Skip to main content
U.S. flag
Back to results

Information Technology Specialist (Digital Accessibility Specialist)

Legislative Branch
Library of Congress
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located in the User Experience Design Section, Design Division, IT Design and Development Directorate, Office of the Chief Information Officer.

The position description number for this position is 405239.

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

This is a non-supervisory, bargaining unit position.

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

Overview

Help
Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
02/02/2021 to 02/17/2021
Salary
$122,530 to - $159,286 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 14
Location
Washington, DC
1 vacancy
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent - Position
Work schedule
Full-time - Flexitime, Compflex, Maxiflex
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
14
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Announcement number
VAR001344
Control number
591086000

This job is open to

Help

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

Help

The incumbent acts as a digital accessibility specialist and is an expert in the Americans with Disabilities Act/Section 508a of the Rehabilitation Act (ADA/508), Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), and current, related accessibility technologies. In addition, the incumbent also performs market and technology research on new and emerging technologies and helps prepare reports on new and emerging information and communication technologies that could prove useful for current and future LC applications.

The incumbent provides guidance to those who are working in project groups, particularly on accessibility related issues, or on accessibility requirements for projects, particularly those with a public interface. The incumbent may be a team member on high visibility, enterprise-wide projects and/or programs, provide expertise and communicate compliance, and directly involved in the success of accessibility projects and/or programs. In addition, the incumbent provides technical expertise in monitoring and evaluating contract activities, and in selecting and assisting to procure commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) covering accessibility projects or relevant new technologies.

Ensures LC systems and websites are in compliance with Section 508a of the Rehabilitation Act (508) and other library accessibility directives and regulations. Assists OCIO staff to plan, design, and test new systems, to conform to Library accessibility standards, directives, and regulations. Keeps abreast on new and emerging technologies, solutions, services and products that enable better accessibility accommodations.

Analyzes websites, applications, and products, including new, customized, and existing, to improve them for compliance with Library accessibility approaches and policies. Diagnoses and solves complex systems problems. Develops alternatives for presentation to management. Performs feasibility studies and cost benefit analysis to support alternatives.

Evaluates requirements, analyzes alternatives and recommends solutions relating to the complete life cycle for information systems and information systems components. Recommends the purchase of a new and/or COTS that will satisfy current needs at the lowest cost. Responds and resolves problems of a complex technical nature.

Monitors and evaluates contractor performance, practices, procedures, techniques, methods and management controls. Provides technical evaluations of hardware and software products and makes recommendations to management.

Solicits requirements from all stakeholders and reconciles them into a coherent whole for product acquisition. Creates specifications and statements of work for hardware, software and services. Plays a major role in evaluating the many procurements related to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 508a of the Rehabilitation Act and Library accessibility approaches, policies, directives, and regulations. These evaluations include requesting VPATs or other accessibility documentation from vendors and evaluating them against Library accessibility policies and standards.

Performs a variety of duties related to information technology (IT) projects involving program related issues that contain complicating elements. Participates and leads special cross-cutting initiatives and task force groups as needed to accomplish programmatic goals. These groups may review specific technologies, tools, approaches, policies and programs or develop new initiatives in various areas.

Demonstrates in-depth knowledge of accessibility technology, Library of Congress specific services and technologies, and general IT infrastructure capabilities by providing expert advice on the use and application of these technologies to fulfill LC requirements and to comply with applicable laws.

With a special focus on accessibility related technologies, provides expert analysis and advice on complex program related information technology (IT) issues and problems where new analytical techniques must be developed to identify and evaluate findings based on operations and changing program requirements, as well as changing laws and regulations, identifies relevant issues. Collects relevant information from multiple varied sources, some of which are difficult to access. Makes authoritative recommendations to management. Provides well written explanations and justifications for plans and recommendations.

Defines and validates the need for proposed new websites, applications, and products through consultation with stakeholders. Reviews general business and functional requirements that support the need for these systems. Identifies and evaluates potential system design approaches, and develops the final technical specifications for websites, applications, and products.

Utilizes Project Management Methodology, and ensures that projects are completed within scope, on time, and within budget. Incorporates all phases of Systems development Life Cycle (SDLC).

Requirements

Help

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 design, test, and administer assistive systems for information technology systems.**

Ability to analyze organizational and operational problems and develop solutions.**

Knowledge of IT contractor monitoring policies and procedures.**

Ability to apply project methodologies and techniques to manage IT projects.

Ability to communicate in writing.

Ability to communicate effectively other than in writing.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

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. Women, minorities, and persons with disabilities who meet eligibility requirements are strongly 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 email 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 proof or disability/certification may be issued by the State Vocational Rehabilitation Office, Disability Services or Career Services office of the applicant’s college or university, or the Department of Veterans Affairs. The letter must verify that the applicant has a severe disability and must be dated within three years of the date of the application.  Certification from health care providers are not accepted. For more information contact the Library's Office of EEO/Diversity Programs at 202-707-6024 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.


To preview questions please click here.

Your session is about to expire!

Your USAJOBS session will expire due to inactivity in 8 minutes. Any unsaved data will be lost if you allow the session to expire. Click the button below to continue your session.