Serves as Supervisory Technical Services Specialist in the Technical Services Section, Prints and Photographs Division, Special Collections Directorate within Library Services at the Library of Congress. The position reports directly to the Head, Technical Services Section and is responsible for supervising staff who are responsible for receiving, organizing, digitizing, preserving and creating inventory control and cataloging records for all collection items and related materials acquired by the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. The incumbent works highly independently, exercising considerable independent judgment, and carries out duties and responsibilities in accordance with broad overall guidelines and policies pertaining to visual materials.
Supervises a group of employees performing work up to the GS-13 level. Provides administrative and technical supervision relative to the staff supervised. Plans work to be accomplished by subordinates, sets and adjusts short-term priorities, and prepares schedules for completion of work; Assigns work to subordinates based on priorities, selective consideration of the difficulty and requirements of assignments, and the capabilities of employees; Observes workers’ performance; demonstrates and conducts work performance critiques. Establishes guidelines and performance expectations for staff and clearly communicates these through the formal employee performance management system. Provides informal feedback and periodically evaluates employee performance. Creates individual development plans and recommends training for staff. Resolves informal complaints and grievances. Recommends appointment, promotion, or reassignment and develops work improvement plans, recommending personnel actions as necessary. Provides advice and counsel to workers related to work and administrative matters. Effects minor disciplinary measures, such as warnings and reprimands, recommending other action in more serious cases. Reviews and approves or disapproves leave requests and certifies time and attendance records for staff.
Leads the accessioning, physical processing, digitization and description of visual collections according to established procedures. Manages the receipt of visual collections acquired through gift, deposit, transfer, exchange, copyright, and purchase. Oversees the unpacking and verification of the completeness and condition of incoming materials and the maintenance of accessioning records. Maintains close control over the quality of accessioning, physical organization and processing, and cataloging of the materials in the collections. Along with senior Team staff, the incumbent monitors the quality of all levels of cataloging. Has direct responsibility for the accuracy and consistency of all inventory, cataloging and indexing controls produced by the Team, whether for internal control or for national and international publication and distribution. Contributes to the development of rules and standards for cataloging, control, and automation of visual materials, and for electronic imaging, in libraries and archives, which serve as the basis for national and international networking of bibliographic data and access to images. Exercises significant responsibilities in dealing with other units or organizations on these matters, to include advising officials of higher rank.
Exercises care to ensure that government property, especially Library collection material, is properly handled and kept secure to avoid loss or damage, and that persons under his/her supervision meet their responsibilities in this regard. Working with the Section Head and Chief, effectively monitors and manages space in division storage areas. Oversees the determination of archival supplies, technical equipment, and facilities needed for the Team, recommending staff and resources to devote to particular projects or to allocate among program segments.
Maintains current knowledge of trends in the professional literature and with developments in bibliographic and archival control as practiced in comparable institutions. Develops or assists in the development of community-wide rules and standards for processing, cataloging, describing, or digitizing visual materials.
Attends meetings of professional organizations and publishes technical articles regarding the work of the Library of Congress and of the Prints and Photographs Division in the area of his or her competence. Prepares or oversees the preparation of analytical reports and publications pertaining to the Team's areas of responsibility.
Independently plans and carries out studies of topics or areas related to visual materials. Exercises a highly specialized knowledge of all work related to archival visual materials. Serves as a resource person assisting staff of the Prints and Photographs Division in providing reference services related material housed in the division in accordance with the division's reference procedures.
