Quality Assurance Specialist

Summary This position is located at Bureau of Engraving and Printing, within the Product Quality Division (DCF), in Washington, DC. As a Quality Assurance Specialist, you will you will serve as a senior Quality Assurance Specialist (at the GS-12 level), working with scientists, production personnel, COR, quality personnel, and product/project managers in various tasks associated with QA testing and evaluation of currency, currency related materials, and other security printing products. Responsibilities 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. Requirements 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. Key Requirements: Click "Print Preview" to review the entire announcement before applying. 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. Education Additional Information We may select from this announcement or any other source to fill one or more vacancies. Recruitment incentives will not be offered. This is a bargaining unit position. - BU 1602 - Chapter 201, NTEU - National Treasury Employees Union (GS/Technical Employees) 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. We offer opportunities for telework and flexible work schedules. 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). Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement.