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Supervisory Public Affairs Specialist (Communications Officer)

Legislative Branch
Library of Congress
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located in the Communications Section, Office of the Chief Information Officer.

The position description number for this position is 368330.

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

The incumbent of this position will work a flexitime work schedule.

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
10/17/2023 to 10/31/2023
Salary
$155,700 to - $183,500 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 15
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Washington, DC
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—As determined by the agency.
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent - Position
Work schedule
Full-time - Flexitime.
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
15
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Announcement number
VAR002546
Control number
755085400

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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This permanent position is hybrid telework eligible.  It is not eligible for 100% distant/remote telework.

This position serves as the Communications Officer in the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) at the Library of Congress. The incumbent serves as the principal advisor to the Chief Information Officer (CIO) and Deputy (DCIO) on IT communications and congressional engagement.  The incumbent is responsible for developing and implementing internal and external OCIO communications policies; and creating, reviewing, and disseminating official and internal communications. The incumbent serves as the principal OCIO liaison with other Library communications, congressional relations, and outreach units.

Supervises a group of employees performing work up to the GS-14 level. Performs the administrative and human resource management functions related to the staff supervised.

Establishes guidelines and performance expectations for staff, which are clearly communicated through the formal employee performance management system. Observes workers' performance; demonstrates and completes work performance critiques. Provides informal feedback and periodically evaluates employee performance. Resolves informal complaints and grievances. Prepares work improvement plans, recommending 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.

Responsible for advancing the objectives of equal employment opportunity (EEO) by taking positive steps to adhere to nondiscriminatory employment practices-in regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, and disability. Initiates nondiscriminatory practices for the area under his/her supervision in the following: (1) merit promotion of employees and recruitment and hiring of applicants; (2) fair treatment of all; (3) encouragement and recognition of employee achievements; (4) career development of employees; and (5) full utilization of their skills.

Serves as the technical authority for the service unit in the area of communications and congressional engagement. Drawing upon an expert knowledge of writing, editing, and communications strategies and an authoritative knowledge of OCIO's mission and communication goals and objectives, serves as a principal advisor to the CIO, DCIO and OCIO senior leadership on communications policies and protocol.

Serves as the service unit’s Executive Editor for written information. Independently prepares in-depth, complex analytical writing including administrative reports, memoranda, policies, procedures, press releases, congressional documentation, technical communications to customers and service unit staff, fact sheets, emergency communications pertaining to IT incidents, articles, talking points, brochures, briefings, and other working documents on complex program issues with wide impact. Reviews, revises or edits as needed the contributions of other Communications Office staff writers.

Serves as the primary service unit representative to the Library's Office of Communications and the Congressional Relations Office. Serves on Library-wide task forces and committees that deal with issues relevant to communications and congressional engagement. Establishes and maintains close cooperative working relationships with agency and service unit leadership, congressional oversight and appropriations committee staff, other government agencies and institutions with related interests, in order to advance the Library’s programs and objectives.

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: https://www.loc.gov/extranet/cld/development-programs/supervisor/supervisorcompetencies.html

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 or current drug use and activities (e.g., selling or distributing) may deem you ineligible for employment.

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 supervise and lead a diverse workforce.**

Knowledge of communication and public affairs principles, methods, and techniques.**

Ability to communicate in writing and review the writing of others.**

Ability to convey information orally through briefings, consultations, and other presentation.

Ability to exercise judgment and discretion.

Ability to communicate effectively other than in writing.

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 at step one of the grade.

The Library of Congress is an equal opportunity employer. All who meet the eligibility requirements are 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. For more information, please see: https://www.loc.gov/careers/working-at-the-library/frequently-asked-questions/vetting-personnel-at-the-library/

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.

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.

The selected applicant may be required to file a financial disclosure statement with the House of Representatives, U.S. Congress, in accordance with the provisions of Public Law 95-521, Ethics in Government Act of 1978.

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.

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 8.5, at: Merit Selection Plan.


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