Duties

About the Graduate Recruit Program:

Initial appointments under the Graduate Recruit Program will be made for a period up to 120 days. Initial appointments are expected to convert to permanent, contingent upon the participant's successful performance, completion of all degree requirements, and availability of funding. Those students who return to school to complete their advanced degree program may be eligible for a permanent position once they obtain their degree.

About CRS

CRS works exclusively for the United States Congress, providing policy and legal analysis to committees and Members of both the House and Senate, regardless of party affiliation. As shared staff to congressional committees and Members of Congress, CRS experts assist at every stage of the legislative process-from the early considerations that precede bill drafting, through committee hearings and floor debate, to the oversight of enacted laws and various agency activities.

CRS is well known for analysis that is authoritative, confidential, objective, and nonpartisan. Its highest priority is to ensure that Congress has immediate access to the nation's best thinking on public policy issues of interest to its Members and Committees.

Job Responsibilities

The Analyst in Public Finance will work on legislation and oversight issues in the areas of individual income tax policy, energy tax policy, or economic development with a focus on tax policy, as well as other public finance policies for Members and committees of the U.S. Congress. The analyst will locate and interpret factual information; conduct research; prepare objective, non-partisan descriptive, background, and analytical reports; and participate in team research projects and seminars. The work also includes briefing congressional staff and Members of Congress. The applicant should be able to demonstrate their proficiency through relevant coursework or experience. Applicants earning an advanced degree in economics or with strong data and data visualization skills are especially encouraged to apply.

The ideal candidate will have formal training in or experience with individual income tax policy, energy tax policy, or tax-focused economic development; knowledge and experience with public policymaking; and/or formal training in public finance and economics. The analyst in public finance is also expected to develop over time the skills necessary to provide legislative analysis and consultation to congressional committees, Members of Congress, and their staff at increasingly sophisticated levels.

Strong writing, research, and presentation skills are essential, including the ability to synthesize complex analyses into easy-to-understand language for a non-technical audience.

The analyst position carries promotion potential to the GS-15 level.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

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

Who may be considered:
Graduate students and Library of Congress employees who meet all of the following eligibility requirements:

1. U.S. Citizenship
2. Current enrollment in or anticipated graduation from an appropriate, accredited advanced degree program. (Library employees who already possess a graduate degree and maintain Library employment status without a break in service may be considered for appointment under the CRS Graduate Recruit Program).
3. Education requirements for a GS-11 appointment (see table below)

Education

GS-11 Grade Level

Three years of progressively higher appropriate graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree, OR

A Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, OR

One year of specialized experience at the GS-09 grade level in the federal service or at a comparable level of difficulty outside the federal service.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL, AND ABILITY REQUIREMENTS:

The critical knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs), gained through education, experience and/or training, needed to successfully perform the duties of the position:

GS-11 Grade Level

Knowledge of Tax Policy, with an Emphasis on Individual Income Taxation, Energy or Economic Development **

To provide objective, in-depth public policy analysis and background information in the areas of individual income tax policy, energy tax policy, or tax-focused economic development for Members and committees of the U.S. Congress.

Ability to Design and Utilize Research and Analytical Methods and Techniques**

To research, analyze and synthesize complex information and evaluate implications of various policy alternatives.

Ability to Write on Issues Related to Tax Policy, with an Emphasis on Individual Income Taxation, Energy or Economic Development**

To write analytical and descriptive products, supported by appropriate background research, in the areas of individual income tax policy, energy tax policy, or tax-focused economic development for Congress.

Additional information

The Congressional Research Service, within the Library of Congress, is part of the Legislative Branch of the federal government. As such, all positions are in the excepted service.

The salary range indicated reflects the locality pay adjustment for the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.

This is a non-supervisory, bargaining unit position.

The appointment tenure for this position is full-time temporary with the expectation of subsequent conversion to permanent; flexible work schedules may be available.

The position description number for this vacancy announcement is 004746, GS-11.

Relocation expenses are not authorized for the person(s) selected under this vacancy announcement.

The Library reserves the right to fill a lesser or greater number of vacancies indicated during the life of this vacancy announcement.

Appointment/retention is subject to a favorable evaluation of an appropriate personnel security/suitability investigation.

Those Graduate Recruit Program participants who are converted from a temporary appointment to a permanent position, and who have not yet completed the one-year probationary period, which is required of all new Library employees, will be required to do so. Time served in the temporary appointment will not count toward completion of this one-year probationary period requirement.

CRS staff not placed in a permanent position under the Graduate Recruit Program will return to the position occupied before entering the program or a position of similar grade and duties without loss of federal service tenure or seniority. Before applying, other Library of Congress employees should consult their supervisor or service unit management regarding the status of their position should they be selected for the program but not placed in a permanent position.

The Library of Congress is an equal opportunity employer. Women, men, minorities, and persons with disabilities who meet eligibility requirements are strongly encouraged to apply.

This agency provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify Carmen Reese at CRSGraduateRecruit@crs.loc.gov or (202) 707-6275. The decision on granting reasonable accommodations will be made on a case-by-case basis.