Public Service Associate Jobs in Columbus, GA (NOW HIRING)

Summary
Store Associates work either independently or as part of a team in any assigned retail area of a commissary store within the Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) system, performing a variety of duties including handling, preparing, and stocking grocery and produce items, and checking-out customer purchases. Specific assignments vary by individual store and store management requirements.
Learn more about this agency
Duties
Help

• Assisting customers by answering questions such as item price or location, and handling bulky/heavy items.
• Operating an electronic checkout system to record unit price, total customer purchase, and make change.
• Performing a variety of duties in handling, preparing and maintaining stock levels of grocery and produce items.
• Reviewing stock levels and gathering inventory data in order to maintain the Computer Assisted Ordering (CAO) system.
• Preparing and maintaining a variety of documents to order commissary items, reconcile invoices and submit requisitions.
• Maintaining security, safety, and sanitation practices and procedures.

Read the entire announcement before starting the application process.
Requirements
Help
Conditions of employment

• Be a U.S. citizen or national. Applicants with a Permanent Resident Card are authorized to live and work in the U.S. but are not eligible for employment in positions requiring U.S. citizenship. If selected, proof of citizenship may be required.
• Meet minimum age requirement. See Additional Information.
• Males born after 12-31-1959 must be registered with or exempt from Selective Service.
• May be subject to successful verification of identity and employment eligibility through E-Verify. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, at https://www.e-verify.gov/.
• May be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as required. New federal employees will be fingerprinted.
• Be able to obtain and maintain clearance eligibility based on the appropriate background investigation.
• May be subject to a probationary/trial period.
• Direct deposit of pay is required.
• Meet the physical requirements identified in the Qualifications section.

Qualifications
You must meet the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) qualifications for series 1101 and additional requirements by the announcement closing date. Your resume (and/or transcript if necessary) must clearly show that you have the qualifications described below. You can use experience, education, or a combination of the two to qualify. When using education to meet qualifications you must submit transcripts. See Required Documents for more information.
Experience: One (1) year of progressively responsible clerical, office, or other work that indicates the ability to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to perform the duties of this position (general experience). more information.
OR
Education: Two (2) full years of successfully completed education above high school at an accredited business, secretarial, technical school, junior college, college, or university.
OR
Combination of experience and education: To calculate the combination, divide your total months of experience by 12, then divide your semester hours by 60 and add the two percentages. If the total is 100%, you meet the minimum qualifications through a combination of experience and education.
You will receive credit for all relevant qualifying experience (paid and unpaid), including volunteer work done through National Service program (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social).
Additional Requirements that must be met by the closing date:

• Physical requirements: (1) Stand, stoop, kneel, bend and climb for prolonged periods. (2) Lift, push, pull, carry, and handle items weighing up to 40 pounds independently and occasionally over 40 pounds with assistance. You will attest to your ability to perform these physical requirements in the Questionnaire.
• Time after competitive appointment. Current federal civilian employees must have completed at least 90 days of federal civilian service since being selected for a nontemporary appointment from a competitive examination register of eligibles (an announcement opened to the public) or under a direct hire authority.

As part of the online application process, you will respond to a series of questions designed to evaluate your level of experience in these competencies:

• Clerical and Administrative
• Communication
• Customer Service
• Electronic Checkout System
• Minimum Qualifications GS-04
• Safety and Housekeeping
• Store Operations

Overtime: Occasional
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA): Nonexempt
Bargaining Unit Status: Not Covered
Obligated Position: No
Those retired under CSRS or FERS considered: No. DoD criteria not met.
Work environment: Performance of work in some areas of the commissary requires exposure to hot or cold weather or damp and drafty conditions.
Recruitment/Relocation Incentives Offered: No
Telework eligible: No
Remote work eligible: No
Education
ARE YOU USING YOUR EDUCATION TO QUALIFY? You MUST provide transcripts and/or other documentation to support your educational claims.
Transcripts. REQUIRED when using education to meet qualifications or when education is required.
Foreign education may be qualifying if a private organization specializing in interpreting foreign education programs has deemed the foreign education equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program or a U.S. accredited college or university has given full credit for the foreign courses.
Unofficial transcripts from U.S. Department of Education accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions listing your name, the name of the school, the date and degree awarded, and the list of classes and credits earned are acceptable for the application process. If selected, official transcripts are required before a firm job offer is made. A photocopy of your degree/diploma is not acceptable.
When relying on foreign education, submit transcripts and a copy of the equivalency evaluation results letter with a course-by-course listing. Documents must be in English or include an English translation. The hiring employer for this position does not evaluate degrees from foreign colleges or universities.
Additional information
Executive Order 12564 requires a federal workplace to be free of illegal drugs and prohibits the use of illegal drugs both on and off duty by federal employees. As a reminder, marijuana is still classified as an illegal drug by the Federal government and is prohibited for use by Federal employees even if such use is legal in the state where the Federal employee resides and/or works. The Defense Commissary Agency is a Drug-Free Federal Workplace where the use of illegal drugs will not be tolerated and may result in penalties up to and including removal from Federal service.

• The display of a salary range on this announcement does not suggest or convey an entitlement to a higher rate of pay. Upon first appointment to a civilian position in the Federal government, you are entitled only to the lowest step (Step 1) of the grade for which selected.
• The minimum age requirement is generally 18 years. Employing those under 18 may be possible under certain circumstances. If under 18 years of age, ensure you provide documentation showing how you are eligible.
• Applicants with financial difficulty are not automatically removed from consideration.
• Selectees are required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Retired military service members cannot be appointed to a Department of Defense (DoD) civilian position within 180 days of their retirement date. 5 United States Code 3326.

The following may result in a rating of ineligible. Ineligible applicants receive no consideration.

• Not selecting an eligibility.
• Submitting an incomplete application package may result in your not being considered for this position. Your resume must reflect that you are either Part-Time with the number of hours listed, Full Time, or 40 hours per week as your work schedule. If you fail to provide this information in your resume, your resume will be considered as incomplete.
• Submitting encrypted documents or uploading Adobe portfolio documents.
• Submitting any document that contains a photo or image of you.
• Including social media links, inappropriate material or content, classified or government sensitive information, or personal information such as age, gender, race, religion, or social security number on your resume.
• Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials.
• Deliberately attempting to falsify your application information, such as copying portions of this announcement into your resume.

Appointment Eligibility Criteria. You choose how you wish to be considered for this position by selecting one or more of the eligibilities listed in the Assessment Questionnaire AND providing the supporting documents for the selected eligibility/eligibilities. Required documents are listed in the eligibility description. You are responsible for providing the documents required to prove you can be considered for the selected eligibility/eligibilities.
HR does not select or change your eligibility/eligibilities for you, regardless of the supporting documents you submit. You are considered ONLY for the eligibility or eligibilities you select and for which you provide all required supporting documents. You will not be considered if you do not select an eligibility. If you have questions about which eligibility/eligibilities apply to you, contact the HR POC listed on this announcement.
Expand Hide additional information
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.
Benefits
Help
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.