Duties

Summary

The Congressional Research Service (CRS) Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division (FDT) is seeking a Research Assistant to support a broad range of research tasks in its Defense Policy and Arms Control (DP) Section. The selectee will support research analysts and managers across FDT in addressing congressional requests for information and analysis by performing research, writing, data analysis, and other research support duties.

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Responsibilities

Ideal candidates will have experience conducting research in the areas of defense strategy and policy, international security, and arms control, as well as some knowledge of the related legal and policy contexts, institutional dimensions, and policy tools.

Successful candidates must be able to work as part of a collaborative team and must exhibit the intellectual flexibility and broad research skill set that facilitate effective work across a wide issue spectrum beyond the applicant's research focus or concentration.

Strong research, writing, and presentation skills are essential; candidates with strong information technology skills to inform research products and processes are especially urged to apply.
Prepares contributions to comprehensive or complex analytical and descriptive products that inform congressional understanding of public policy issues and consideration of policy proposals. May author or co-author analytical or descriptive and background reports, memoranda, and other types of written responses for congressional committees, Members, and staff.

Participates in group efforts on research projects as a member of a collaborative team and undertakes research and data analytical tasks in support of the development of an array of analytical and descriptive products or components.

Performs literature searches and reviews, and evaluates publications and analyses for authoritativeness, relevance, and currency. Recommends documents for use by research staff and prepares abstracts for descriptive and analytical underlying materials.

Locates, extracts, collects, and/or compiles quantitative data and other information; interprets and evaluates data for accuracy, relevance, authoritativeness, and usefulness; works with division staff to identify and resolve problems with data; and formats data to meet targeted, well-defined research needs.

Creates and populates databases and spreadsheets, reformatting and standardizing data from different sources, and performing data input, calculations, and analysis. Trains colleagues and/or instructs staff on the content, nature, and use of division data resources.

Formats a range of tables, graphs, images, and other insertions to CRS products, reviewing and verifying this content for accuracy and completeness. Recommends quality control procedures and makes suggestions to improve and enhance these insertions to CRS products.

Prepares materials for use at consultations, briefings, and seminars for congressional clients. Attends consultations, briefings, seminars, and outreach activities to gain familiarity with CRS's information and analytic capabilities, record questions, gauge audience engagement, and capture audience suggestions for future sessions; may present analytical information, factual information, or research findings to congressional clients.
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 a legislative branch agency within the Library of Congress, CRS has been a valued and respected resource on Capitol Hill for over a century.

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.

This is a non-supervisory, bargaining unit position.

The position description number for this position is 308063.

The incumbent of this position is eligible to elect to work a flexitime work schedule.

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

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

Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
11

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.

Knowledge of defense policy.**

Ability to apply knowledge of the analytic research process in defense policy. **

Ability to identify, exploit, and manipulate research resources and tools to perform research tasks pertinent to defense policy.**

Ability to prepare written research materials related to defense policy.**

Ability to collaborate.

Ability to exercise objectivity in all phases of research, including written and oral presentations.

Ability to communicate effectively other than in writing.


Education

Basic Requirements:

Degree: behavioral or social science; or related disciplines appropriate to the position.

OR

Combination of education and experience that provided the applicant with knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field.

OR

Four years of appropriate experience that demonstrated that the applicant has acquired knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field.

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
Other

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.