The Congressional Research Service (CRS) works exclusively for the United States Congress, providing objective, nonpartisan research and analysis to committees and Members of the House and Senate. The CRS American Law Division (ALD) seeks a senior manager to serve as Deputy Assistant Director and Specialist. The selectee will support the Assistant Director in managing ALD, which addresses all legal questions that arise in a legislative context or are otherwise of interest to Congress. Some issues relate to the institutional prerogatives of Congress under the Constitution. Other questions involve constitutional and legal principles of statutory analysis that cross legislative policy areas, such as federalism, commerce powers and individual rights. ALD also focuses on the intricacies of legal precedent and statutory construction as they relate to business, crime, the environment, civil rights, international law and other issues. CRS reports and memoranda, while not legally binding, are used by Members and committees of Congress in their legislative deliberations and decision making.
This is a senior leadership position. Applications received for this position will not be considered for any other CRS vacancies. To be considered you must meet the critical competency requirements of the job at the levels described below.
Ability to apply knowledge of American law to address legal questions in a public policy setting: I am recognized by decision makers as a professional resource in specific areas of American law at the federal level.
Ability to manage legal analysis in a public policy setting: I have routinely managed legal research and analysis in specific areas of American law at the federal level.
Ability to lead people and manage a workforce: I have led, supervised, and managed a professional research workforce.
Ability to review the written products of others: I have evaluated and critically reviewed diverse written research products on legal aspects of public policy issues for compliance with established substantive and qualitative standards and made independent judgments on acceptability of material.
Continue with the application process only if you are able to document on your resume that you meet the four requirements listed above.
KEY REQUIREMENTS
You must meet the BASIC REQUIREMENT listed under QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service (CRS) works exclusively for the United States Congress, providing objective, nonpartisan research and analysis to committees and Members of the House and Senate. The CRS American Law Division (ALD) seeks a senior manager to serve as Deputy Assistant Director and Specialist. The selectee will support the Assistant Director in managing ALD, which addresses all legal questions that arise in a legislative context or are otherwise of interest to Congress. Some issues relate to the institutional prerogatives of Congress under the Constitution. Other questions involve constitutional and legal principles of statutory analysis that cross legislative policy areas, such as federalism, commerce powers and individual rights. ALD also focuses on the intricacies of legal precedent and statutory construction as they relate to business, crime, the environment, civil rights, international law and other issues. CRS reports and memoranda, while not legally binding, are used by Members and committees of Congress in their legislative deliberations and decision making.
This is a senior leadership position. Applications received for this position will not be considered for any other CRS vacancies. To be considered you must meet the critical competency requirements of the job at the levels described below.
Ability to apply knowledge of American law to address legal questions in a public policy setting: I am recognized by decision makers as a professional resource in specific areas of American law at the federal level.
Ability to manage legal analysis in a public policy setting: I have routinely managed legal research and analysis in specific areas of American law at the federal level.
Ability to lead people and manage a workforce: I have led, supervised, and managed a professional research workforce.
Ability to review the written products of others: I have evaluated and critically reviewed diverse written research products on legal aspects of public policy issues for compliance with established substantive and qualitative standards and made independent judgments on acceptability of material.
Continue with the application process only if you are able to document on your resume that you meet the four requirements listed above.
KEY REQUIREMENTS
You must meet the BASIC REQUIREMENT listed under QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED.
The Deputy Assistant Director counsels the Assistant Director on all aspects of legal research and analysis of the division; monitors research, administration and operations of the division in relation to its capacity for and actual experience in meeting needs of the Congress; ensures that the division is working toward identifying the legal components of public policy problems facing the Congress and follows through with analysis that provides an objective, authoritative framework in which the Congress can assess the consequences of legislative/policy options; demonstrates intellectual leadership in monitoring congressional needs in policy areas within the research management responsibility of the division; collaborates with other senior research division managers to assure full identification of significant issues and develops analytical approaches; and serves with full delegated authority as the Assistant Director in his/her absence. The Deputy Assistant Director performs special research, consultative, or administrative assignments as requested by the Director.
