About This Position
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 Agency Support Operations, Government Publishing Office in Washington, District of Columbia.
Qualifications
To qualify for the CHEMIST, PG - 1320 - 13 , you must meet the following requirements: For the Chemistry Series 1320, Basic Requirements must be met by an Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR)
in addition to Specialized experience at the next lower grade level in that series: INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENT Basic Requirements: A. Degree: physical sciences, life sciences, or engineering that included 30 semester hours in chemistry, supplemented by course work in mathematics through differential and integral calculus, and at least 6 semester hours of physics.
OR
B. Combination of education and experience -- course work equivalent to a major as shown in A above, including at least 30 semester hours in chemistry, supplemented by mathematics through differential and integral calculus, and at least 6 semester hours of physics, plus appropriate experience or additional education. And SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE To qualify for the Chemist PG-13, applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the PG-12 grade level in the Federal Service that includes: 1) Conducting chemical analyses of materials and compounds used in printing. 2) Planning, coordinating, and performing testing within technical projects in a secure laboratory AND 3) Processing Knowledge of printing operations sufficient to discuss projects with senior management, customers, vendors, security officers, as well as statisticians.
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 (03/13/2026) to be considered.
Major Duties
Serves as an expert technical specialist and advisor on projects of raw and in-process materials as well as finished secure and unclassified printed products.
Provides advice and assistance to other chemists and technicians in the unit on their projects that involve chemical analyses and physical test methods for secure documents and classified raw materials.
Initiates, plans and accomplishes assigned work and special projects by developing and establishing required technical aspects.
Serves as Senior chemist in the field of chemical analysis as well as physical and analytical test methods.
Provides advice and assistance to other chemists and technicians in the unit on their projects that involve chemical analyses and physical test methods for secure documents and classified raw materials.
Education
Substitution of education in lieu of specialized experience may not be used for this grade level. Are you using your education to qualify?
You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated: (1) official or unofficial transcripts which cites the name of the institution are acceptable, or (2) you may submit a list with all of your courses, grades and GPA, semester, year, and credit for the course. Official transcripts will be required from all selectees prior to receiving an official offer.
GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.
FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html
How You Will Be Evaluated
Your resume will be evaluated to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications required; and on the extent to which your application shows that you possess the competencies associated with this position. To determine if you are qualified for the job, a review of your resume and supporting documentation may be made and compared against your responses to the vacancy questionnaire.
You will receive a numeric rating based on your responses to the questionnaire.
Your rating is based on both your responses to the questionnaire and information stated in your application. Please make sure that your self-ratings are supported by information in your application. The Human Capital Specialist may verify your qualifications and self-ratings during the application and selection process through quality review, interview questions, work samples, demonstrations, reference checks, and other means. Inflated qualifications may result in you being excluded from further consideration for this position.
You will be further evaluated on the following Competencies required for the position: Chemistry Problem Solving Technical Competencies Writing We DO NOT require a separate narrative statement responding to the competencies, however your resume must CLEARLY show possession of these competencies.
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 Work Life Balance The GPO offers Transit subsidy for commuters using public transportation (Metro Bus/Rail, MARC, VRE, etc.). Background Investigation: For a Secret Clearance: To ensure the accomplishment of its mission, the GPO requires every employee to be reliable and trustworthy; this position requires a Secret clearance. 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; this security process may take between 6 weeks to 12 months. GPO will conduct an interim security clearance, pending the completion of the full investigative requirements for the final Secret clearance. The interim security clearance will be granted based on the favorable completion of preliminary checks that are accomplished as part of the security clearance process.
The Agency may rescind the tentative offer if the candidate is unable to obtain an interim clearance. The selectee will work shift 1 with work hours anywhere between 6:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., core hours 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Additional vacancies may be filled by this announcement.
How to Apply
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package, which includes 1) your responses to the Occupational Questionnaire, 2) your resume, and 3) any other documents needed to verify your qualifications or eligibility (see the required documents section). Please follow the instructions listed below for submitting your complete application package. Application procedures are specific to this vacancy announcement.
Please read all instructions before you begin. Resume Requirements: Resumes are limited to two (2) pages Resumes should focus on the knowledge, skills, abilities; accomplishments and results; and training and education relevant to this position.
Resumes must be in the following format (for each position held relevant to this position): Short summary of position duties Accomplishments while in the position Results of those accomplishments Copying and pasting position descriptions into a resume is not acceptable. Illegible Information and/or Documents If your supporting documents and resume are illegible or do not provide the necessary information for the Human Capital Specialist and/or Subject Matter Expert to make a qualification determination, you may lose consideration for this position. Last Document Uploaded If multiple copies of the same document are uploaded/faxed and submitted with your application, GPO will only consider the last copy of the document uploaded/faxed when determining your eligibility and qualifications.
For example, if you upload/fax two or more resumes only the last resume uploaded/faxed and submitted will be considered. Print a copy of the occupational questionnaire so that you may read and review the questions before submitting your online responses.
Click here to view the Occupational Questionnaire:https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12892482 The completed online Application Package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 03/13/2026. - To begin, click Apply to access the online application.
You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application. - Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package.
You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted.
Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. - After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process. - You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position.
Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application. To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.
Required Documents
The Content of Resume: Your resume, curriculum vitae, or other written form you choose to describe your job-related experiences are used to verify your qualifications. Therefore, it is important that your resume accurately reflects the duties and responsibilities under each position you have held with each employer. In describing your experience, please be clear and specific.
It is your responsibility to make sure your resume states complete information for each job entry (beginning and ending dates of employment stated as MM/YYYY; and total number of hours worked per week). If your resume does not provide enough information regarding your work history for us to make a creditable qualification determination, your application package may be rendered disqualified and you will no longer be considered for this position. To assist you in sending in a complete resume, use the checklist Click Here 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. 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. Recent Performance Appraisal - If you are a current or former federal employee, you must submit your current Fiscal Year (FY2025) Performance Appraisal showing you have performed at an acceptable level.
If you are unable to submit your current Fiscal Year (FY2025) 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 (FY2025) Performance Appraisal or a written statement explaining why it was not obtainable will disqualify you from further consideration.
For applicants qualifying on the basis of education: School transcript(s) - official or unofficial. A transcript or list of completed courses is required if you are claiming to qualify based on your education. The information presented in the transcript must be verifiable; at the minimum the transcript or list of courses should contain the name of the institution, applicant's name, semester hours, and GPA.
If you provided an unofficial transcript or list of completed courses at the time of application and you are selected you will be required to provide an official transcript prior to appointment.