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

Section Research Manager, Education and Labor (EL)

Legislative Branch
Library of Congress
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The Congressional Research Service (CRS) seeks a Research Manager for the Education and Labor (EL) section in the Domestic Social Policy Division.

CRS provides confidential, nonpartisan, and authoritative legislative research, policy analysis, and information service to the U.S. Congress. Working directly with Members of Congress and congressional committees.  CRS staff contribute to an informed national legislature as it considers policy issues of importance to the American people.

Overview

Help
Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
01/22/2024 to 02/12/2024
Salary
$163,964 to - $191,900 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 policy.
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
VAR002681
Control number
771931500

This job is open to

Help

Clarification from the agency

United States Citizens.

Duties

Help

Leads the Education and Labor Section in the development of research and policy analysis relevant to congressional needs. The Education and Labor Section covers topics such as elementary and secondary education, postsecondary education, workforce development, labor market trends, conditions, and labor standards.

Plans, organizes, and coordinates research, including major research projects related to sensitive or complex public policies of national or international significance, which are often multidisciplinary in nature.

Reviews research to ensure that it is accurate, well-organized, and cogent; meets professional and Service standards; adheres to CRS policy guidelines; is responsive to the legislative needs of Members and committees of Congress; and complements other Service research and analyses.

Ensures that research and analysis is conducted in a fully collaborative manner both within and outside the section, reflects the congressional agenda, and is relevant to congressional policy making.

Ensures that research and analysis undertaken is of the highest quality and meets CRS’ standards of objectivity, responsiveness, non-partisanship, balance, timeliness, legislative relevance, authoritativeness, and accessibility.

Establishes and maintains relationships with Members and committees of Congress.

Serves as a liaison with Congressional offices to ensure an ongoing and substantive connection between the E&L Section and Member and committee offices.

Supervises a group of research analysts performing research. Assigns work based on an understanding of congressional needs and to ensure strengths of the group are fully realized. Adapts assignments to deal with surges in demands, manages staff to effectively meet dynamic, evolving and complex Congressional needs. Clearly communicates performance standards and expectations for staff. Observes staff performance, provides feedback, and conducts performance evaluations.

Identifies professional development needs of staff and provides appropriate learning and development opportunities.

The position description number for this position is 085357.

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

The incumbent of this position will work a flextime 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.

The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce that ensures the Service is well-positioned to anticipate and meet the information and analytical research needs of a 21st-century Congress.

Finalists for this position may be required to submit writing samples. 

Requirements

Help

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.

Required Qualifications

The following are required qualifications to be considered for this position:

Five or more years of experience conducting research and analysis on social policy issues.

Five or more years drafting written products presenting findings from applied research and policy analysis.

Three or more years of leading multi-faceted research projects.

Five or more years of experience reviewing research and analytical writing.

Three or more years of experience conducting research of relevance to state or federal policymakers.

Preferred Qualifications

The following qualifications are preferred for this position:

Doctoral Degree in a social science discipline.

Five or more years of experience conducting research and policy analysis examining education or labor related issues.

Ten or more years of experience conducting research and policy analysis examining social policies and related issues.

Five or more years of leading multi-faceted research projects

Ten or more years of experience reviewing research and analytical writing.

Ten or more years of experience conducting research of relevance to state or federal policymakers.

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.

Once the application process is complete, candidates who meet eligibility requirements (i.e., citizenship, education requirements) will be referred to a review panel. The panel will conduct a resume review based on the qualification criteria stated in the vacancy announcement. Your resume must support your responses to the occupational questionnaire. If an applicant's resume is incomplete or does not support the requirements for minimum qualifications, a rating of "not qualified" will be applied and no consideration for employment will be granted. Qualified applicants will be placed in one of two predefined categories: “Qualified” or “Well Qualified.” Veterans’ preference will be applied as an affirmative factor during the qualification process.

After the review of your resume and application materials, you may be contacted for a preliminary telephone and/or full structured interview, which 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.  

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies:

Knowledge of the relevant laws and regulations; program practices and policies (e.g., financial aid programs for college students, programs aiming to enhance the education of disadvantaged students, employment and training programs, labor standards, employment patterns, and unemployment compensation programs); and research related to education and/or labor and the populations to which these programs and policies apply.  This requires knowledge of applied social science research methods, including quantitative methods.

Leads, plans, organizes, and coordinates research projects, including ensuring public policy problems are appropriately conceptualized and defined; appropriate research approaches and frameworks, analytical methodologies and techniques are utilized; information and research are fully analyzed and synthesized; the implications of data and research findings are identified, and appropriate conclusions are drawn; and alternatives are assessed.

The ability to evaluate the analytical products and services of others to ensure work meets established quality standards. This includes making suggestions to improve the material and being able to clearly articulate the problems and concerns about the material as well as suggestions for remedies where appropriate.

Knowledge of congressional activity, and legislative and oversight agendas to ensure timely and relevant assistance to congressional committees, Members, and senior staff.   Knowledge of institutional and political environment in which congressional decision-making occurs.

Builds and maintains effective relationships to share information, establish partnerships, collaborates across boundaries; and leverage expertise to accomplish the organization’s goals.

Supervises and Manages Performance

Written Communication

Judgement and Discretion

Are you a veteran?  You must submit Member Copy 4 of your DD 214 to claim veterans' preference. If required supporting documentation is not attached, Veterans' Preference will not be considered in the application process.


You may preview questions for this vacancy.

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.