Meatcutting Worker
US Department of War, Patuxent River, MD, United States
Meatcutting Worker
Serves as the Meatcutting Worker in a Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) location. The primary purpose of this position is to assist full performance meatcutters by performing the simpler tasks when processing beef, pork, veal, and lamb into retail and ready-to-eat cuts for sale to patrons.
Help accepting applications open & closing dates 10/24/2025 to 06/30/2026
Salary: $22.18 - $25.18 per hour NTE 48-64 hours biweekly
Locations: Patuxent River, MD Many vacancies Portsmouth, VA Many vacancies
Remote job: No
Telework eligible: No
Travel Required: Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed: No
Appointment type: Permanent
Work schedule: Part-time - Schedules vary by location and include days, nights, weekends, and holidays
Service: Competitive
Job family (Series): 7407 Meatcutting
Supervisory status: No
Security clearance: Other
Drug test: No
Position sensitivity and risk: Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process: Suitability/Fitness
Financial disclosure: No
Bargaining unit status: Yes
Announcement number: DECA-26-12815232-OC-DH
Control number: 848807400
This job is open to
The public U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S. Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL) Federal employees whose job, agency or department was eliminated and are eligible for priority over other applicants. Military spouses Military spouses of active duty service members or whose spouse is 100 percent disabled or died on active duty.
Clarification from the agency
This is a direct hire authority announcement. All qualified applicants are considered and Veterans' preference does not apply.
Duties
Position responsibilities include:
Assist journeyman meat cutters by performing the simpler tasks when processing beef, pork, veal, and lamb into retail and ready to eat cuts for sale to patrons.
Tray, wrap, weigh, and price cuts using automatic or manual wrapping machines.
Ensure correct prices by referencing price lists.
Replenish stock in display cases and rotates product to ensure wholesomeness.
Use, clean, maintain, and sharpens a variety of hand tools and power equipment.
Clean and sanitize work area to maintain required standards of cleanliness and sanitation
Read the entire job announcement. Focus on the following sections to understand whether or not you qualify for the position.
Duties and Qualifications
How to Apply (including a preview of the assessment questionnaire, if applicable)
How You Will be Evaluated
Your resume must thoroughly describe how your skills and experiences align to the criteria defined in the Qualifications section of this announcement and it must support your responses to the assessment questionnaire. We do not assume you have the necessary experience to successfully perform in this job regardless of your employment history or academic career.
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 is required.
Meet minimum age requirement. See Additional Information.
Males born after 12-31-1959 must be registered with or exempt from Selective Service.
Appointment is 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/.
Appointment is subject to a favorable suitability or fitness outcome, as determined by a completed background investigation. 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 qualifications and requirements by the closing date. Per the OPM Qualification System for Trades and Labor Occupations, how you gained the skill and/or knowledge or the length of time you have spent in this line of work is not as important as what you can do and that you have the required ability or potential to successfully perform the duties of this position. Your resume should show your specific knowledge, skill, and abilities for this position in relation to each of the elements being measured. Examples of related/qualifying experience:
Working in the retail meat department traying, wrapping and weighing meat for sale to patrons.
Cutting, trimming and boning meat.
Using hand tools and operating powered meat cutting equipment.
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).
Physical requirements:
Continuously walk, stand, bend, stoop, stretch, and reach.
Lift up to 50 pounds independently and occasionally over 50 pounds with assistance.
Overtime: Occasional
Bargaining Unit Status: Covered
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA): Nonexempt
Obligated Position: No
Those retired under CSRS or FERS considered: No. DoD criteria not met.
Work environment: May be subject to temperature changes based on opening and closing doors, working on loading docks, outside, and in refrigerated rooms. May be exposed to hot or cold weather, damp conditions, or drafty conditions. There is a danger of minor cuts, scrapes, bruises or heat sealer burns.
Telework eligible: No
Remote work eligible: No
Education
You may not use education to qualify for this position.
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
Positions will be filled under the DoD Direct Hire Authority (DHA) for Domestic Defense Industrial Base (DIB) Facilities and the Major Range and Test Facilities Base (MRTFB).
The salary range at the beginning of this announcement reflects Step 1 of the listed location with the lowest salary to the Step 5 of the listed location with the highest salary.
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 display of a salary range on this announcement does not suggest or convey an entitlement to a higher rate of pay. Refer to the Appropriated Fund Schedules page to find the salary range for a specific location.
