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Technical Information Specialist

Department of Health and Human Services
National Institutes of Health
National Library of Medicine
This job announcement has closed

Summary

These positions-involving conservation of born-digital and physical collections, advancing automated indexing efforts by applying scientific vocabulary and/or metadata content, and management, preservation, and access to NLM collections-are located in the Division of User Services and Collections Division (USCD). NLM collects, preserves, makes available, and interprets one of the world's richest collections of historical material related to health and disease.

Overview

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Open & closing dates
08/12/2024 to 08/22/2024
Salary
$64,957 to - $122,459 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 9 - 12
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Montgomery County, MD
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
12
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
NIH-NLM-MP-24-12210763
Control number
762274200

Duties

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  • Provide library collection conservation expertise through variety of services to support access to and preservation of rare, unique, and/or fragile national library collection materials of all formats and spanning ten centuries, including but not limited to audiovisuals, books, ephemera, journals, photographs, portraits, posters, and early-modern and modern manuscripts.
  • Provide management expertise in cooperation with senior library staff and collection managers through a variety of services related to library collection conservation to support internal and external access to collection materials of above stated formats, including development and operation of digitization workflows.
  • Provide management expertise in cooperation with senior library staff and collection managers to identify and analyze the need for changes in library conservation and related policies, procedures, methods and/or technology.
  • Obtain feedback from library collection managers in order to prioritize work effectively to conserve library collection materials for digitization, durability, institutional loans, and general use.
  • Participate as a team member in a variety of special projects that require the incumbent to have a working knowledge of library collection conservation, systems technology, databases, and software as well as operating policies and procedures.
  • Participate in staff discussions, meetings and brainstorming sessions concerning library collection conservation and related preservation issues and operating concerns.
  • Technically responsible for the daily operations of one or more automated processing systems associated with a library conservation lab that are performed as part of conservation control functions or maintenance of a collection database.
  • Prepare conservation-related documentation for computer applications developed including user manuals, special instructions, and articles for publications describing files and processes.
  • Proactively contribute to updating or modifying conservation-related systems, policies, procedures, and methods.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship requirement or proof of being a U.S. National must be met by closing date.
  • Employment is subject to the successful completion of the pre-appointment process (i.e., background investigation, verification of qualifications and job requirements, completion of onboarding forms, submission of required documents, etc.)
  • Males born after December 31, 1959 must be registered with the Selective Service.
  • Applicants must meet all qualifications requirements within thirty (30) calendar days of the closing date of this announcement, including time in grade.
  • Position requires Education.

Qualifications

In order to qualify for a Technical Information Specialist, GS-1412 position you must have:
A. a full 4-year course of study that meets all the requirements for a bachelor's degree with major study in the subject-matter field of the position to be filled; OR

B. 4 years of experience that provided a knowledge of the basic principles, theories, practices, techniques, and terminology of a discipline or subject-matter field; an understanding of the standard methods, procedures, and techniques of research and analysis in the subject-matter field; and where appropriate, ability to read and comprehend nontechnical material in one or more foreign languages. Such experience is equivalent to that which would have been gained through a 4-year college curriculum; OR

C. a combination of education and experience as described above.

In addition, in order to qualify at the GS-09 level, you must have:
A. completed a master's or equivalent graduate degree, or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or an LL.B. or J.D., if related; OR

B. 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-07 level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector, performing the following types of tasks: conservation of library materials of multiple formats; preserving fragile, unique, and rare materials; indexing and retrieving specialized scientific and technical materials; utilizing conservation databases, technical support resources and automated library information processing systems; identifying background information on ongoing research efforts in areas long under study; documenting communications, hardware and software problems and following up on reports of malfunctions.
; OR

C. a combination of post baccalaureate education and experience that meets 100% of the qualification requirements for this position.

In addition, in order to at the GS-11 level, you must have:
A. completed a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in a biomedical field, or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree; OR

B. 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector, performing the following types of tasks: conservation of library materials of multiple formats; preserving fragile, unique, and rare materials; performing assignments involving the categorization, summarization, or location of scientific, technical, or other specialized information; indexing and retrieving specialized scientific and technical materials in the biomedical field; assisting in developing and testing conservation databases and related technical support resources and automated library information processing systems; analyzing biomedical articles containing commonly understood concepts and principles in the diagnosis and treatment of disease, and clinical research and information on new therapies and devices; OR

C. a combination of post baccalaureate education and experience that meets 100% of the qualification requirements for this position.

