Pompano Beach OIC Seeks Ad-Hoc Manager, Customer Services EAS-20

If you’d like to broaden your postal horizons, Pompano Beach Officer In Charge (OIC) Joe Croce has an Ad-Hoc opportunity that may be of interest to you. If you’re a motivated individual with exceptional knowledge of rural route operations, consider an indefinite detail assignment as Manager, Customer Services, EAS-20, at the Coconut Creek Branch, 4233 W Hillsboro Blvd, Coconut Creek, FL 33073-9998.

 

All qualified career and non-career postal employees in the South Florida District and who reside within 50 miles of the reporting office are eligible to apply. The successful applicant will report to the Coconut Creek Branch and will have overall responsibility for its 36 rural routes and a detached finance unit. Two Supervisors, Customer Services will report to the Ad-Hoc Manager, Customer Services.

Non-Scheduled Days:   Saturday/Sunday       Hours: 7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Manages the delivery and collection services, dispatch, mail distribution, window services, and the processing or sale of non-postal products activities of a very large carrier station.
2. Manages certain postal operations extending beyond the normal delivery area which may include Parcel Post delivery, collections, and distribution.
3. Manages a very large workforce; may have a medium-size to large supervisory staff composed of general and specific functional area supervisors.
4. Determines staffing requirements based on planned mail volume; plans tour work schedules; adjusts workforce schedules as necessary to meet variances in actual mail volumes.
5. Reviews and analyzes production reports and evaluates them against predetermined targets for work hour output; makes corrections in inefficient operations; resolves other operational and administrative programs.
6. Provides data for annual budget planning; controls operating costs within budget allocations or justifies over expenditures.
7. Approves employee overtime, leave, and vacation schedules; evaluates employee performance; reviews and approves personnel actions; ensures that needed training of supervisors and their subordinates is provided.
8. Ensures that building and equipment and vehicles (if assigned) are maintained, and makes recommendations for changes.
9. Observes the physical plant and operations for hazards to employee safety and takes necessary action to provide a safe working environment; reviews accident reports and investigates industrial or vehicle accidents.
10. Ensures that all necessary accounting and administrative functions are performed and that reports are prepared and submitted as required.
11. Conducts route inspections; evaluates and makes minor adjustments to delivery routes to conform to changes in volume, patronage, and building management.
12. Recommends changes in the establishment, discontinuance, and location of collection boxes.
13. Ensures adequate requisitioning of and remittances for a very large supply of accountable paper. May provide accountable paper distribution service for other stations.
14. Makes special arrangements for delivery and collection of mail through consultation with high volume customers and assists commercial mailers in order to eliminate inefficiencies and correct mailing problems.
15. Consults with representatives of employee organizations regarding labor/management problems not resolved by subordinate supervisors.
16. Recommends and implements changes to local postal policy and procedures.
17. Oversees the maintenance of security procedures for the station.
18. Represents the Post Office within the area served by the station regarding public inquiries, claims and complaints.
19. Consults with representatives of large businesses and governmental agencies regarding issues of mutual concern; consults with building managers regarding changes of mail receptacles, delivery patterns, or tenants; contacts lessor regarding building repairs.
20. Exercises a normal regard for the safety of self and others with particular emphasis on compliance with established policies and procedures.
 
QUALIFICATIONS/REQUIREMENTS:
1. Knowledge of management and budgeting techniques and principles.
2. Knowledge of postal operations in carrier stations including delivery and collection, retail sales and service, mail distribution and dispatch, and Post Office Box services.
3. Knowledge of provisions of the national agreement as they apply to delivery operations.
4. Ability to manage the work of others in order to meet production and quality goals, including planning and scheduling, monitoring performance, facilitating the flow of information, and providing technical guidance.
5. Ability to coach and train subordinate supervisors in customer services and delivery operations.
6. Ability to implement and/or oversee programs in compliance with established safety policies and security procedures. 
7. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with representatives of employee labor organizations.
8. Ability to communicate orally and in writing sufficient to investigate and resolve customer complaints, and to furnish information to community businesses and governmental agencies regarding postal services.
 