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
Serves as the Meatcutting Worker in a Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) location. The primary purpose of this position is to assist full performance meatcutters by performing the simpler tasks when processing beef, pork, veal, and lamb into retail and ready-to-eat cuts for sale to patrons.
Help accepting applications open & closing dates 10/24/2025 to 06/30/2026
Salary: $22.18 - $25.18 per hour NTE 48-64 hours biweekly
Locations: Patuxent River, MD Many vacancies Portsmouth, VA Many vacancies
Remote job: No
Telework eligible: No
Travel Required: Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed: No
Appointment type: Permanent
Work schedule: Part-time - Schedules vary by location and include days, nights, weekends, and holidays
Service: Competitive
Job family (Series): 7407 Meatcutting
Supervisory status: No
Security clearance: Other
Drug test: No
Position sensitivity and risk: Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process: Suitability/Fitness
Financial disclosure: No
Bargaining unit status: Yes
Announcement number: DECA-26-12815232-OC-DH
Control number: 848807400
This job is open to
The public U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S. Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL) Federal employees whose job, agency or department was eliminated and are eligible for priority over other applicants. Military spouses Military spouses of active duty service members or whose spouse is 100 percent disabled or died on active duty.
Clarification from the agency
This is a direct hire authority announcement. All qualified applicants are considered and Veterans' preference does not apply.
Duties
Position responsibilities include:
Assist journeyman meat cutters by performing the simpler tasks when processing beef, pork, veal, and lamb into retail and ready to eat cuts for sale to patrons.
Tray, wrap, weigh, and price cuts using automatic or manual wrapping machines.
Ensure correct prices by referencing price lists.
Replenish stock in display cases and rotates product to ensure wholesomeness.
Use, clean, maintain, and sharpens a variety of hand tools and power equipment.
Clean and sanitize work area to maintain required standards of cleanliness and sanitation
Read the entire job announcement. Focus on the following sections to understand whether or not you qualify for the position.
Duties and Qualifications
How to Apply (including a preview of the assessment questionnaire, if applicable)
How You Will be Evaluated
Your resume must thoroughly describe how your skills and experiences align to the criteria defined in the Qualifications section of this announcement and it must support your responses to the assessment questionnaire. We do not assume you have the necessary experience to successfully perform in this job regardless of your employment history or academic career.
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 is required.
Meet minimum age requirement. See Additional Information.
Males born after 12-31-1959 must be registered with or exempt from Selective Service.
Appointment is 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/.
Appointment is subject to a favorable suitability or fitness outcome, as determined by a completed background investigation. 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 qualifications and requirements by the closing date. Per the OPM Qualification System for Trades and Labor Occupations, how you gained the skill and/or knowledge or the length of time you have spent in this line of work is not as important as what you can do and that you have the required ability or potential to successfully perform the duties of this position. Your resume should show your specific knowledge, skill, and abilities for this position in relation to each of the elements being measured. Examples of related/qualifying experience:
Working in the retail meat department traying, wrapping and weighing meat for sale to patrons.
Cutting, trimming and boning meat.
Using hand tools and operating powered meat cutting equipment.
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).
Physical requirements:
Continuously walk, stand, bend, stoop, stretch, and reach.
Lift up to 50 pounds independently and occasionally over 50 pounds with assistance.
Overtime: Occasional
Bargaining Unit Status: Covered
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA): Nonexempt
Obligated Position: No
Those retired under CSRS or FERS considered: No. DoD criteria not met.
Work environment: May be subject to temperature changes based on opening and closing doors, working on loading docks, outside, and in refrigerated rooms. May be exposed to hot or cold weather, damp conditions, or drafty conditions. There is a danger of minor cuts, scrapes, bruises or heat sealer burns.
Telework eligible: No
Remote work eligible: No
Education
You may not use education to qualify for this position.
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
Positions will be filled under the DoD Direct Hire Authority (DHA) for Domestic Defense Industrial Base (DIB) Facilities and the Major Range and Test Facilities Base (MRTFB).
The salary range at the beginning of this announcement reflects Step 1 of the listed location with the lowest salary to the Step 5 of the listed location with the highest salary.
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 display of a salary range on this announcement does not suggest or convey an entitlement to a higher rate of pay. Refer to the Appropriated Fund Schedules page to find the salary range for a specific location.
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