Duties

Summary

This position is located in Taylor Street, Office of the Director, National Library Service Blind/Physically Handicap, Library Collections and Services Group, Office Of The Librarian.

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Responsibilities

As a senior specialist, the incumbent interacts with internal and external NLS stakeholders, IT specialists' contractors and staff at NLS affiliated libraries to develop and implement optimal business support solutions that have various time, budget, and cost constraints.

Identifies, documents, and analyzes customer information business needs and translates those into specifications, requirements, and data models. Develops and manages business solutions using Library approved policies and procedures, systems development life cycle (SDLC) methodologies, and project management techniques. Acts as a project manager for NLS business support solutions and may serve as a Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) on identified contracts. Conducts special projects and studies, either individually, as a participant on task forces or working groups, or as a project leader. Advises senior NLS management on business needs and the planning and implementation of strategic NLS objectives.

As a senior specialist, collaborates with internal and external stakeholders, IT specialists, contractors, and others to identify and capture user requirements and expectations at the Service- wide and division/office levels for a division that serves a unique constituency. Acts as a subject matter expert in the area of NLS business processes and systems with an emphasis on accessibility. Uses expert level knowledge to lead multidisciplinary teams of government employee^ and contractors to synthesize, clarify, define and document complex business requirements and processes.

Identifies; options for satisfying business needs, including new and/or improved functionality to enhance the user experience or address evolving functional and non-functional requirements of internal and external stakeholders. Identifies and documents quantitative and qualitative benefits, costs, and risks of proposed projects. Identifies short- and long-term resource requirements needed to address business requirements effectively and efficiently. Supports NLS project objectives and resolves issues within and across project teams.

Proactively communicate and collaborate with external and internal customers; developing or coordinating the development of artifacts including, but not limited to: functional requirements, business requirements document, use cases, acceptance criteria, Graphical User Interface (GUI), screen and interface designs. Acts as liaison between the business units, technology teams and support teams for NLS systems. Leverage technology to help reduce manual tasks and continually improve NLS's requirements process. Participates in program planning, budgeting, execution, and status reporting.

Acts as a liaison, collaborating with teams of IT specialists, NLS subject matter experts, project stakeholders, and others to establish and implement strategies to meet NLS objectives and IT business needs. Works with the technical team ensuring solutions meet business requirements.

Leads quality control efforts. Works with the project team, quality assurance specialists, and stakeholders to plan and execute unit, integration, and acceptance tests. Works with the project team, IT specialists, and stakeholders to correct deficiencies, manage change requests, ensuring results satisfy project objectives. Participates in the resolution of identified issues.

Participates in NLS strategic planning efforts. Monitors usage statistics, identifies trends and patterns, analyzes best value propositions, and recommends enhanced or new business solutions. Leads analytical efforts on special projects to improve operating efficiency from business and technical perspectives. Develops reports, feasibility studies, and briefings on specific technology issues.

Develops and maintains project schedules and identifies dependencies and the critical path across projects affecting project milestones and goals. Conducts risk management and develops alternate approaches needed to keep projects on track. Works with others to plan, baseline, and update project plans to control costs and meet scheduled deadlines.

Makes adjustments to accomplish the workload in accord with established priorities. Schedules and conducts regular project team meetings; ensures team members are aware of and participate in project planning to achieve team goals and objectives. Prepares and delivers periodic progress reports. Regularly develops, updates, and compiles individual and team performance metrics. Oversees release plans at project completion.

The position description number for this position is 367371.

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, bargaining unit position.

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

Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
13

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 conduct business analyses.**

Ability to work within a structured project process.**

Ability to document business requirements.**

Ability to analyze organizational and operational problems and develop solutions.**

Ability to communicate in writing.**

Ability to focus on the customer.

Ability to communicate and interact with others.

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

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.