Duties

Summary

This position is located in the Acquisitions and Outreach Section, Manuscript Division, Special Collections Directorate, Library Services.

The position description number for this position is 412293.

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 supervisory, non-bargaining unit position.

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Responsibilities

This position is not eligible for permanent remote telework.

As part of one of the largest special collections repositories in the world, the Acquisitions and Outreach Section is key to the Manuscript Division's mission of acquiring and promoting the use of personal papers and organizational records encompassing the breadth and chronology of American history. The incumbent reports directly to the Chief of the division and must have strong managerial and interpersonal skills and comprehensive knowledge of manuscript collections and collection development.

Supervises a group of employees performing work up to the GS-14 level. Plans work to be accomplished by subordinates, sets and adjusts short-term priorities, and prepares schedules for completion of work; assigns work to subordinates based on priorities, selective consideration of the difficulty and requirements of assignments and the capabilities of employees. Observes workers' performance, and demonstrates and conducts work performance critiques. Establishes guidelines and performance expectations for staff and clearly communicates these through the formal employee performance management system. Provides informal feedback and periodically evaluates employee performance.

Resolves informal complaints and grievances. Recommends appointment, promotion, or reassignment and develops work improvement plans, recommending personnel actions as necessary. Effects minor disciplinary measures, such as warnings and reprimands, recommending other action in more serious cases. Reviews and approves or disapproves leave requests and certifies time and attendance records for staff.

Plans and directs the work of the Acquisitions and Outreach Section. Serves on the division's administrative team, ensuring coordination between that section and other units. Works closely with the Chief on administration and establishment of the division's long-range goals. Recommends actions affecting budgets, staff, and space. Participates in the development of grant proposals to foundations and individuals, and engages in personal contacts with potential Library donors.

Makes both long-range plans and develops specific strategies for acquisitions, collection management, digitization, exhibitions, public programming and outreach. Identifies and integrates technical, financial and administrative factors of external program issues that have an immediate bearing on the division's work (e.g., Library-wide Annual Performance Goals relating to arrearage reduction and digitization); adjusts immediate and long-range goals and schedules to meet changes in resources; determines project or program segments to be initiated, dropped, or curtailed; and determines resources to devote to various concurrent projects..

Coordinates, supervises, and participates in efforts of acquiring collections through gift, deposit, transfer, exchange, and purchase. Plans for collection management and development to build and maintain comprehensive collections in the fields of American history and culture. Coordinates activities related to collection development across all functional areas of the Library. Serves as an authority in one or more major subject areas of American history or archival administration. Identifies new sources of personal papers, organizational records, and other manuscript and archival materials. Establishes priorities for acquisition that complement existing collections or fill gaps in existing holdings. Contacts owners of personal papers, organizational records, and other materials that document key areas of American history and negotiates donations or purchase.

Plans, establishes, and directs research, reference, and outreach work of specialists in the section under the incumbent's supervision. Coordinates staff efforts related to exhibitions, publications, symposia, and reference services. Collaborates with other libraries in developing and providing access to library resources through the Internet and other means. Participates in the implementation and evaluation of services, policies, procedures, and publications. Independently plans and carries out studies of broad and varied topics or areas. Conducts research and analysis on historical and archival topics in field of expertise. Communicates findings or information verbally and in writing. Exercises a highly specialized knowledge of the subject matter and archival holdings in order to assist researchers and to carry out exhibitions and special studies.

Serves as an official spokesperson for the division and for the Library on matters relating to manuscript acquisitions and archival administration. Initiates, establishes, and maintains professional relationships with archivists, librarians, scholars, and other specialists in order to share information and coordinate workflows.

Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status
Yes

Promotion Potential
14

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 manuscript collections.**

Knowledge of the principles and techniques of library or archival collections development.**

Ability to lead and supervise a diverse workforce.**

Ability to communicate in writing.

Ability to provide consultation or liaison duties.

Ability to coordinate projects and set priorities.

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. All who meet the eligibility requirements are 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. In addition, per Library of Congress Regulation 2010-12, an appointee or internal selectee is subject to a one-year supervisory probationary period, if this is his/her first supervisory/managerial position at the Library.

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.

The selected applicant may be required to file a financial disclosure statement with the House of Representatives, U.S. Congress, in accordance with the provisions of Public Law 95-521, Ethics in Government Act of 1978.

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.

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.

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
Top Secret

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.