How to Apply:
Interested employees must submit their eCareer profile, along with a summary of accomplishments addressing the above eight requirements. All applications should be mailed to the below address for receipt by Close of Business (COB) Monday, December 11, 2017:
 
Joe Croce
Officer In Charge, Pompano Beach
U.S. Postal Service
Pompano Beach Main Office
2351 W Atlantic Blvd
Pompano Beach, FL 33069-9998

Alzheimer's Stamp Available Today

Today at 10 a.m., Postmaster General and Chief Executive Officer Megan J. Brennan will dedicate the Alzheimer’s semipostal stamp at Johns Hopkins Asthma and Allergy Center Atrium in Baltimore, MD.

The Alzheimer’s semipostal stamp, available nationwide November 30, will be sold for 60 cents, which includes the First-Class single-piece postage rate in effect at the time of purchase plus an amount to fund Alzheimer’s research.         
   
The artwork is an illustration that first appeared on the 2008 42-cent Alzheimer’s Awareness stamp. It shows an older woman in profile with a caring hand on her shoulder with the suggestion of sunlight behind her and clouds in front of and below her. On the 2008 stamp, she was facing left; the artwork for this stamp shows her facing right to help differentiate between the two stamps.

The Semipostal Authorization Act, Pub. L. 106–253, grants the U.S. Postal Service discretionary authority to issue and sell semipostal fundraising stamps to advance such causes as it considers to be ‘‘in the national public interest and appropriate.’’ Under the program, the Postal Service intends to issue five semipostal fundraising stamps over a 10-year period, with each stamp to be sold for no more than two years. The Alzheimer’s semipostal stamp is the first and will be followed by a Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) semipostal stamp to be issued in 2019. The following three discretionary semipostal stamps have not yet been determined. 

Under the Act, the Postal Service will consider proposals for future semipostals until May 20, 2023. The Federal Register notice is posted at https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2016-04-20/pdf/2016-09081.pdf.   

Proposals will only be considered if they meet all submission requirements and selection criteria. They may be submitted by mail to Office of Stamp Services, Attn: Semipostal Discretionary Program, 475 L’Enfant Plaza SW, RM 3300, Washington, DC 20260–3501.

Suggestions may also be submitted in a single Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) file sent by email to semipostal@usps.gov. Indicate in the Subject Line: Semipostal Discretionary Program.

There are currently two semipostal stamps available for sale that has been mandated by Congress. These are the Breast Cancer Research semipostal which has raised more than $86.1 million and the Save Vanishing Species semipostal which has raised more than $4.3 million as of September 2017. 

Gearing Up for the Holidays

The U.S. Postal Service will deliver more than 15 billion pieces of mail this holiday season. Between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, the Postal Service also expects to deliver 850 million packages, which is more than a 10 percent increase compared to the same period last year.

Busiest Mailing and Delivery Days

With an increase in early and online shopping for gifts, there is no longer a “busiest day” for holiday shipping. Instead, the Postal Service’s busiest time is now two weeks before Christmas. Beginning the week of December 11, customer traffic is expected to increase, with the week of December 18 - 24 predicted to be the busiest mailing, shipping, and delivery week. During this week, nearly three billion pieces of First-Class Mail, including greeting cards, will be processed and delivered. The Postal Service also expects to deliver nearly 200 million packages per week during these two weeks.

Skip the Trip and Ship Online

While there may not be a busiest day for shipping this year, the Postal Service anticipates that December 18 will be the Postal Service’s busiest day online with more than seven million customers predicted to visit usps.com for help shipping that special holiday gift. Customers can avoid holiday hassles by visiting usps.com — the Postal Service’s website that helps make mailing and shipping easier than ever. Millions of customers will skip the trip to the Post Office altogether and take advantage of convenient online shipping this holiday season. Click-N-Ship and other online services allow customers to order free Priority Mail boxes, print shipping labels, purchase postage and even request free next-day Package Pickup from the mail carrier. And usps.com is always open.

The Postal Service offers a new feature this year to help you track and schedule package delivery. Our Informed Delivery tool not only allows you to see your incoming mail and packages, it also allows you to reschedule delivery of your packages to ensure you’re able to be home to receive them.
 
