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Librarian

Department of Transportation
Office of the Secretary of Transportation
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The Librarian provides reference and research services in transportation and related subjects, within the Center’s Technical Resource Center (TRC), the knowledge repository of all Volpe-authored reports, journal articles, and conference papers and presentations. The TRC actively engages in policy setting on knowledge management, archiving research output and data sets, conducts literature search on specific technical topics, and knowledge management. This position is located in Cambridge, MA.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
02/19/2021 to 03/01/2021
Salary
$86,283 to - $133,382 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 12 - 13
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Cambridge, MA
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time - Full Time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
13
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Trust determination process
Announcement number
OST.RVOLPE-2021-0011
Control number
592710700

Duties

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As librarian you will be responsible for the management of institutional knowledge (e.g. archiving of historical materials and resources), reference and research, instruction, and contract and subscription maintenance. Other duties include:

Preservation and Curation of Volpe Institutional Collections

  • Serves as the steward of the Center's institutional knowledge and data sets. Carries out preservation efforts through digitization of historical materials and making them accessible for Volpe staff and, if appropriate the general public.
  • Develops and maintains the TRC's website, intranet (using SharePoint) site, and other homepages. Responsible for the entire public web presence for the TRC.

Reference and Research

  • Develops and maintains strong relationships with staff and outside resources
    (such as universities and research organizations).
  • Provides in-depth database driven and web driven literature searches.
  • Initiates proactive news alerts to staff (i.e. Librarian News) via Outlook email and MS Teams. Ensure topics reflect the Volpe Center's evolving priorities.

Instruction and Training

  • Develops and/or implements online research tools and training resources that increase access to information and that support transportation policy, research, operations, and technology transfer activities.
  • Develops and leads training sessions to instruct staff on new or enhanced system features and capabilities, including but not limited to knowledge management and archiving.

Outreach

  • Represents Volpe through participation and leadership in federal, transportation, or other professional associations, work groups, conferences, and meetings, such as Transportation Research Board (TRB), Special Libraries Association (SLA), and National Transportation Knowledge Network (NTKN).
  • Collaborates with federal DOT librarians through meetings and task forces.
  • Participates in seminars, committees, and professional events, representing the Volpe to other national and international libraries

The ideal candidate is an energetic, self-motivated, and results-oriented mid-level Librarian professional with experience working with library management, who will serve clientele with online research tools that increase access to information and that support organizational policy, research, operations, and technology transfer activities. You must be able to work independently and as part of a team, and have superb consulting, communication and presentation skills.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S.Citizen and eligible for consideration.
  • You must meet specialized experience to qualify.
  • Required documents must be submitted by the closing date.
  • Submit application and resume online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

  • SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for the Selective Service.
  • PROBATIONARY PERIOD: You must complete a one-year  probationary period (unless already completed).
  • TIME-IN-GRADE: Federal applicants must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade to satisfy time-in-grade restrictions contained in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F.
  • DEU REQUIREMENTS: Applicants selected under delegated examining procedures may be required to successfully complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed).

Qualifications

To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must (1) meet the Education Requirement for the series, (2) provide a copy of transcripts for verification, AND (3) meet either the education or experience qualifications for the grade at which you are requesting consideration.

To qualify for the GS-12, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-11, it must include:

  • Experience working with library management of a library that serves clientele with online research tools that increase access to information and that support organizational policy, research, operations, and technology transfer activities. Such tools include, but are not limited to, bibliographies, manuals, instruction materials, web-conferencing capabilities and other distance learning technologies.

AND

  • Experience working with current informational services and library functions and related information programs, including working with one or more major library functions (e.g., library management, collection development, reference, serials management, cataloging, and library automation).


To qualify for the GS-13, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-12, it must include:

  • Experience working as librarian-in-charge of a library that serves clientele with online research tools that increase access to information and that support organizational policy, research, operations, and technology transfer activities. Such as bibliographies, manuals, instruction materials, web-conferencing capabilities and other distance learning technologies.

AND

  • Experience working with complex research methodologies across all types of resources in all formats to include transportation systems or a related subject area such as engineering, scientific, technical, government, commercial, private and international resources in print, microform, digital and internet-based formats.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas:

Customer Service - Works with clients and customers (that is, any individuals who use or receive the services or products that your work unit produces, including the general public, individuals who work in the agency, other agencies, or organizations outside the Government) to assess their needs, provide information or assistance, resolve their problems, or satisfy their expectations; knows about available products and services; is committed to providing quality products and services.

Partnering - Develops networks and builds alliances; collaborates across boundaries to build strategic relationships and achieve common goals.

Knowledge Management - Knowledge of the value of collected information and the methods of sharing that information throughout an organization.

Manages and Organizes Information - Identifies a need; gathers, organizes, and maintains information; determines its importance and accuracy, and communicates it by a variety of methods.

Research - Knowledge of the scientific principles, methods, and processes used to conduct a systematic and objective inquiry; including study design, collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; and the reporting of results.


Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

For additional information about applying to Federal positions, please click on the following link:  https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=e4

Applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

Additional information

This vacancy may be used by any DOT agency to fill similar positions within 90 days.

How you will be evaluated

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

DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE: PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume/ application does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s). Your resume must contain sufficiently detailed information upon which to make a qualification determination. Please ensure that your resume contains specific information such as position titles, beginning and ending dates of employment for each position, average number of hours worked per week, and if the position is/was in the Federal government, you should provide the position series and grade level. 


To compete with U.S. Citizens:  If you meet the qualification requirements, your application will be placed in one of four categories: Platinum, Gold, Silver or Bronze, which is based upon your responses to the vacancy questions. Within these categories, applicants eligible for veteran's preference that have provided supporting documents will receive selection priority over non-veterans. The top rated applications will be reviewed for the quality of your experience, education and training relevant to the position.


To compete with other competitive status government employees: If you meet the qualification requirements, your application will be scored based upon your responses to the vacancy questions. The top rated applications will be reviewed for the quality of your experience, education and training relevant to the position. If referred, all relevant documents including performance appraisals and awards submitted with your application package will be forwarded to the hiring official for review.

Eligible Federal employees also seeking consideration for noncompetitive reassignment for this position, must indicate interest in the assessment. In eligibility question 14: select Yes/Other/Former Incumbency of a Position brought into the Competitive Service. Noncompetitive federal candidates must have competitive status on a SF-50, meet minimum qualifications, have served at the same grade or higher, and held or exceeded the promotion potential of this position.

All applicants:  Your application will be rated on the extent and quality of your experience, education and training relevant to the position. The answers you select in the on-line process must be substantiated in your application package.  If upon review, it is determined that your described work history, competencies, and/or supporting documents do not support your answer choices, your application may be updated on your behalf or you may not be referred to the selecting official. Please ensure that your work history provides enough details to support your answers. The Automated Staffing Office is ultimately responsible for determining your final rating.


To preview questions please click here.

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