Major duties of this position include:
Demonstrates intellectual leadership in the formulating, framing, conducting and communicating of legal policy and analysis conducted in the division, in terms of subject matter expertise, methodology and relevance to congressional needs. Reviews the written products of staff to ensure that the Service’s quality standards are met.
In collaboration with other senior managers, ensures coverage of all issues identified throughout the Service. Oversees implementation of the research agenda, including approaches, frameworks, or methodologies. Monitors, updates, and adjusts the research agenda to meet the changing needs of Congress, reassesses/reallocates capacity and communicates adjustments to supervisors and staff. Coordinates research activities with managers in other divisions to promote research and analysis across the Service.
Performs the human resource management functions relative to the staff supervised. Ensures that supervisors and staff conduct research and analytical activities in a collaborative manner that incorporates expertise from multiple disciplines available from both inside and outside the division. Establishes and clearly communicates performance expectations for staff members in support of agency goals. Provides informal feedback and periodically formally evaluates staff on performance measures and results.
Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with various high-level individuals, including committees and officers of the United States Congress, other legislative agencies and the Library of Congress, executive branch departments and agencies, professional organizations, universities, and other research organizations in order to advance the programs and objectives of the Congressional Research Service.
The Deputy Assistant Director leads staff toward meeting the Library’s vision, mission, and goals by acting decisively, leveraging diversity and inclusiveness, demonstrating flexibility and resilience, fostering continuous improvement and innovation, fostering integrity and honesty, communicating effectively, and managing conflict and crisis. Exhibits commitment to the Library’s Supervisory Core Competencies
See requirements listed below under Qualifications Required.
Your resume is important to this application process. It will be reviewed to determine whether you possess the qualifications referenced above. All applicants are required to submit a resume that provides specific information (to include accomplishments, work experience and education/training) that clearly describes what you would bring to the position.
The Supervisor leads his/her staff toward meeting the Library’s vision, mission, and goals by acting decisively, leveraging diversity and inclusiveness, demonstrating flexibility and resilience, fostering continuous improvement and innovation, and fostering integrity and honesty. To view the Library’s Supervisory Core Competencies click the following link: http://www.loc.gov/hr/employment/uploads/loc_supervisor_core_competencies.pdf.
Qualifications
BASIC REQUIREMENT: Applicant must be a graduate from a full course of study in a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association and be an active member in good standing of the bar of a state, the District of Columbia, a territory of the United States, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
In addition, the competencies below are required for this position. Those marked with a double asterisk (**) are considered the most critical competencies for this position.
Ability to apply knowledge of American law to address legal questions in a public policy setting.** The ability to apply knowledge of the theories, relevant laws and regulations, concepts, processes, techniques, principles, and/or practices of American law to address legal questions in a public policy setting and in the context of federal law and legislation. This includes knowledge of the history, trends, interrelationships, and current status of the fields of American law and interrelationships with other key fields and disciplines.
Ability to manage legal analysis in a public policy setting.** The ability to manage, organize, and evaluate the legal analysis of public policy issues at the federal level. This includes ensuring that the legal components of public policy problems are appropriately conceptualized and defined; information and research are fully analyzed and synthesized; the implications of statutory and case law are identified and appropriate conclusions are drawn; alternatives are generated and assessed; the consequences of choosing each alternative are evaluated; and established requirements are applied (e.g., objectivity and authoritativeness) in the development, evaluation, and maintenance of products and services. This also includes understanding the big picture, the inter-relationships of all aspects of law and the public policy issue, and the appropriate array and design of products and services to meet client needs.
Ability to lead people and manage a workforce.** The ability to conduct workforce planning activities by identifying staffing needs and recruiting, hiring, training, supervising, and mentoring highly qualified, diverse staff to meet those needs. This includes setting realistic but challenging goals and standards and providing regular, constructive feedback towards goal attainment. This also includes the ability and willingness to ensure that tasks are appropriately delegated and satisfactorily completed by monitoring and evaluating performance against a predetermined deadline and/or measure of quality.
Ability to review the written products of others.** The ability to evaluate the written products of others to meet the substantive and qualitative standards of a public policy organization. This includes making suggestions to improve these written products.