The Postal Service recommends the following mailing and shipping deadlines:
 
Dec. 11    – APO/FPO/DPO Priority Mail & First-Class Mail
Dec. 14    – USPS Retail Ground
Dec. 15    – Hawaii to Mainland Priority Mail & First-Class Mail
Dec. 16    – APO/FPO/DPO USPS Priority Mail Express and Domestic First-Class Packages (up to 15.99 ounces)
Dec. 19    – First-Class Mail (including greeting cards)
Dec. 20    – Priority Mail, Hawaii to Mainland Priority Mail Express, Alaska to Mainland Priority Mail & First-Class Mail
Dec. 21    – Alaska to Mainland Priority Mail Express
Dec. 22    – Priority Mail Express

Open Season is Open through Dec. 11

Open Season, your once-a-year opportunity to make changes to your health coverage or to choose a new plan, is open through December 11.

• All employees should review their coverage. The Postal Service encourages you to evaluate your options to ensure you have the coverage you need without paying for services you don’t.

• Several options are available. Employees can choose from a variety of health, vision and dental coverage through the Federal Employees Health Program (FEHB), USPS Health Benefits Plan (USPSHB) for non-career employees, Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs).

• You can explore your options online. Log onto the Open Season LiteBlue page at https://liteblue.usps.gov/humanresources/benefits/elections/openseason.shtml to review your health plan and find out what’s available. You can compare multiple plans through an online guide, Checkbook’s Guide to Health Plans, at https://liteblue.usps.gov/humanresources/benefits/elections/select-right-plan.shtml.

• You can make changes online, too. To enroll or change coverage in FEHB or USPSHB, go to PostalEASE  or call 877-477-3273 (select option 1). Some facilities also offer self-service kiosks that allow you to change your coverage. Use the Benefeds site to enroll or make changes to your FEDVIP coverage and the FSA Feds site to enroll in FSAs.

• Help is available. For assistance, call the HR Shared Service Center at 877-477-3273 (select option 5). The TTY number is 866-260-7507.

USPS Offers New Apps for Holidays

USPS is promoting two new applications to help employees during this year’s peak delivery season.

The Postal Service is providing mail processing and delivery employees with two new mobile applications to improve scanning, tracking and barcode diagnostic capabilities during this year’s peak delivery season.

The apps are:

• Mail History. This program allows employees to use their USPS mobile devices to scan barcodes on containers, mail-handling units and single mailpieces to gain near-real-time delivery information on mail.

The barcode information can help the Postal Service manage the accurate and timely processing and distribution of mail, including color-coding requirements and the expected delivery date.

• Enhanced Barcode Diagnostics. This app allows employees to scan barcodes with a USPS mobile device to see the scanned barcode’s visible data elements.

The diagnostics highlight invalid data within the barcode. The diagnostics can then be shared with customers for correction so their mail can be processed efficiently and timely by USPS mail equipment.

Both apps are part of the Mail Visibility Applications platform, which is part of the Postal Service’s broader efforts to improve operational efficiencies.

Authorized employees with a USPS mobile device can request access to these apps through eAccess.

Source: LINK 

USPS is Ready to Deliver Holidays

Madison, WI, Letter Carrier Brian Anderson prepares to deliver packages during last year’s holiday season.

The Postal Service is ready to deliver customers’ purchases during two of the biggest shopping days of the year: Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Retailers use Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, to mark the kickoff of door-buster sales, while Cyber Monday, the first post-Thanksgiving workday for many people, is typically a major online shopping day.

USPS offers several shipping products and services to help customers, including Click-N-Ship, which allows users to order Priority Mail boxes, print shipping labels, purchase postage and request free next-day Package Pickup.

Other services include online “how to” videos and Informed Delivery, a new feature that allows consumers to view incoming mail, track packages and reschedule deliveries.

USPS expects to deliver almost 850 million packages between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, up more than 10 percent from last year. Driving the increase: a major spike in online holiday shopping.

The Postal Service plans to deliver more than 15 billion total mailpieces this holiday season.

Source: LINK

How to Get a Letter from Santa

 

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus — and the U.S. Postal Service can help you prove it when Santa replies to your child’s letter — complete with a North Pole postmark.