In addition, in order to qualify at the GS-12 level, you must have:
1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector, performing the following types of tasks: conservation of library materials of multiple formats; preserving fragile, unique, and rare materials; modifying standard information practices, precedents and techniques and adapting automated systems to solve a variety of information organization, access, and dissemination problems; indexing, retrieving and evaluating specialized scientific and technical materials in the biomedical field; participating with other technical information specialists, professional librarians, systems analysts, and computer specialists in planning, designing, testing, implementing and evaluating conservation databases and technical support resources and computer applications and related technology for application to library processing; and evaluating the efficiency of operations and quality of products for library automation projects and recommending improvements.

You will receive credit for all experience material to the position, including experience gained in religious, civic, welfare, service, and organizational activities, regardless of whether you received pay.

Preview assessment questionnaire before you apply: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12210763

Education

This position has an education requirement. You are strongly encouraged to submit a copy of your transcripts (or a list of your courses including titles, credit hours completed and grades). Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application package. Official transcripts will be required from all selectees prior to receiving an official offer. Click here for information on Foreign Education.

Additional information

  • This position is designated as a "non-emergency/teleworker" position and the selected candidate will be considered a "nonemergency/teleworker" employee. In the event of a closure, you must be available to telework or request leave.
  • A one-year probationary period may be required upon selection/placement.
  • PHS Commissioned Officers interested in performing the duties of this position within the Commissioned Corps should apply online to this announcement to receive consideration.
  • We may make additional selections for similar positions within the commuting area(s) of the locations listed through this vacancy announcement. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with any interested selecting official(s). Clearance of CTAP/ICTAP will be applied for similar positions.
  • Veterans' Preference applies only to Schedule A (disability appointment) and Veterans Recruitment Appointments (if applicable).
  • The National Institutes of Health participates in the USCIS Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify). E-Verify helps employers determine employment eligibility of new hires and the validity of their Social Security numbers.
  • The NIH maintains a tobacco free work environment and campus.
  • Must be able to perform the essential duties of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.
  • Visit our Applicant FAQs page for helpful information on the application process.
  • Visit our Total Compensation page and this sample for a detailed look into the benefits, awards, leave, retirement, and other incentives employees may receive as part of a rewarding work environment.

How you will be evaluated

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

You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

  • Ability to evaluate and improve the efficiency of operations and quality of products for library automation projects, particularly related to conservation of rare library materials of multiple formats, especially fragile, unique and rare materials, for purposes of preservation and access.
  • Knowledge of conservation of library materials of multiple formats, especially fragile, unique, and rare materials for purposes of preservation and access, library operating procedures, online files and processing procedures, system analysis techniques and bibliographic control standards.
  • Skill in conducting complex conservation of library materials of multiple formats, especially fragile, unique, and rate materials for purposes of preservation and access, literature, retrieval, summarization, and evaluation from a wide range of sources.
  • Skill in developing, testing, implementing and administering an automated information processing system, particularly related to conservation of library materials of multiple formats, especially fragile, unique, and rare materials, for purposes of preservation and access.


Additional selections may be made for similar positions across the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) within the local commuting area(s) of the location identified in this announcement. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with interested selecting official(s) at HHS. Clearance of CTAP/ICTAP will be applied for similar positions across HHS.

To determine your qualifications and referral status, we may review your resume and supporting documentation and compare it against your responses to the vacancy questionnaire. Ensure you support your self-ratings by the information you provide in your application. We may verify or assess your qualifications at any time. Inflated or unsupported qualifications may affect your rating. Any misrepresentation or material omission of facts may be sufficient cause to end further consideration of your candidacy. Persons listed as having knowledge of your past accomplishments or experience in your application may be contacted for verification purposes at any time. Verification may, but need not, begin prior to receiving an offer. To be considered well qualified for the purposes of the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) and the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), you must substantively exceed the basic qualifications by scoring at least an 85 on the assessment and meet all eligibility, physical, medical, suitability, and all other requirements.

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