Ability to exercise judgment and discretion. The ability to demonstrate awareness of the likely consequences or implications of one’s own actions and work within the context of agency/organizational/departmental standards. This includes behaving appropriately in a given situation (e.g., with colleagues, clients, media/press), using discretion, and honoring confidentiality.
Ability to think and act strategically. The ability to establish a strategic direction for an organization or group. This includes identifying strategic opportunities and developing strategic and annual plans and performance targets to take advantage of those opportunities. This also includes evaluating organizational progress and performance and making appropriate adjustments.
Ability to collaborate. The ability to work well and cooperate with others and promote collaborative efforts. This includes seeking input from colleagues with diverse expertise, skills, and abilities and using that input to inform and enhance one’s own work as well as the work of the Agency. This also includes showing respect for and relating well to people from varied and diverse backgrounds.
Ability to define and solve problems and make decisions. The ability to identify the problem or issue, and to gather, examine, and interpret information to generate effective solutions to problems and make sound decisions. This includes the ability to seek, logically examine, analyze, interpret, and synthesize information from different sources; and generate and evaluate reasonable alternative solutions and their implications.
Ability to communicate effectively other than in writing. Ability to effectively express ideas and recommendations other than in writing in various settings to peers, staff, managers, supervisors, and external audiences to both provide and seek information. This includes actively listening to or understanding communicated information and answering questions thoughtfully and completely.
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 will 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, the Ethics in Government Act of 1978.
The salary range indicated reflects the basic pay adjustment of the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.
Number of vacancies: one.
This is a permanent, supervisory, non-bargaining unit position.
The tour of duty for this position is full-time.
The position description number for this position is 58851.
The Library reserves the right to fill a lesser or greater number of vacancies indicated during the life of this vacancy announcement.
Relocation expenses may be authorized for the applicant selected under this vacancy announcement.
Appointment/retention is subject to a favorable evaluation of an appropriate personnel security/suitability investigation.
Initial appointments, permanent or indefinite, to the Library of Congress require completion of a one-year probationary period. In addition, all newly appointed Senior Level executives from outside the Library, as well as from within, must serve a one-year probationary period in accordance with Library of Congress Regulation (LCR) 2017-2.1, Senior Level Executive System.
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 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.
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.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) are not required for the Library's hiring process.
The Library of Congress will evaluate applicants using applicants' resumes and a structured interview process.
All applicants are required to submit a resume that provides specific information (to include accomplishments, work experience and education/training) that clearly describes what they would bring to the position and documents that they meet the critical competency requirements listed above. Resumes will be reviewed to determine whether candidates possess the critical competencies marked with a double asterisk (**), as referenced above.
Interviews are designed to verify or explore applicants' experience, knowledge, and training directly related to the job as documented in the resume in order to identify the best qualified applicants for selection.
Applicants do not need to respond to specific competency questions for this vacancy announcement but will be requested to answer one question related to how they became aware of this job opportunity. To preview questions please click here.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
All applicants must submit copies of the following documentation with their application materials. APPLICANTS WHO DO NOT SUBMIT THIS REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION AT THE TIME OF APPLICATION WILL BE DISQUALIFIED FROM FURTHER CONSIDERATION.
Copies of transcripts or a self-generated list of courses with grades and credits (indicate quarter/semester hours, names of all colleges and universities attended including city, state, major(s) and type and year of degree(s) received) demonstrating that applicant is a graduate from a full course of study in a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association. Photocopies of transcripts (or copies downloaded from the university website) are sufficient at the application stage. Official documents will be required if selected.
Copy of license or certification demonstrating that applicant is an active member in good standing of the bar of a state, the District of Columbia, a territory of the United States, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
Current or former federal employees must submit their most recent Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50 or equivalent).
Disabled applicants claiming Selective Placement eligibility must submit the appropriate supporting documentation described in OTHER INFORMATION above. If this required documentation is not attached, your application will not be considered under the Selective Placement Program.
Veterans claiming Veterans' Preference eligibility must submit the appropriate supporting documentation described in OTHER INFORMATION above. If this required documentation is not attached, Veterans' Preference will not be applied to your application.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Please carefully follow all instructions under the How to Apply tab to ensure that you are considered for the position.
