Duties

The Program Specialist will work on a new four year, grant-funded initiative from within the Digital Strategy Directorate at the Library of Congress. As part of the Mellon Funded "Of the People: Widening the Path" program, this initiative is designed to extend the reach of the Library's digital collections within Black, Indigenous, Hispanic and Latino/a, Asian American, and other communities of color across the country through the use of technology, and to center the perspectives of those communities within the Library. For the duration of the project, the program specialists will work closely with the Program Director and other members of the CCDI staff to administering the program, coordinate annual grant opportunities, plan an annual event, and document and share CCDI activities internally and externally.

The Program Specialist will collaborate with colleagues to recruit, select, and support approximately 6 grantees per year from minority serving organization and institutions for grants to use digital approaches to re-mix and re-use Library of Congress materials. They will serve as a point of contact for partner organizations as they undertake their projects, and help identify opportunities to connect with Library of Congress colleagues, collections and services. In addition, they will support summer interns working across the organization, and foster and support network and community-building activities across partner organizations, interns and with Library staff.

Through the grant-making program, the incumbent will work with other LC staff to identify resources to inspire Library of Congress patrons to consult and use its resources to fulfill their personal goals and aspirations and for lifelong learning in order enhance the Library of Congress's longstanding strengths in digital collections, metadata expertise and long-term stewardship, merging them with research in the digital humanities and digitally enhanced learning.

Other duties could include developing project plans, developing procedures to increase the flow of information and overcome obstructions in program operations and processes, and establishing efficient processes by identifying weaknesses and developing and implements improvement plans.

Applies a range of qualitative and quantitative methods to assess program effectiveness and complex management processes, projects and systems. Investigates and analyzes adverse quality trends or conditions and facilitates the initiation of corrective actions within the office.

Facilitates high-level Library of Congress meetings, both externally with outside entities and internally among library divisions. Prepares conferences and briefings, organizes background materials and conducts research. Stages thematic events and conferences, as necessary.

This position is not eligible for permanent remote telework.

The position description number for this position is 359147.

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; or maxiflex 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.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

Conditions of Employment

Library employees must be fully vaccinated by Monday, January 3, 2022. New hires must be fully vaccinated by the date of their appointment.

Employees are considered fully vaccinated when it has been at least two weeks since they received the second dose of a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine (e.g., Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna) or the single dose of a one-dose vaccine (e.g., Johnson & Johnson/Janssen). At this time, booster shots are not necessary to be considered fully vaccinated.

Upon request, employees must provide proof of vaccination to the Health Services Division.

Consistent with applicable law, the Library will consider individual exceptions to the vaccination requirement based on an employee's medical condition or sincerely held religious belief. Employees with an approved exception will be subject to weekly testing and other COVID-19 safety protocols as directed, including, for example, wearing masks and social distancing.

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 work with organizations or institutions that serve Black, Indigenous, Hispanic, Asian American and Pacific Islander or other communities of color within a professional context.**

Knowledge of digital libraries and/or other cultural heritage organizations. **

Ability to plan and manage special projects, events, and initiatives.**

Ability to communicate in writing.

Ability to communicate effectively other than in writing.

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.