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

Summary

This position is located in the U.S. Arts, Sciences, and Humanities Division, Acquisitions and Bibliographic Access Directorate, Discovery and Preservation Services.

The position description number is 383007.

The salary range reflects the locality pay for the Washington, DC, Metro area.

The incumbent will work a flexitime work schedule.

This is a supervisory, non-bargaining unit position.

Relocation expenses will not be authorized for the person selected under this vacancy announcement.

Overview

Help
Open & closing dates
03/13/2026 to 03/27/2026
Salary
$169,279 to - $197,200 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
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
VAR003292
Control number
860967100

This job is open to

Help

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

Help

Has overall responsibility, as well as delegated authority, for the oversight and administration of the Division. Primarily responsible for the direction and management of the Division to efficiently achieve specified goals and objectives. Evaluates current and proposed programs and operations, develops new programs, and recommends actions to initiate, modify, or discontinue projects as appropriate. Serves as Security Officer of the Division and has final division authority and responsibility for the security and safe handling of materials while they are in the Division.  Ensures other government property is properly handled and kept secure to avoid loss or damage. Provides direct administrative oversight of all the varied functions of the Division. These may include cataloging, acquisitions, and training as well as functions associated with other Library programs related to cataloging, acquisitions, and training. Analyzes and develops new cataloging practices and standards cited as authoritative by other libraries. 

Plans, directs, and coordinates the activities of staff engaged in a regional program to acquire all types of library material for the collections of the Library of Congress in the most efficient way possible through exchange, gift, and purchase programs. 
Recommends the various allotments necessary for the effective expenditure of funds appropriated for the building of the Library's collections for his/her area of the world. Has overall responsibility for ensuring continuous controls are maintained over expenditures within approval allotments, and of appropriated, gift, and trust funds, etc. Authorizes encumbrances against these allotments at the beginning of the fiscal year, adjusting as necessary throughout the year. Recommends and justifies changes in the approved allotments, as circumstances require in his/her geographic region. In the absence of the Acquisitions Fiscal Officer, may be called to serve as certifying officer for payment documents, in rotation with other chiefs. 

Supervises a group of employees performing work up to the GS-14 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. Resolves informal complaints and grievances. Recommends appointment, promotion, or reassignment and develops work improvement plans, recommending personnel actions as necessary.

Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with various high-level individuals, including Members of Congress and their staffs, other legislative and executive agencies, executives of major publishers and vendors, and distinguished members of the public. Establishes and maintains close and cooperative working relationships with Library management and officials, government agencies, and other institutions with related interests, to advance the programs and objectives of the Library.

Serves as the primary advisor on the acquisition and cataloging of materials in the Division served. Counsels appropriate management staff and officials within the Library on matters related to the acquisition and cataloging of materials in the appropriate scope and format for the Division. Advises on the appropriate methods and techniques to use to achieve program goals and objectives. 

Formulates and administers policies affecting the Division. Develops, evaluates, and implements policy for the Service Unit affecting Library-wide programs. Explores and establishes long-range development plans and short-term strategies. Interprets and revises existing training policy and program guidance for use by others, including top management, in wide reaching decision making procedures. In the area of expertise, provides a major leadership role in the development of acquisition and bibliographic access standards, policies, practices, programs, and guidelines with a nation-wide impact. Also provides a major leadership role in the development of training, cooperative cataloging, and cataloging distribution policies and practices. Reviews and approves official documents on cataloging. Recommends and advises on changes to national and international standards affecting bibliographic access (e.g., Resource, Description & Access (RDA), and the MARC 21 Format for Bibliographic Data).

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

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: Supervisor Core Competencies

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, develop and lead a workforce of excellence.**

Ability to provide program management oversight and administration.**

Knowledge of integrated library systems, library applications, and other information technologies.**

Ability to communicate in writing in performing supervisory or managerial work.**

Ability to build and maintain relationships with individuals from a variety of backgrounds in order to provide consultation or liaison services.

Ability to communicate effectively other than in writing.

Education

All librarians must meet the requirements for professional education in library science or possess equivalent experience and education.

A. Completion of 1 full academic year of graduate study in library science in an accredited college or university, in addition to completion of all work required for a bachelor's degree;

or

B. A total of at least 5 years of a combination of college-level education, training, and experience. To qualify on this basis, the applicant must establish conclusively that the education, training, and experience provided knowledge and understanding of the theories, principles, and techniques of professional librarianship; a knowledge of literature resources; and the knowledge and abilities essential for providing effective library and information services.

You MUST submit a legible copy of your college/university transcripts to your online application. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable at the time of application. Official transcripts will be required if selected. Failure to submit the required legible documentation at the time of application will result in disqualification of your application.

Foreign Education – Education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed equivalent to conventional/accredited U.S. education programs to be acceptable for Federal employment. If your college/university is outside the U.S., your transcripts must be accompanied by a report from a credential evaluation service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or the Association of International Credentials Evaluators (AICE). Failure to submit a foreign education evaluation report will result in disqualification of your application.

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 Equal Employment Opportunity 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 permanent appointments to the Library of Congress require completion of a one-year probationary period.  In addition, per Library of Congress Regulation 9-532, an appointee or internal selectee is subject to a one-year supervisory probationary period if this is their first supervisory/managerial position at the Library of Congress. Probationary periods served at other Federal agencies do not count toward this requirement.

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.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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.


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.