Step 1: If you do not already have one, create a resume on USAJOBS. Although you must enter your Social Security Number for USAJOBS, this information will not be provided to the Library of Congress.
Step 2: Review the Job Announcement. We recommend you go to the Qualifications and Evaluations section of the job announcement to review the qualifications listed to ensure that your resume reflects your accomplishments in those areas.
Step 3: Click on the "APPLY ONLINE" button to the right of this announcement. Follow USAJOBS' instructions to access your account and submit your resume. You will be redirected to the Hiring Management website to complete the application process. If this is your first time in Hiring Management, you will be asked to answer questions related to your eligibility for Federal employment. You will be able to update this information and save it to our account for future announcements.
Step 4: Click on "Finish" after you have completed your application. Once you have submitted your application, you can check your status online through your Hiring Management or MY USAJOBS account. If you are experiencing any technical difficulty with the online process, you MUST CONTACT THE POINT OF CONTACT FOR THIS ANNOUNCEMENT BEFORE THE CLOSING DATE. For all technical issues please contact jobhelp@loc.gov , no later than 4:30pm EST of the Closing Date.
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
101 Independence Ave. SE
LM-107
Washington, District of Columbia 20540
United States
Next steps
Please review our evaluation process under Qualifications and Evaluations. You may check the status of your application for this position at any time by logging onto the USAJOBS "My USAJOBS" tab and clicking on "My Applications." You will receive final notification via e-mail when the vacancy has been filled.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
All applicants must submit copies of the following documentation with their application materials. APPLICANTS WHO DO NOT SUBMIT THIS REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION AT THE TIME OF APPLICATION WILL BE DISQUALIFIED FROM FURTHER CONSIDERATION.
Copies of transcripts or a self-generated list of courses with grades and credits (indicate quarter/semester hours, names of all colleges and universities attended including city, state, major(s) and type and year of degree(s) received) demonstrating that applicant is a graduate from a full course of study in a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association. Photocopies of transcripts (or copies downloaded from the university website) are sufficient at the application stage. Official documents will be required if selected.
Copy of license or certification demonstrating that applicant is an active member in good standing of the bar of a state, the District of Columbia, a territory of the United States, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
Current or former federal employees must submit their most recent Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50 or equivalent).
Disabled applicants claiming Selective Placement eligibility must submit the appropriate supporting documentation described in OTHER INFORMATION above. If this required documentation is not attached, your application will not be considered under the Selective Placement Program.
Veterans claiming Veterans' Preference eligibility must submit the appropriate supporting documentation described in OTHER INFORMATION above. If this required documentation is not attached, Veterans' Preference will not be applied to your application.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Please carefully follow all instructions under the How to Apply tab to ensure that you are considered for the position.
Step 1: If you do not already have one, create a resume on USAJOBS. Although you must enter your Social Security Number for USAJOBS, this information will not be provided to the Library of Congress.
Step 2: Review the Job Announcement. We recommend you go to the Qualifications and Evaluations section of the job announcement to review the qualifications listed to ensure that your resume reflects your accomplishments in those areas.
Step 3: Click on the "APPLY ONLINE" button to the right of this announcement. Follow USAJOBS' instructions to access your account and submit your resume. You will be redirected to the Hiring Management website to complete the application process. If this is your first time in Hiring Management, you will be asked to answer questions related to your eligibility for Federal employment. You will be able to update this information and save it to our account for future announcements.
Step 4: Click on "Finish" after you have completed your application. Once you have submitted your application, you can check your status online through your Hiring Management or MY USAJOBS account. If you are experiencing any technical difficulty with the online process, you MUST CONTACT THE POINT OF CONTACT FOR THIS ANNOUNCEMENT BEFORE THE CLOSING DATE. For all technical issues please contact jobhelp@loc.gov , no later than 4:30pm EST of the Closing Date.
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
101 Independence Ave. SE
LM-107
Washington, District of Columbia 20540
United States
Next steps
Please review our evaluation process under Qualifications and Evaluations. You may check the status of your application for this position at any time by logging onto the USAJOBS "My USAJOBS" tab and clicking on "My Applications." You will receive final notification via e-mail when the vacancy has been filled.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
