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Supervisory Librarian (Head, Research Access and Collections Development Section)

Legislative Branch
Library of Congress
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located in the Research Access and Collection Development Section, Geography and Map Division, Special Collections Directorate, Library Services.

The position description number for this position is 307627.

The salary range indicated reflects the locality pay adjustments for the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan area.

This is a supervisory, non-bargaining unit position.

Relocation expenses will not be authorized for the person(s) selected under this vacancy announcement.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
08/06/2020 to 08/27/2020
Salary
$121,316 to - $157,709 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 14
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Washington, DC
1 vacancy
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time - Flexitime.
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
14
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Announcement number
VAR001337
Control number
575498300

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Anyone may apply - By law, employment at most U.S. Government agencies, including the Library of Congress, is limited to U.S. citizens. However, non-citizens may be hired, provided that other legal requirements are met and the Library determines there are no qualified U.S. citizens available for the position.

Duties

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The Head, Research Access and Collection Development Section is a key member of the division's administrative and management staff. Reporting directly to the Chief, the Head Research Access and Collection Development Section works highly independently, exercising judgment, making immediate decisions and taking necessary action in the position's key areas. These include leading the staff, overseeing access to and research and reference use of the on-site and online collections, managing reference services and the rare and valuable vault collections, collections' security and maintenance, and consultation and liaison services.

Supervises a group of employees performing work up to the GS-13 level. Provides administrative and technical supervision necessary for the team to accomplish its work. Performs the administrative and human resource management functions relative to the staff supervised. Establishes guidelines and performance expectations for staff which are clearly communicated through the formal employee performance management system. Observes the team members' performance, and demonstrates and conducts work performance critiques. Provides feedback and evaluates employee performance. Resolves informal complaints and grievances. Develops work improvement plans and recommends personnel actions as needed. Provides advice and counsel to workers related to work and administrative matters. Effects disciplinary measures as appropriate to the authority delegated in this area. Reviews and approves or disapproves leave requests and timesheets. Assures that subordinates are trained and fully comply with the provisions of safety regulations.

Plans, establishes, and directs the Geography and Map Division's Research Access  and Collection Development Section.  Coordinates staff efforts related to geographic and cartographic reference and access services, collection geospatial and digital development. Establishes policies and directs work involving all aspects of the collection and the furnishing of information via a wide variety of communication media to Members of Congress, other libraries, Federal agencies, professional organizations and institutions, scholars, members of the general public and the media. Receives routes and controls written and electronic reference inquiries directed to the librarians and reviews replies for responsiveness and quality.

Performs a broad range of technical information activities that require a substantial depth of analysis and the solving of problems in information access and dissemination in particularly difficult and responsible circumstances. Analyzes and responds to broad and complex researcher questions, requirements and priorities related to geographic and cartographic matters and suggests the most appropriate research strategies to implement. Directs researchers to the proper resources, services, specialist or reading room. Makes expert decisions on the sources that will best meet the researchers' needs. Provides services to professional scholars, legislators and their staffs, candidates for advanced degrees, those involved in preserving historic maps and other geographic materials, documentary editors Journalists, publishers, multimedia producers, creators of digital products and staff of libraries, museums, historical societies and specialized research institution. Trains new staff and others outside the immediate work environment, familiarizing them with the sources, technical expertise and skills needed to conduct geographic and cartographic research. Oversees assistance given to the Geography and Map Division's researchers on-site and remotely. Conducts research and analysis on geographic and cartographic topics, providing authoritative and definitive results. Performs information searches of a multifaceted and challenging nature, using familiarity with resources in the Library of Congress and primary source materials in other libraries, museums and academic institutions.

Initiates, establishes and maintains professional relationships with geographers, cartographers, librarians, historians, map collectors, documentary editors and others producing or obtaining materials in order to share resources and information. Serves as one of the principal liaisons for the division with research centers, map societies, other interested groups and individuals, and at professional conferences, seminars and exhibits. Prepares articles for publication and presents papers at conferences, seminars or meetings on the collection of geographic and cartographic materials and the provisions of reference services. Uses an expert knowledge of geographic and cartographic materials as primary documentation and a comprehensive knowledge of the division's collection and related collections in the Library and other institutions to provide outreach programs and tours for fellow professionals, scholars and the general public.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

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

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 lead and supervise a diverse workforce.**

Knowledge of integrated library systems, library applications, and other information technologies.**

Ability to analyze organizational and operational problems and develop solutions to plan and carry out library programs.**

Ability to plan, establish, and direct a library reference and research program.

Ability to provide consultation and liaison services.

Ability to communicate in writing.

Knowledge of geographic and cartographic reference and access services.

Ability to communicate effectively other than in writing.

Education

Basic Requirement:

All librarians must meet the requirements for professional education in library science or possess equivalent experience and education.

A. Completion of 1 full academic year of graduate study in library science in an accredited college or university, in addition to completion of all work required for a bachelor's degree;

or

B. A total of at least 5 years of a combination of college-level education, training, and experience. To qualify on this basis, the applicant must establish conclusively that the education, training, and experience provided knowledge and understanding of the theories, principles, and techniques of professional librarianship; a knowledge of literature resources; and the knowledge and abilities essential for providing effective library and information services.

You must submit a legible copy of your college/university transcripts to your online application. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable at the time of application. Official transcripts will be required if selected. Failure to submit the required legible documentation at the time of application will result in disqualification of your application.

Foreign Education – Education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed equivalent to conventional/accredited U.S. education programs to be acceptable for Federal employment. If your college/university is outside the U.S., your transcripts must be accompanied by a report from a credential evaluation service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or the Association of International Credentials Evaluators (AICE). Failure to submit a foreign education evaluation report will result in disqualification of your application.

Additional information

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.

The Library of Congress may offer repayment for all or part of federally insured student loans. However, not all service units within the Library of Congress participates in the repayment of federally insured student loans. Therefore, determination to repay a federally insured student loan is subject to approval by the appropriate service unit.

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 notify the agency. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be on a case-by-case basis.

Applicants with disabilities may be considered under special hiring procedures and must submit an appropriate certificate of disability 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. In addition, per Library of Congress Regulation 2010-12, an appointee or internal selectee is subject to a one-year supervisory probationary period, if this is his/her first supervisory/managerial position at the Library.

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.


To preview questions please click here.

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