Here are the steps for your child to get a letter back from Santa:

·  Have your child write a letter to Santa and place it in an envelope addressed to: Santa Claus, North Pole.
·  Later, when alone, open the envelope and write a personalized response.
·  Insert the response letter into an envelope and address it to the child.
·  Add the return address: SANTA, NORTH POLE, to the envelope.
·  Affix a First-Class Mail stamp, such as a new Christmas Carols Forever stamp to the envelope.
·  Place the complete envelope into a larger envelope — preferably a Priority Mail Flat Rate envelope — with appropriate postage and address it to:

North Pole Postmark
Postmaster
4141 Postmark Drive
Anchorage, AK 99530-9998

“Letters from Santa” must be received by the Anchorage, AK, Postmaster no later than December 15. Santa’s helpers at the Postal Service will take care of the rest.

Be sure to share the experience on social media using #LettersFromSanta.

Tips
·  To save paper, write Santa’s response on the back of your child’s letter. If you keep them together, your child will also be able to recall what he or she wrote.
·  When responding as Santa, make the response as personal as possible by highlighting your child’s accomplishments over the past year, for example, helping around the house, receiving good grades in a particular subject at school or participating in community service activities.
·  This is a great activity to do at Thanksgiving that the whole family can enjoy, including parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and other caregivers.

The Letters from Santa program adds to the excitement of Christmas and is ideal for interesting youngsters in letter writing, stamps and penmanship.

Retiring after 39 Years

Fort Lauderdale Business Mail Entry Unit Technician Anthony Lazzeri (second from right) has retired after 39 years of service.

"It has been a rock and roll time," said Lazzeri. "Thank you, everyone."

Pictured from left, Supervisor, Business Mail Entry Warren Clarke; Manager, Marketing Juan Nadal; Lazzeri; and Manager, Business Mail Entry Joycelynn King.

Photo: Fort Lauderdale Customer Relations Coordinator Kelly Worthman

Manager Thanks SSA for 35 Years

Fort Lauderdale Main Office Acting Manager, Customer Services Jordan Beabout (right) recognized Sales and Services Associate Kimberly Viola (left) for 35 years of service. Beabout thanked Viola for her dedication to the organization and presented her with a Service Award and pin for her career milestone. Photo: Fort Lauderdale Customer Relations Coordinator Kelly Worthman

Getting Ready for the Holidays

South Florida District Retail Specialist Deborah Dhue (left) and Fort Lauderdale Main Office Supervisor, Customer Services Sherman Mosley (right) are getting ready for the holiday season.

 

“I enjoy assisting our retail units, especially during the holiday season, my favorite time of the year,” said Dhue.

 

Photo: Fort Lauderdale Customer Relations Coordinator Kelly Worthman

A/DM Steve Hardin Sends Thanksgiving Greetings

Family gatherings, turkey with all the trimmings, football games, and the Macy’s parade are Thanksgiving traditions. It’s also that time of year when we pause and reflect on our lives --- and give thanks.

I am thankful for the opportunity to lead the South Florida District Postal Family. Since my arrival as your acting District Manager a few months ago, I’ve learned that South Florida employees truly understand the meaning of providing outstanding service to our internal and external customers. I am impressed with your passion for our business --- particularly noted in your dedication and commitment to each other and to our customers during hurricane recovery --- and your desire for our organization to succeed.

No doubt this year has been a very challenging one. We continue to respond to trends in America’s use of the mail and introduce new features, such as Informed Delivery and Irresistible Mail, to ensure the relevancy of mail in the future. At the same time, our business model helps us maintain our focus on cost-cutting measures and revenue-generating opportunities.

As we approach Thanksgiving, I ask that you join me and take a moment to reflect upon the comfortable life that our paychecks provide. While we often may not think about the benefits that we earn every pay period, our employee benefits package includes a federal retirement plan, Thrift Savings Plan, Flexible Spending Account, leave accrual programs, and pre-tax health insurance premiums. I’m grateful for these benefits and show my appreciation by being regular in attendance and by giving an honest day’s work for a fair day’s pay.

Just like the Thanksgiving holiday, the Postal Service has established a tradition of providing trusted, affordable, universal service to its customers --- and has been doing so for the past 236 years. Working together as a team --- a postal family --- I’m confident that we will continue to do our part to ensure our future as an essential part of the fabric of this nation.

May you and your family enjoy a Happy Thanksgiving!