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Analyst in Defense Policy and Trade

Legislative Branch
Library of Congress
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The Congressional Research Service (CRS) seeks an Analyst in Defense Policy and Trade to join its Foreign Affairs, Defense and Trade Division (FDT).

Analyst duties include conducting research and preparing objective, non-partisan analytical studies and descriptive background reports on issues of national significance; providing personal consultation and assistance to congressional committees, Members and staff on public policy issues throughout the legislative process; and participating in team research projects and seminars. The analyst is also expected to develop, over time, the skills necessary to provide public policy and legislative analysis and consultation to congressional committees, Members and staff at increasingly sophisticated levels.

Applicants should have the ability to plan and execute analytical research projects to address congressional requests in the areas of defense and intelligence budgeting, manpower and management, and international trade and economic policy by determining whether issues are amenable to statistical/data analytic inquiry; identifying potential data sources and evaluating their authoritativeness and limitations; and synthesizing complex data into easy-to-understand analyses for a non-technical audience.

Strong research, writing and presentation skills are essential. Applicants should be experienced with quantitative approaches to research and familiar with complex defense and trade-related data sets. The ideal candidate will demonstrate an understanding of the causal relationships among the political, security, economic and social dynamics in the areas of defense, intelligence and trade. Candidates with experience in reshaping data, data analysis, data analytics and statistical programming, in using data science, visualizations, design thinking and experiential learning to inform research products and processes are especially urged to apply.

CRS works exclusively for the United States Congress, providing policy and legal analysis to committees and Members of both the House and Senate, regardless of party affiliation. As a legislative branch agency within the Library of Congress, CRS has been a valued and respected resource on Capitol Hill for more than a century.

CRS is well known for analysis that is authoritative, confidential, objective and nonpartisan. Its highest priority ¡s to ensure that Congress has immediate access to the nation’s best thinking on public policy issues of interest to its Members and Committees.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
03/23/2017 to 04/20/2017
Salary
$66,510 to - $86,460 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 11
Locations
1 vacancy in the following locations:
Washington DC, DC
1 vacancy
Washington DC, DC
1 vacancy
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time - Open
Service
Promotion potential
15
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Top Secret
Announcement number
VAR000044
Control number
466471400

This job is open to

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Duties

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Prepares a variety of analytical reports, memoranda, and written materials on public policy issues within the employee's area of professional knowledge to support congressional decision making.

Through personal consultation, assists committees, Members, and staff with consideration of legislative issues by providing information and analysis, and applying professional subject-area knowledge.

Participates in CRS seminars, workshops, and/or outreach programs for committees, Members, and staff.

Prepares a variety of descriptive and background reports, memoranda, and written materials on subjects or public policy issues within the employee's area of professional knowledge.

Locates and provides information requested by Members and committees of Congress or their staff.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

No additional requirements to those listed above.

Qualifications

Applicants must have had progressively responsible experience and training sufficient in scope and quality to furnish them with an acceptable level of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of the position without more than normal supervision.

Knowledge of defense, intelligence, and trade**

Ability to analyze public policy issues**

Ability to write in a public policy context**

Ability to convey analysis and information orally through briefings, consultations and other presentations

Ability to work collaboratively with others

Ability to exercise objectivity in all phases of analysis and consultation

Ability to communicate effectively other than in writing

Additional information

The position description number for this position is 004746.

The salary range indicated reflects the locality pay adjustment for the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.

The incumbent of this position may work a flextime or complex work schedule.

This is a non-supervisory, bargaining unit position.

RELOCATION EXPENSES ARE NOT AUTHORIZED FOR THE PERSON(S) SELECTED UNDER THIS VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT.

Although it is the Library's policy to afford the maximum pay benefit to employees when setting rates of pay, a new appointee who has had no previous Federal service will generally be paid the minimum step of the grade.

The Library of Congress is an equal opportunity employer. All who meet the eligibility requirements are encouraged to apply.

Applicants must submit a complete application package that is received by the closing date of this announcement.

This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please ADA@loc.gov. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

Applicants with disabilities may be considered under special hiring procedures and must submit an appropriate certificate of eligibility when applying for this position. The certificate of disability must verify that the applicant has a severe disability and may be issued by a State Vocational Rehabilitation Office, a Disability Services or Career Services Office of the applicant's college or university, or the Department of Veterans Affairs. The date of certification must be within three (3) years of the vacancy closing date and must be submitted with your application. For more information contact the Library's Office of Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity Programs at 202-707-3960 or email spp@loc.gov. FAILURE TO SUBMIT YOUR CERTIFICATION WILL CAUSE YOUR APPLICATION TO NOT BE CONSIDERED UNDER THE SELECTIVE PLACEMENT PROGRAM.

The Library of Congress is the national library of the United States and is part of the Legislative Branch of the Federal government. As such, all positions are in the excepted service.

Appointment/retention is subject to a favorable evaluation of an appropriate personnel security/suitability investigation.

The Library reserves the right to fill a lesser or greater number of vacancies indicated during the life of this vacancy announcement.

Initial appointments, permanent or indefinite, to the Library of Congress require completion of a one-year probationary period.

Are you a veteran? Please indicate the type of veterans' preference you are claiming in your application materials and/or applicant profile and provide the appropriate supporting documentation to validate your claim. Those applying for 5-point preference must submit Member Copy 4 of your DD 214. Those applying for 10-point preference must fill out an SF-15 (click here for the form) and provide the required documentation listed on the back of the form. If required supporting documentation is not attached, Veterans' Preference will not be considered in the application process.

For more information regarding eligibility requirements, please see the Library of Congress Merit Selection Plan, Section X.D, at: http://www.loc.gov/hr/employment/msp010909.pdf.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

The Library of Congress evaluates applicants through an applicant questionnaire and a structured interview. Applicants may also be screened for some jobs through licensing, certification, and/or education requirements, a narrative/application review, and/or a preliminary telephone interview. The knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) that are marked with a double asterisk (**) in the vacancy announcement and the applicant questionnaire are considered the most critical for a position. To be considered for final selection, applicants must demonstrate fully acceptable experience in these designated KSAs in the narrative/application review, preliminary telephone and/or full structured interview. The various assessment tools listed above are designed to verify or explore applicants' experience, knowledge, and training directly related to the job in order to identify the best qualified applicants for selection.
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