Clarification from the agency

U.S. Citizens Only

This position serves as head of the Domestic Social Policy Division (DSP), a major CRS research division.  In this capacity, and reporting directly to the Director of CRS, the Assistant Director manages, within the interdisciplinary environment of CRS, a professional research staff in its production of written products and consulting services in support of the United States Congress.

Working directly with congressional committees and Members of the House and Senate, research analysts and specialists within CRS’s DSP Division contribute to an informed national legislature as it considers policy issues of importance to the American people.  Areas of research, analysis, and consultative support covered by DSP include education and training, health care and financing, Social Security, public and private pensions, social welfare programs, nutrition assistance, housing, immigration, drug control, crime and criminal justice, labor and occupational safety, unemployment and workers’ compensation, and other issues related to persons with disabilities, the aged, the poor, children and families, and veterans. Analysts use multiple disciplines in their research, including program and legislative expertise, quantitative methodologies and economic analysis.

The Assistant Director ensures that written and consulting work is of the highest quality and consistently meets the Service’s standards of objectivity, nonpartisanship, timeliness, legislative relevance, authoritativeness, and accessibility.  In addition, the Assistant Director actively collaborates with managers and staff in CRS’s other research divisions to ensure that a multifaceted approach to policy issues is taken to best inform Congressional decision-making.

The Assistant Director leads implementation of the Service’s agenda for issues within the division’s areas of responsibility, including approaches, frameworks, and methodologies for addressing policy and legislative issues. This includes demonstrating personal intellectual leadership in monitoring congressional priorities in the various policy areas and assuring access to the intellectual capacity to meet current and changing needs of the United States Congress at a sustained level of excellence. This also includes exercising overall responsibility for the oversight and management of the division’s human, financial, material, and information research assets, including a staff of approximately 100 employees. In performing these activities, the Assistant Director is responsible for ensuring that the research, analytical, and consulting activities of the division are aligned with the legislative work of Congress and with the priorities, goals, and policies of CRS for meeting congressional needs.

The Assistant Director also serves as one of the chief advisors to the Director, counseling the Director on all aspects of the research management and operations of CRS and recommending specific policies and procedures for improving the Service’s overall quality, efficiency, and effectiveness. The Assistant Director serves as a member of the Director’s senior management team and serves as a principal CRS representative to Members, committees, and officers of the United States Congress.

Major duties of this position include:

• In collaboration with other senior managers, leads, plans, directs, and evaluates the research and analyses of the Service in policy areas for which the incumbent has direct research management responsibility and ensures that such activities are fully aligned with the legislative work of the United States Congress and with the priorities, goals, and policies of CRS for meeting congressional needs.
• Demonstrates personal intellectual leadership in monitoring congressional needs, in formulating and maintaining an agenda to meet those needs, in guiding and directing relevant research of individuals and groups, and in reviewing and evaluating the work of researchers and their managers.
• Ensures research, analysis, and consulting services provided by the division are of the highest quality and meet CRS’s standards of objectivity, nonpartisanship, timeliness, legislative relevance, authoritativeness, and accessibility.
• Counsels the Director and Deputy Director on all aspects of the management and operations of the Congressional Research Service and advises on matters relating to the research activities, operations, and mission of the Service.
• Serves as a principal representative to committees and officers of the United States Congress, other legislative agencies and the Library of Congress, executive departments and agencies, professional organizations, universities, and other research organizations on the broadest matters related to CRS research, policy, and organization.

Oversees and ensures compliance with human resource management functions for division staff. Establishes and clearly communicates performance expectations for staff.

Conditions of employment

• 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.    

Conditions of Employment

Although the Library of Congress is not covered by the nationwide injunction against the federal government vaccine requirement, the Library of Congress has decided it will not enforce its vaccine requirement at this time. Therefore, to the extent a Library of Congress job announcement includes the requirement that applicants must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, that requirement does not currently apply. The Library of Congress continues to require information regarding the vaccination status of selected applicants for the purposes of implementing other workplace safety protocols, such as protocols related to masking, physical distancing, testing, travel, and quarantine. Library employees who are not vaccinated will be required to undergo testing for COVID-19 every seven days. 

