Duties

Summary

The Congressional Research Service seeks a Research Manager for the Banking, Insurance, Securities and Macroeconomics Policy Section in the Government and Finance Division. This position will be filled as a GS-0101 (social science analyst) or GS-0110 (economist). Applicants can request to be considered for either or both series (see Vacancy Questionnaire).

Applicants who apply for only one series will not be considered for the other series.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

The Section Research Manager leads a team of policy analysts in the development of policy research and analysis for Congress. The section covers a broad array of financial regulatory and economic policy issues including, but not limited to, banking, financial institutions, insurance, housing finance, securities, monetary policy, and macroeconomics. The section's work intersects with many related areas including trade, energy, labor, and economic development.

The Research Manager duties include:

• managing and supervising policy analysts, including communicating performance standards and expectations to staff, observing staff performance, giving feedback, and assessing performance;
• ensuring that the work results in objective, authoritative analysis with which the Congress can assess the consequences of legislative/policy options;
• proactively establishing relationships with committees of jurisdiction, building long-term relationships with clients, and taking initiative to seek out new congressional contacts for CRS;
• managing congressional requests, concerns, and needs in policy areas within the research management responsibility;
• collaborating with other managers to ensure an integrative approach to the work by fully identifying significant policy problems facing the Congress, developing analytical approaches to address these problems, and applying appropriate resources; and
• performing special assignments as directed by the Assistant/Deputy Assistant Director.

Candidates with research and research management experience in issues covered by the Banking, Insurance, Securities and Macroeconomics Policy Section and who have strong interpersonal skills and are capable of leading a highly motivated and talented research staff committed to providing Congress the highest level of nonpartisan, authoritative, objective policy analysis are encouraged to apply. Previous experience in writing, research, and analysis, and knowledge of congressional decision making and legislative process is desired. Candidates with experience explaining complex policies, programs, and economic principles in terms that resonate with audiences without their level of expertise are encouraged to apply.

The Research Manager directly supervises 10-12 staff members in the Banking, Insurance, Securities and Macroeconomics Policy Section of the Government and Finance Division. The Research Manager advises the Assistant Director and Deputy Assistant Director, leads staff toward meeting the Library's and CRS's vision, mission, and goals by managing performance, communicating effectively, fostering continuous improvement and innovation, building and maintaining relationships, leveraging diversity and inclusiveness, thinking systematically and inspiring change and exhibits commitment to the Library's Supervisor Core Competencies.

Ensures that research and analysis is conducted in a fully collaborative manner both within and outside the section, reflects the congressional agenda, and is relevant to congressional policy making. Leads, plans, organizes and coordinates research, including major research projects related to sensitive or complex public policies of national or international significance, which are often multidisciplinary in nature. Ensures that research and analysis undertaken is of the highest quality and meets CRS's standards of objectivity, responsiveness, non-partisanship, balance, timeliness, legislative relevance, authoritativeness, and accessibility. Reviews research to ensure that it complements other Service research and analyses; is accurate, well organized, and cogent; meets professional and service standards; adheres to CRS policy guidelines; and is responsive to the legislative needs of Members and committees of Congress. Establishes and maintains relationships with Members and committees of Congress.

Contributes to and assists in developing CRS-wide strategic goals and priorities. Communicates those goals and priorities to staff. Oversees the implementation of CRS-wide policies, procedures, standards and guidelines by staff. Effectively communicates management initiatives to staff and ensures that staff are able to acclimate to the changing needs of Congress and the CRS research community. Conveys to senior management information and concerns from staff.

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 accurate, 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.

Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status
Yes

Promotion Potential
15

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

The Supervisor leads his/her staff toward meeting the Library's vision, mission, and goals by acting decisively, leveraging diversity and inclusiveness, demonstrating flexibility and resilience, fostering continuous improvement and innovation, and fostering integrity and honesty. To view the Library's Supervisory Core Competencies click the following link: http://www.loc.gov/hr/employment/uploads/loc_supervisor_core_competencies.pdf .

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 banking, insurance, securities, and macroeconomic policy**

Ability to manage research**

Ability to review the analysis of others**

Ability to lead and manage staff**

Ability to communicate in writing

Knowledge of congressional decision making

Ability to collaborate

Ability to build relationships

Ability to exercise judgment and discretion

Ability to convey information orally through briefings, consultations, and other presentations

Ability to communicate effectively other than in writing

Education

Applicants who wish to be considered for the GS-0110 (economist) job series MUST SUBMIT WITH YOUR ONLINE APPLICATION, legible copies of transcripts that verify completion of at least one of the following BASIC REQUIREMENTS:

A. Degree in economics, that included at least 21 semester hours in economics and 3 semester hours in statistics, accounting, or calculus.

OR

B. A combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major in economics, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

Unofficial transcripts are acceptable at the time of application. Official transcripts will be required if selected. Failure to submit the required legible documentation at the time of application will result in disqualification of your application.

Foreign Education - Education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed equivalent to conventional/accredited U.S. education programs to be acceptable for Federal employment. If your college/university is outside the U.S., your transcripts must be accompanied by a report from a credential evaluation service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or the Association of International Credentials Evaluators (AICE). Failure to submit a foreign education evaluation report will result in disqualification of your application.

Applicants who request to be considered for both series but do not submit transcripts supporting their eligibility for the GS-0110 (economist) job series, will only be considered for the GS-0101 (social science analyst) job series. Applicants who apply for only one series will not be considered for the other series.

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. 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.

This is a supervisory, non-bargaining unit position.

The tour of duty for this position is full-time.

This vacancy may be filled in the GS-0110 (Economist) or GS-0101 (Social Science Analyst) job series. The position description numbers for these positions are: 111995 (GS-0110-15) and 085357 (GS-0101-15).

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

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.

Applicants who are referred for interview will be required to submit a completed OF-306, Declaration for Federal Employment .

Initial appointments, permanent or indefinite, to the Library of Congress require completion of a one-year probationary period. In addition, per Library of Congress Regulation 2010-12, an appointee is subject to a one-year supervisory probationary period, if this is his/her first supervisory/managerial position at the Library.

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 this agency. The decision on granting reasonable accommodations will be made 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 certificate of disability may be issued by a State Vocational Rehabilitation Office, Disability Services or Career Services office of an applicant's college or university, or the Department of Veterans Affairs. The date of certification must be within one year of the vacancy closing date and must be submitted with your application. For more information view the directive on the Library's Selective Placement Program and/or contact the Library's Office of Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity Programs at 202-707-3960 (voice or TTY) or email spp@loc.gov . FAILURE TO SUBMIT YOUR CERTIFICATION WILL CAUSE YOUR APPLICATION TO NOT BE CONSIDERED UNDER THE SELECTIVE PLACEMENT PROGRAM.

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 Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference , and provide the required documentation listed on the back of the form. For more information regarding eligibility requirements, please see the Library's Merit Selection Plan, Section X.D . 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.

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).

Disabled applicants claiming Selective Placement eligibility must submit proof of disability and a certification of job readiness. If Selective Placement is applicable to you, you will not be considered without submitting this documentation.

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.