Mail Specialist #499

United States Senate Sergeant at Arms; Landover (MD); On-site; USD 64,000 - 111,000; Full time

Job summary

United States Senate Sergeant at Arms is seeking a skilled Mail Specialist for the Senate Post Office. You will sort, screen, open, and test all incoming mail and packages, detect hazardous items, respond to suspicious materials, and keep daily records for delivery.

Roles require sitting/standing in a controlled environment and lifting up to 100 pounds. Job involves using specialized equipment, following strict safety protocols, and working onsite to support Senate offices.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of Microsoft products.
• Ability to learn basic U.S. Postal Service regulations.
• Ability to learn and adhere to safety precautions in mail facility operations.
• Ability to obtain pulmonary, x-ray, and respiratory fit certifications.
• Ability to work in an air-controlled environment with PPE.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• As part of the hiring process, a skills assessment may be conducted.

Responsibilities

• Sorts, x-rays, screens, opens, and tests all incoming mail and packages for delivery across the Senate campus; operates processing equipment; follows safety protocols; identifies potentially hazardous materials and alerts command; maintains package accountability and records.

Skills

Microsoft products

USPS regulations

Safety procedures

Pulmonary/x-ray certifications

PPE usage

Effective communication

Skills assessment

Education

High School Diploma/GED

Job description

Target Hiring Range: $64,000

Department: Support Operations

Posting Date Range: 9/21/2026-10/5/2026

Pay Grade Range: $64000-$110790

Work Hours: 6:30am-3:30pm

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Work Location Status: Onsite

The Senate Sergeant at Arms does not pay for relocation expenses.

This vacancy announcement closes at 11:59pm EST. Late applications will not be accepted.

Job Description

The Senate Sergeant at Arms (SAA) is currently seeking a highly skilled and dedicated Mail Specialist to join our Senate Post Office team. In this role, you will be responsible for sorting, screening, opening, and testing all incoming mail and packages for delivery to Senate offices; detecting hazardous or potentially hazardous items; responding properly to suspicious item detection; and maintaining accurate daily records of all materials received for delivery. Work is performed according to detailed safety protocols and reviewed daily by Senate Post Office management for the quality and quantity of work performed and adherence to policies and procedures.

Mail Specialists may need to sit and stand for extended periods in a controlled negative-air environment while donned in full-body Level 2 personal protective equipment. Physical strength and agility to safely lift and carry up to 100 pounds of shared weight, along with excessive bending, crouching, and reaching, are required. Furthermore, this work exposes the employee to potential threats within mail and package processing.

By joining our team, you will become an integral part of the Senate Post Office’s vital support to Senate offices.

Key Accountabilities/Essential Job Duties

• Sorts, x-rays, visually screens, opens, and tests all incoming mail and packages for delivery across the Senate campus. Operates specialized mail and package processing equipment and machinery used to help detect potentially hazardous materials and substances. Follows established safety protocols and processing procedures to visually inspect, open, and examine incoming mail and packages. Identifies suspicious, threatening, and potentially hazardous materials or substances and alerts the chain of command. Uses mobile computers for package accountability. Maintains accurate records, by category, of the volume of all materials received daily; verifies that all mail received has been screened. Other duties, as assigned.

JOB SPECIFICATIONS

Required Education

High School Diploma/GED.

Required Work Experience

• 1-3 years mail processing experience.

Required Special Skills/ Knowledge

• Knowledge of Microsoft products.
• Ability to learn basic U.S. Postal Service regulations.
• Ability to learn and adhere to safety precautions associated with mail facility operations.
• Ability to obtain pulmonary, x-ray, and respiratory fit certifications.
• Ability to work in an air-controlled environment while properly donning and doffing personal protective equipment.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• As part of our hiring process, we may conduct a skills assessment to better understand an applicant’s proficiency in key areas relevant to the role.

Desired Qualifications

• Knowledge of mail room operational procedures, including U.S. Postal Service regulations and procedures.
• Knowledge of safety precautions associated with the operation of a mail facility.
• Ability to obtain and maintain pulmonary, x-ray, and respiratory fit certifications.
• Ability to work in an air-controlled environment and properly don and doff personal protective equipment.
• Ability to learn to safely operate an x-ray machine.
• Ability to operate and accurately enter information into a computer, handheld device, cellular phone, and mail processing equipment.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with supervisors, coworkers, and others encountered during the shift.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to follow directives and standard operating procedures.

Working Conditions

• Since this position requires onsite presence in support of the U.S. Senate when in session, this position requires the employee to be available and prepared to work during a lapse in appropriations, in inclement weather, on holidays, and during late-night, overnight, and weekend sessions. In the context of government furloughs, this position is considered excepted.
• This position directly supports essential services of the U.S. Senate. As such, this position requires the employee to be available and prepared to work during a lapse in appropriations, in inclement weather, on holidays, weekends, and during late nights to ensure essential services to the Senate continue without interruption. In the context of government furloughs, this position is considered excepted.
• Stand or sit for extended periods of time in a negative-air environment.
• Lift and carry or share weight up to 100 pounds.
• Operates mail and package processing equipment and machinery as needed.
• Ability to wear PPE for extended periods.
• May occasionally work nights and/or weekends to handle backlog of mail received.
• Uses cleaning implements.
• Employee is required to wear a uniform.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• Be a U.S. citizen;
• Be lawfully admitted for permanent residence and seeking citizenship as outlined in 8 U.S.C.
• 1324b(a)(3)(B);
• Be (i) admitted as a refugee under 8 U.S.C.
• 1157 or granted asylum under 8 U.S.C.
• 1158 and (ii) have filed a declaration of intention to become a lawful permanent resident and then a citizen when eligible; or
• Owe allegiance to the U.S. (i.e., qualify as a non-citizen U.S. national under federal law).

Employment is contingent on background / security investigation results.

Benefits At-a-glance

The SAA provides a highly competitive benefits package for all SAA staff. Our benefits extend beyond health care coverage to help provide employees with student loan reimbursement, professional development, transportation subsidy, TSP/retirement savings, access to our Employee Assistance Program, and more! For more information regarding SAA’s benefits, please visit https://sen.gov/OPPW.

ACCOMMODATIONS

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, the SAA is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you are interested in applying for employment with SAA and need special assistance or an accommodation to complete the application process, please submit your request to [e-mail] with "Accommodation" in the subject line.

An applicant who declines to self-identify as a disabled veteran and/or to provide information and documentation regarding his/her disabled veteran’s status will not be subjected to an adverse employment action, but the individual may be ruled ineligible for veterans’ preference.