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Head, Congressional Programs and Communications Office

Legislative Branch
Library of Congress
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The Congressional Research Service (CRS) Office of the Director seeks a Head of Congressional Programs and Communication Office to supervise, manage, and lead the work of the CRS Congressional Programs and Communications Office. The Congressional Programs and Communications Office is responsible for leading efforts to develop and promote CRS products and services for Congress; providing CRS staff a broad range of services including: planning and implementation of congressional programs, seminars, events, and outreach activities; and managing all aspects of the CRS communications program. Serving under the administrative supervision of the CRS Deputy Director, the incumbent supervises and leads the work of the office and collaborates with senior management officials, supervisors, and other CRS employees involved in developing, shaping, and implementing congressional outreach strategies, policies, and efforts. The incumbent works highly independently, exercising considerable judgment, and carries out duties and responsibilities in accordance with broad overall guidelines and policies.

Candidates with demonstrated experience in developing and managing seminars, programs and other events for Congress and/or a communications program or office, including working for and with senior-level federal legislative or executive branch, private sector, and nonprofit communications officials and experience in developing and managing online and print external and internal communications are encouraged to apply. The ideal candidate will have strong interpersonal skills, expert knowledge of the U.S. Congress and its legislative processes, and experience in leading and collaborating with a highly professional, diverse workforce. Strong writing, reviewing, and communication skills are essential.

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 is 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
09/11/2017 to 10/02/2017
Salary
$131,767 to - $161,900 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 15
Location
Washington DC, DC
1 vacancy
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Promotion potential
15
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
Yes
Announcement number
VAR000196
Control number
479107800

This job is open to

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Duties

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Directly supervises up to twelve staff members in the Office of the Director, Congressional Programs and Communications Office performing work at a variety of levels up to the GS-14 level. Plans work to be accomplished by subordinates; sets and adjusts priorities, prepares schedules for completion of work; assigns work to subordinates based on priorities, provides informal feedback, and conducts performance evaluations. Establishes performance expectations for staff and clearly communicates these through the formal employee performance management system. Exhibits commitment to the Library’s Supervisor Core Competencies.

Oversees CRS internal and external communications projects/strategies, utilizing critical judgment in determining the scope, approach, techniques, and manner of presentation of communications. Devises internal and external communications strategies and policies that support CRS’s mission and are aligned with its strategic plan. Formulates the communications goals and identifies opportunities for improvements in methods and procedures. Develops benchmarking and performance measurement criteria; determines milestones and targets; and recommends short- and long-range strategies and solutions to achieve desired outcomes for CRS communications goals.

Develops and implements methodologies, processes, and policies for planning, implementing, and evaluating CRS programs, seminars, and events. Formulates outreach goals and identifies opportunities for improvements in methods and procedures. Anticipates outreach needs, requirements, opportunities, developments, and trends to ensure new or revised outreach efforts are planned and integrated with current programs and priorities. Leads the development of new and innovative processes and techniques to enhance 1) the value of CRS programs, seminars, and events to congressional clients and 2) the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the overall CRS programs function. Develops benchmarking and performance measurement criteria and recommends strategies to achieve desired outcomes for CRS outreach goals.

Develops and implements a CRS social media strategy and creates/integrates communications policies and initiatives to ensure CRS marketing, publicity, and promotional materials increase the understanding and awareness about CRS’s products and services among Members of Congress and their staffs. Directs the development of print and/or electronic marketing, publicity, and promotional materials for CRS programs, seminars, events, and congressional outreach activities to ensure effective communication appropriate to the audience.

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.

Ability to manage a congressional programs and communications office**

Ability to lead and manage staff**

Knowledge of the U.S. Congress and its legislative processes**

Ability to communicate in writing and review the writing of others**

Ability to exercise judgment and discretion

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

Ability to communicate effectively other than in writing

Additional information

The Congressional Research Service, within the Library of Congress, is part of the Legislative Branch of the federal government. As such, all positions are in the excepted service.

The selected applicant may be required to file a financial disclosure statement with the House of Representatives, U.S. Congress, in accordance with the provisions of Public Law 95-521, Ethics in Government Act of 1978.

This is a supervisory, non-bargaining unit position.

The tour of duty for this position is full-time.

The position description number for this position is 364196.

The incumbent of this position may elect to work a flexitime work schedule.

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

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

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

Applicants who are referred for interview will be required to submit a completed OF-306, Declaration for Federal Employment.

Initial appointments, permanent or indefinite, to the Library of Congress require completion of a one-year probationary period. In addition, per Library of Congress Regulation 2010-12, an appointee is subject to a one-year supervisory probationary period, if this is his/her first supervisory/managerial position at the Library.

This agency provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify this agency. The decision on granting reasonable accommodations will be made 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 may be issued by a State Vocational Rehabilitation Office, Disability Services or Career Services office of an applicant's college or university, or the Department of Veterans Affairs. The date of certification must be within one year of the vacancy closing date and must be submitted with your application. For more information view the directive on the Library's Selective Placement Program and/or contact the Library's Office of Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity Programs at 202-707-6024 (voice or TTY) or email spp@loc.gov. FAILURE TO SUBMIT YOUR CERTIFICATION WILL CAUSE YOUR APPLICATION TO NOT BE CONSIDERED UNDER THE SELECTIVE PLACEMENT PROGRAM.

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, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, and provide the required documentation listed on the back of the form. For more information regarding eligibility requirements, please see the Library's Merit Selection Plan, Section X.D. IF REQUIRED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION IS NOT ATTACHED, VETERANS' PREFERENCE WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED IN THE APPLICATION PROCESS.

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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