Duties

This position serves as head of the Knowledge Services Group (KSG), a major CRS research division. In this capacity, and reporting directly to the Director of CRS, the Assistant Director leads, plans, directs and evaluates the delivery of information research and reference activities of the KSG, and ensures that it is of the highest quality and consistently meets the Service's standards of objectivity, nonpartisanship, timeliness, authoritativeness; and confidentiality.

The Assistant Director oversees implementation of general reference services and research support activities in CRS such as the management of institutional knowledge, instruction in the use of information tools, maintenance of authoritative research materials, and development of knowledge bases. This includes demonstrating personal intellectual leadership in monitoring congressional needs for information research across a broad spectrum of policy areas, and assures the availability of the intellectual capacity needed to meet the current and changing needs of the United States Congress at a sustained level of excellence.

The Assistant Director also serves as one of the chief advisors to the Director, counseling the Director on all aspects of the research management and operations of CRS and recommending specific policies and procedures for improving the Service's overall quality, efficiency, and effectiveness. The Assistant Director serves as a member of the Director's senior management team and serves as a principal CRS representative to Members, committees, and officers of the United States Congress.

Major duties of this position include:

• Counsels the Director and Deputy Director on all aspects of the administration and operations of the Congressional Research Service. Has overall responsibility, as well as delegated authority, for the oversight and administration of broad, emerging, and/or critical agency programs or operations. Is responsible for the formulation and administration of policies affecting the Service beginning, at the highest level, with advice and counsel to the Director and Deputy Director in implementing a strategic vision and successfully meeting the CRS mission. Monitors immediate and longer term needs of CRS for information resource support in its policy making activities.

• Oversees implementation of the research agenda, including approaches, frameworks, and methodologies for addressing policy and legislative issues within the KSG's areas of responsibility. Continually assesses the overall performance of information research delivery and information resource management practices and systems in meeting needs of the Congress and the priorities, goals and policies of CRS for meeting those needs.

• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with various high-level individuals, including Members of Congress and their staff, Library of Congress and CRS management, executive departments and agencies, professional organizations and universities.

• Performs the human resource management functions relative to the staff supervised. Communicates work standards and expectations to supervisors and staff and holds them accountable to those standards.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• See requirements listed below under Qualifications Required.

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.

New hires will be required to show proof of vaccination their first week of work.

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.

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: https://www.loc.gov/extranet/cld/development-programs/supervisor/supervisorcompetencies.html

Library of Congress employees are prohibited from using illegal drugs, including marijuana. The Library is part of the Federal Government and abides by federal law, so regardless of individual state or District of Columbia laws, marijuana use is illegal, considered criminal activity, and can affect your employment at the Library. In addition, past drug use and activities (e.g., selling or distributing) may deem you ineligible for employment.

Qualifications

The Assistant Director leads division 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 .

The competencies below are required for this position. Those marked with a double asterisk (**) are considered the most critical competencies for this position.

A candidate's resume must show a proven record of accomplishment that clearly demonstrates he or she has:

• Expert knowledge of librarianship and information science within public policy research frameworks.** Applies knowledge of the theories, concepts, processes, techniques, principles and/or practices of librarianship and information science to integrate information research with public policy analysis. This includes applying these approaches and frameworks, methodologies and techniques to the evaluation of complex issues. This also includes the willingness to acquire new skills and knowledge by staying current in information research methods and techniques.

• Ability to lead and manage information and reference services in a public policy setting,** Leads and organizes information and reference services for the Service, including the ability to acquire and administer information resources and implement information research methodologies to accomplish an organization's mission. This also includes developing innovative and creative ideas to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of research management and operations for the success of the Service.

• Ability to lead people and manage a diverse workforce.** Manages and promotes a diverse and inclusive workforce that fosters the development of others, facilitates cooperation and teamwork, and supports constructive resolution of conflicts. Oversees the overall performance of the division by assessing staffing requirements in relation to current and anticipated needs of the Congress, developing staffing plans, justifications, and requests, and making work assignments for and evaluating staff in order to assure the availability of the intellectual capacity needed to meet the current and changing needs of Congress at a sustained level of excellence. Develops and oversees strategies for recruiting, hiring, mentoring, and training a diverse workforce as well as builds and maintains exceptional staff performance.

• Ability to lead, develop, and execute knowledge management initiatives.** Leads the implementation of knowledge management initiatives for an organization ensuring that institutional knowledge is captured, managed, and preserved for potential re-use. This includes identifying knowledge gaps, capturing and managing knowledge assets, facilitating knowledge transfer, and making innovative use of tools and services for knowledge management.

• Ability to exercise judgment and discretion.** Demonstrates awareness of the likely consequences or implications of one's own actions and work within the context of agency/ organizational/ departmental standards. Acts appropriately in a given situation (e.g., with colleagues, clients, media/press), using discretion, and being committed to confidentiality.

• Ability to think strategically and lead change. Establishes and implements a strategic vision and direction for an organization or group and leads and effects change. This includes evaluating interdependencies and interrelationships among functions and resources and outcomes; developing performance targets; and identifying strategic opportunities. This also includes championing ideas that promote the mission with enthusiasm, conviction, and assertiveness; gaining support and commitment from others; and motivating and inspiring others.

• Ability to communicate effectively other than in writing. Effectively expresses ideas and recommendations other than in writing in various settings to peers, staff, managers, supervisors, and external audiences to both provide and seek information. This includes actively listening to or understanding communicated information and answering questions thoughtfully and completely.

Continue with the application process only if you are able to document on your resume that you meet all the critical competency requirements at the levels described below.

Expert knowledge of librarianship and information science within public policy research frameworks: I have knowledge of the theories, concepts, processes, techniques, principles, and/or practices of librarianship and information science to integrate information research with public policy analysis.

Ability to lead and manage information and reference services in a public policy setting: I have led and managed information research across a broad range of public policy issue areas (e.g., environment, law, government operations, international relations, income security) for a library or research organization.

Ability to lead people and manage a diverse workforce: I have led and managed the performance of a diverse and inclusive workforce.

Ability to lead, develop, and execute knowledge management initiatives: I routinely led and/or managed knowledge management initiatives, including recommending the use of tools and services.

Ability to exercise judgment and discretion: In execution of work duties, I was routinely relied upon to exercise judgment and discretion.

Additional information

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

The salary range indicated reflects the basic pay adjustment of the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area.

Number of vacancies: One.

This is a permanent, supervisory, non-bargaining unit position.

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

The position description number for this position is 138080.

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.

Initial appointments, permanent or indefinite, to the Library of Congress require completion of a one-year probationary period. In addition, all newly appointed Senior Level executives from outside the Library, as well as from within, must serve a one-year probationary period in accordance with Library of Congress Regulation (LCR) 9-1610, Senior Level Executive System.

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 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.

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.