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Folklife Specialist (Research and Programs)

Employer
USAJobs
Location
Washington, D.C
Closing date
Oct 2, 2020
Duties

Summary

This position is located in the Archive Of Folk Culture, American Folklife Center, Special Collections Directorate, Library Services .

The position description number for this position is 400035.

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

The incumbent of this position will work a compflex; or flextime work schedule.

This is a non-supervisory, bargaining unit position.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

The Folklife Specialist (Research and Programs) position is located in the American Folklife Center (AFC) at the Library of Congress. The purpose of the position is to support professional services for the Center's research and programming activities; contribute significantly to the development and distribution of educational resources and interpretive materials; support the development of AFC archival collections; represent the Center within and outside the Library on matters of folklife, ethnomusicology, ethnographic research, and public programming; and perform other duties related to the American Folklife Center or in support of the Library, as assigned.

In consultation with Head of Research and Programs, provides assistance for Center folklife or ethnomusicological research projects in the Library of Congress and in other research libraries and ethnographic archives. Aides with professional services and information resources in various media for the Center to provide to cultural heritage fields, including folklife, ethnomusicology, and oral history.

Contributes to Center field research and documentation projects when applicable, using standard interviewing and documentary techniques and equipment. Helps with, timelines, product development, staffing, and publicity for American Folklife Center initiatives involving public programming and researcher development or support as required.

Represents the Center within the Library on matters of folklife, ethnomusicology, ethnographic research, and public programming: stays abreast of the latest research and publications in these fields; makes and maintains professional contacts (both within and outside the Library); and, travels outside the Library to work with appropriate professionals to further Center objectives.

Contributes to materials across multiple media that draw on expertise in the fields of folklore, ethnomusicology, oral history, and related cultural heritage disciplines. Materials may include written articles, lectures, blog posts, publicity/press releases, and social media communications, as well as the development of content for various digital platforms. Prepares and contributes to policy and division reports as required.

Assists with plans for exhibitions and interpretive programs, including goals and objectives, strategies for achieving same, development of management plans, and the scheduling of exhibitions and interpretive programs. Provides expert advice and assistance to the Center's management on new
policies, changes in policies, and proposed exhibitions and interpretive programs.

Provides reference services for complex research projects and issues associated with the American Folklife Center's archival collections on folklife, ethnomusicology, and documentary media. Duties include surveying and evaluating the Library's collections relating to these areas; addressing complex
reference inquiries; and, planning and developing public information resources in various media concerning Center research and programming activities and archival resources.

Participates in education activity, including planning, scheduling, and providing logistical support for seminars, workshops, special events, and associated outreach. Provides resources to support AFC educational programming development and works with other units and programs as needed (inside
and outside of LOC).

Provides authoritative technical advice in the area of folklife and/or ethnomusicology research to others outside the organization who are working on education and training projects. Serves as a project staff, providing support to the Center's team members in the form of working with identified
priorities, locating resources, and following procedures as they relate to the team's assigned tasks.

Stays abreast of trends in the archival field. Provides subject expertise and conducts research, as needed, to help inform collection acquisition decisions.

Collaborates with archives staff to provide curatorial expertise and other support as assigned related to collections processing and access efforts. Helps support AFC collection development by amplifying the value of AFC archives through symposia, blogs, podcasts, and other public engagement efforts.

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.

Knowledge of folklife, ethnomusicology, ethnographic research, public programming, and/or related fields.**

Ability to support and contribute to professional services for the American Folklife Center's research and programming activities.**

Ability to produce informational and interpretive materials on activities or collections.**

Knowledge of the principles, concepts, and techniques of library and/or archival work.

Ability to support education programs and training.

Ability to plan and execute work.

Ability to communicate in writing.

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.

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