Sales Associate/Engraver

Senate; Washington (District of Columbia); Presencial; USD 56.000 - 95.000; Jornada completa

Descripción de la vacante

Secretary of the Senate is hiring for a Sales Associate/Engraver in the Senate Gift Shop. The role blends retail duties, engraving orders, and customer service for staff and visitors.

You will manage inventory, assist with shipments, and ensure accuracy in orders and receipts. Engraving responsibilities include determining feasibility, adjusting equipment settings, and coordinating artwork digitization with front office.

Formación

• High school diploma or GED required; engraving experience preferred.
• 1–3 years of retail experience including warehouse/inventory preferred.
• Strong customer service, diplomacy, and communication skills.
• Ability to operate engraving equipment and related software.

Responsabilidades

• Serve customers, process cash/credit transactions, and handle returns.
• Fulfill engraving orders, assess item suitability, and coordinate with front office.
• Track merchandise inventory and assist with warehouse duties.
• Maintain knowledge of the Gift Shop's policies and safety procedures.
• Provide premier customer service and handle special requests and ship orders.

Conocimientos

Customer service

Communication

Teamwork

Cash handling

Educación

High school diploma or GED

Herramientas

Engraving equipment

Cash registers

Inventory-tracking equipment

Descripción del empleo

Sales Associate/Engraver

Organization

Secretary of the Senate

Department

Senate Gift Shop

SALARY RANGE:

SEC-4: $55628-$94847

FEDERAL RELAY SERVICE:

Speech/Hearing impaired persons may text the Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8338 TTY.

TELEWORK:

This position is not eligible telework.

FLSA STATUS:

Non-Exempt

DEADLINE FORAPPLICATIONS:

11/10/2026 at 11:59pm EST

JOB DESCRIPTION:

NATURE OF WORK

This is retail, engraving, and customer service work assisting Senate staff and customers with gift items. Other duties include assisting with the maintenance of store and warehouse inventory. Work is bound by Secretary of the Senate policies and procedures; the U.S. Senate Handbook; and the Senate Ethics Manual, but requires independent judgment in setting priorities and handling assignments.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Perform functions of sales associate; provide customer service to patrons of the store; process cash and credit card transactions, provide customers with receipt and return policy, determine shipping charges, and prepare items to ship to customer. Assist customers with gift selection, special requests, inquiries, purchases, and returns; inform customer of custom options, shipping, engraving, and additional product information; resolve customer complaints; and process mail orders transacted by phone or in person.

Fulfill engraving orders for the Senate Gift Shop; determine ability to engrave on various items due to size/shape of item and composition of item; prioritize engraving orders; adjust engraving equipment and computer settings to process engraving requests; consult with front office on questions regarding order; maintain engraving files; coordinate with vendor to have artwork digitized; maintain files of digitized information; and return completed orders to front office for final processing.

Track inventory of merchandise; notify warehouse personnel and front office of reordering needs; and assist Inventory Control Specialist with warehouse responsibilities for all Gift Shop merchandise.

Maintain current knowledge of the Gift Shop’s Emergency Action Plan (EAP) and Continuity of Operations (COOP) plan; participate in periodic exercises and drills.

Provide all customers with the highest level of customer service.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT

Work is performed in a retail store and/or warehouse environment with exposure to everyday risks and discomforts, and requires the use of normal safety precautions. Work also involves operating engraving machinery, which requires the use of special safety precautions. Work may require frequent walking, standing, bending, heavy lifting, carrying items 25 to 50 pounds, and physical dexterity to climb ladders with boxes of merchandise, as well as regular use of typical office equipment, software programs, and methods of communication such as a computer, email, telephone, photocopier, and fax machine. Regular, predictable, and punctual attendance is required for performance of duties. Work also requires physical presence in the office, except as otherwise required by the Office of the Secretary. Warehouse work exposes employee to dust, paper cuts, and splinters. Engraving work is done with mild chemicals that emit a small amount of fumes.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Work requires a high school diploma or GED, with one to three years of retail experience (including warehouse and inventory experience), prior engraving experience desired, and the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Ability to provide prompt and courteous customer service and resolve customer issues.
• Ability to deal with others using tact and diplomacy.
• Ability to use engraving equipment and applicable computer software.
• Knowledge of graphic design techniques and computer software.
• Ability to operate engraving equipment and various retail and office equipment to include cash registers and inventory-tracking equipment.
• Ability to use creativity and originality when interpreting engraving requirements.
• Ability to follow departmental rules, regulations, procedures, and functions.
• Ability to use computer and relevant computer software programs.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Knowledge of store merchandise and its warehouse storage location.
• Ability to accurately process cash and credit card transactions.
• Ability to operate cash registers and inventory tracking equipment.
• Basic knowledge of the Senate as an institution preferred, with a desire and willingness to learn more about the legislative process, as well as the history and operation of the Senate.

LICENSES, CERTIFICATIONS, AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS

None.

Accommodations

Applicants needing a reasonable accommodation for the application or interview process should contact Human Resources at [e-mail].

Veteran'sPreference

Hiring for this position will be governed by the Veterans EmploymentOpportunity Act of 1998 (“VEOA”), as made applicable by the CongressionalAccountability Act of 1995. Pursuant to the VEOA, qualified applicants who arenot current employees of the Office of the Secretary of the Senate and who aredisabled or who have served on active duty in the Armed Forces during certainspecified time periods or in certain military designated campaigns (“veterans”)may be eligible to receive a preference over non-veterans in hiring decisions.Family members of veterans may also be eligible to receive a veterans’preference if the veteran cannot claim his or her veterans’ preference. To be eligible for a veterans’ preference, applicants must meet all of therequirements set forth in the VEOA and applicable regulations. Thoseeligibility requirements are summarized in the Application for Veterans’Preference, which may be obtained by visiting: https://www.senate.gov/employment/resources/pdf/SOS_VeteransPreference.pdf If claiming a veterans’ preference, an applicant must indicate that he/she ispreference eligible on the application or resume and must submit a completedcopy of the Application for Veterans’ Preference along with the supportingdocumentation specified on that form. If the Office of the Secretary of the Senate does not receive the Application for Veterans’ Preference and supportingdocumentation by the closing date, the applicant’s claim for a veterans’preference may be denied. Applicants may obtain a copy of the Office’s Veterans’ Preference inAppointments policy by submitting a written request to [e-mail]. Individuals who are entitled to a veterans’ preference are invited toself-identify voluntarily. This information is intended solely for use inconnection with the Office of the Secretary of the Senate’s obligations andefforts to provide veterans’ preference to preference-eligible applicants inaccordance with the VEOA. An applicant’s status as a disabled veteran and anyinformation regarding an applicant’s disability, including the applicant’smedical condition and history, will be kept confidential and will be collected,maintained and used in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of1990, as made applicable by section 102(a)(3) of the CAA, 2 U.S.C. §1302(a)(3). An applicant who declines to self-identify as a disabled veteran and/or toprovide information and documentation regarding his/her disabled veteran’sstatus will not be subjected to an adverse employment action, but theindividual may be ruled ineligible for a veterans’ preference.