Upholsterer

This position is located in the Architect of the Capitol, Senate Office Buildings, Upholstery Branch. The incumbent serves as Upholsterer installing upholstery, drapery and window treatments. Work involves contouring surfaces; use of upholstery tools, machines and techniques; with extensive knowledge of the historic appearance. Incumbent also assists with carpet installation.

Major duties

Tour of duty for this position is: Monday - Friday 5:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. This is an Essential-Employee Position. The employee may be required to report to work during emergencies AND inclement weather situations. Work schedule may require mandatory overtime on holidays AND weekends on a regular and recurring basis. The individual selected for this position will: UPHOLSTERY PROJECTS: Repairing and replacing upholstery, including fabrics, springs, webbing, filling and padding on historical furniture, seats and structural framework. Installs complex, artistic custom upholstery, draperies, hallway and doorway canopies including planning and laying out of a variety of difficult and exacting tasks on unusually intricate pieces of executive-type and historically significant office furniture, such as overstuffed couches and chairs with curved, tufted or cushion surfaces. Fabricates and installs custom drapery treatments and drapes. Designs and makes special pillows for chairs, cutting, patching and laying rugs and cushions; re-taping, re-roping and adjusting Venetian blinds; and performing other upholstering duties. Plans work, laying out, coordinating and following blueprints for a variety of difficult and exacting work on unusually intricate pieces of executive-type office furniture, such as overstuffed couches and chairs with curved, tufted or cushion surfaces. Examines used articles to determine repair or modification required and replaces worn out or defective parts, using the machines and tools of the trade. Performs channeling and tufting to decorate surfaces or make outer covers conform to curved frame lines or other special shapes. Measures irregular surfaces and curved contours to determine cover dimensions; makes rough sketches or working drawings giving measurements of cover pieces; develops patterns and templates; and makes complicated cutting layouts. Performs a wide variety of precision tasks involving the fabrication, modification, repair and installation of historically significant upholstery pieces. CARPET INSTALLATION: As assigned, assists with major carpet installations. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

You must meet all eligibility and qualification requirements by the closing date of the job announcement. You must meet the following SCREEN-OUT(S) required for this position. Performs journey level upholster work in the following: (experience must be reflected in resume)

• Creating artistic upholstery adaptations utilizing techniques such as tufting to decorate surfaces or make outer covers conform to curved frame lines or other special shapes.
• Operating different type sewing machines and have a good knowledge of a variety of stitches used.
• Repairing and replacing upholstery, including fabrics, springs, webbing, filling and padding on historical furniture, seats and structural framework.

Requirements

“To be employed by the Architect of the Capitol in a paid position, an individual must meet one of the categories below:

• A citizen of the United States;
• A person who is lawfully admitted for permanent residence and is seeking citizenship as outlined in 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)(B);
• A person who is admitted as a refugee under 8 U.S.C. 1157 or is granted asylum under 8 U.S.C. 1158 and has filed a declaration of intention to become a lawful permanent resident and then a citizen when eligible;
• A person who owes allegiance to the United States (nationals of American Samoa, Swains Island, and the Northern Mariana Islands, and nationals who meet other requirements described in 8 U.S.C. 1408); or
• A person who is currently an officer or employee of the Government of the United States.”