Upon request, employees must provide proof of vaccination to the Health Services Division.

Library of Congress employees are prohibited from using illegal drugs, including marijuana. The Library is part of the Federal Government and abides by federal law, so regardless of individual state or District of Columbia laws, marijuana use is illegal, considered criminal activity, and can affect your employment at the Library. In addition, past drug use and activities (e.g., selling or distributing) may deem you ineligible for employment.

Qualifications

The Assistant Director 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.  

The competencies below are required for this position. Those marked with a double asterisk (**) are considered the most critical competencies for this position.

A candidate's resume must show a proven record of accomplishment that clearly demonstrates he or she has:

• Expert knowledge of domestic social policy.** Applies expert, multidisciplinary knowledge of the theories, laws and regulations, concepts, processes, methodologies, principles, and/or practices related to domestic social policy (e.g., education, labor, income security, immigration, criminal justice, health policy, child and family well-being) that emerge from the legislative and oversight work of the Congress. Is conversant in the history, trends, interrelationships, and current status of domestic social policies and interrelationships with other key issue areas and disciplines.

• Ability to lead, develop, and execute research and consulting support in a public policy setting.**   Leads implementation of the Service’s research agenda with respect to the division. This includes developing innovative and creative ideas to advance the quality of the research and the success of the Service and recommending specific policies and procedures for improving efficiency and effectiveness of research management and operations of the Service and assesses their implications. This also includes overseeing and managing policy and legislative research and consulting services across and within major research areas; guiding and directing the research of individuals and groups; and critically reviewing and evaluating the work of researchers and their managers.

• Ability to lead people and manage a workforce.** Manages and promotes a diverse and inclusive workforce that fosters the development of others, facilitates cooperation and teamwork, and supports constructive resolution of conflicts. Oversees the overall performance of the division by assessing staffing requirements in relation to current and anticipated needs of the Congress, developing staffing plans, justifications, and requests, and making work assignments for and evaluating staff in order to assure the availability of the intellectual capacity needed to meet the current and changing needs of Congress at a sustained level of excellence. Develops and oversees strategies for recruiting, hiring, mentoring, and training a diverse workforce as well as builds and maintains exceptional staff performance.

• Ability to exercise judgment and discretion.** Demonstrates awareness of the likely consequences or implications of one’s own actions and work within the context of agency/ organizational/ departmental standards. Acts appropriately in a given situation (e.g., with colleagues, clients, media/press), using discretion, and being committed to confidentiality.

• Ability to communicate in writing and assess the quality of products and services.** The ability to write, review, and oversee the production of a variety of clear, cogent, accurate, and well-organized products. This includes evaluating the content, organization, and relevance of a range of products and services to meet the quality standards of a public policy organization. Ensures that products and services are substantively correct, and meet CRS’s core values of objectivity, nonpartisanship, authoritativeness, and timeliness.  Makes suggestions for improvement.

• Ability to think strategically and lead change. Establishes and implements a strategic vision and direction for an organization or group and leads and effects change. This includes evaluating interdependencies and interrelationships among functions and resources and outcomes; developing performance targets; and identifying strategic opportunities.  This also includes championing ideas that promote the mission with enthusiasm, conviction, and assertiveness; gaining support and commitment from others; and motivating and inspiring others.

• Ability to communicate effectively other than in writing. Effectively expresses 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.

Continue with the application process only if you are able to document on your resume that you meet all the critical competency requirements at the levels described below.

1. Expert knowledge of domestic social policy: I am recognized by decision-makers as a professional resource in areas relevant to domestic social policy.
2. Ability to lead, develop and execute research and consulting support in a public policy setting: I have routinely led and/or managed public policy research and analysis in specific areas pertinent to domestic social policy at the national or international level.
3. Ability to lead people and manage a workforce: I have led and managed the performance of a diverse and inclusive workforce.
4. Ability to exercise judgment and discretion: In execution of work duties, I was routinely relied upon to exercise judgment and discretion.
5. Ability to communicate in writing and assess the quality of products and services:  I have written a variety of clear, cogent and well-organized products and have evaluated and critically reviewed a range of products and services to ensure quality standards are met.

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.