different from your current grade, submit a copy of an additional SF-50 showing this grade.
- Federal employees must submit a copy of their latest SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action" that reflects career or career-conditional tenure showing position title, series, grade and tenure (please do not submit an Award SF-50 as it does not provide the needed information), if different, an SF-50 showing highest permanent grade ever held or you may not be considered under the merit promotion process. https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/service/SF-50/

CAREER TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PLAN (CTAP) If you are a displaced or surplus Federal employee, click CTAP/ICTAP for eligibility and a detailed list of required documents you must submit in order to be eligible.

EDUCATION DOCUMENTATION:

For positions with an education requirement, or if you are qualifying for this position by substituting education or training for experience, submit a copy of your transcripts or a list of courses showing title, number of credits, grade, and date of completion.

Next steps