Summary

This position is located in the General and International Collections Directorate, Researcher and Collections Services (RCS), Library Services.

The position description number for this position is 413022.

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 non-supervisory, non-bargaining unit position.

Responsibilities

This position is not eligible for permanent remote telework.

The General and International Collections Directorate at the Library of Congress is responsible for supporting many of the institution’s priorities. We set strategies to organize, digitize and make information accessible, and to enrich the onsite and online user experience in support of traditional and evolving forms of research. We look to emphasize diversity, equity, and inclusion in our collections strategies, while simultaneously adopting a digital-forward strategy that harnesses technology to bridge geographical divides, expand reach, and enhance service. In supporting the Library’s position as a leader in the library and cultural-heritage communities, we support the professional development of our staff, ensuring that we have the skills to accommodate changes in the information professions, and the needs and expectations of our users. The experience of the Special Assistant as a skilled guide, facilitator, administrator, and liaison is an important ingredient in our success.

Plans and organizes reports, inquires, and analysis by coordinating with staff and line management personnel, and conducting all phases of the project. Interprets service unit and agency regulations, directives and procedures, and the initial application of new methods. Provides administrative and operational support in the day-to-day and the long-term management of the Directorate to meet the mission and program goals. Evaluates program effectiveness and the improvement of complex program and management processes and systems encompassing difficult and diverse functions or issues affecting critical aspects of major programs.

Provides program support to the Director who is responsible for a range of activities and programs and regularly interacts with other Library Service Units and with national and international organizations, high-level officials from other government agencies, professional organizations, scholarly, and cultural communities.

Serves as the primary liaison between the Director, their management team and staff throughout the directorate and across other units in Library Collections and Services (LCSG). Initiates, establishes, and maintains professional relationships with all staff, in LCSG and throughout the Library, to share resources and information and effectively serve Library Services’ best interests. Serves as a central point of contact for the Director with representatives from other libraries, cultural institutions, national and international organizations, if necessary.

Serves as a point of contact for administrative professionals and directorate staff throughout the directorate on personnel and operational initiatives, goals and processes. Consults with Employee Resources Management and Planning (ERMP) and/or FMD on high-level operational, budgetary and personnel directorate objectives. Ensures information shared by the Financial Management Directorate (FMD), the Organizational Management Directorate (OMD) and/or the ERMP Division is administered timely to administrative staff and/or directorate staff.

Coordinates requirements and serves as an expert on special projects, advising senior management on significant office issues. Leads, conducts and/or participates in management studies and Reviews, particularly those with wide or significant effect on the Directorate and Service Unit operations, and those where the boundaries of the studies may be broad with far-reaching or long-term implications. Organizes assigned projects; plans, organizes and directs team projects and collaborations. Identifies and gathers necessary data including program data and interacts with senior managers, program officials, employees and supervisors; assembles and evaluates information gathered; formulates findings, conclusions, and recommendations; presents results in writing and/or orally, which are well-organized, supportable and clearly expressed. Undertakes environmental scanning, competitive intelligence, benchmarking, and best practice analysis.

Advises on changes to organizational structures, organizational charts, and mission and function statements to implement reorganizations or changes in program administration in order to reduce or eliminate functional overlap among the agency's substantive programs.

Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status

Promotion Potential

Job family (Series)
0301 Miscellaneous Administration And Program
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Requirements

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

No additional requirements to those listed above.

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 lead, coordinate and execute sensitive and/or complex assignments in an executive front office, or similar environment.**
Ability to plan and manage projects or programs in support of a large organization.**
Ability to serve as primary liaison and coordinator.
Ability to communicate effectively other than in writing.

Education

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 the minimum step of the grade.
The Library of Congress is an equal opportunity employer. Women, minorities, and persons with disabilities who meet eligibility requirements are strongly 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.
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.
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.
A “Not to Exceed“ (NTE) status is used to identify an appointment with a specific ending date. However, the Library has the right to separate a NTE employee at any time due to either performance issues or budget constraints.
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.

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.
For more information regarding eligibility requirements, please see the Library of Congress Merit Selection Plan, Section X.D, at: http://www.loc.gov/hr/employment/msp010909.pdf.
To preview questions please click here.

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test required
No
Required Documents

Required Documents

Current or former federal employees must submit their most recent Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50 or equivalent).
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. The program does not accept certification from health care providers. For more information contact the Library's Office of Equal Employment Opportunity and 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.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Benefits

Benefits

A career with the U.S. Government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time, or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

Help

This job is open to

The public
U.S. citizens, nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

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.