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This position is located in the African and Middle Eastern Division, General and International Collections Directorate, Researcher and Collections Services.
The position description number for this position is 459598.
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.
The tour of duty for this position is full-time
This is a supervisory, non-bargaining unit position
10/29/2024 to 11/29/2024
$147,649 - $221,900 per year
SL 00
1 vacancy in the following location:
No
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Occasional travel - Some travel is required occasionally.
No
Permanent - Position
Full-time - Flexitime.
Excepted
00
Yes
No
VAR002911
816398100
Anyone may apply - By law, employment at most U.S. Government agencies, including the Library of Congress, is limited to U.S. citizens. However, non-citizens may be hired, provided that other legal requirements are met and the Library determines there are no qualified U.S. citizens available for the position.
This event will be livestreamed on Zoom for Government.
Join a live, virtual Career Showcase to learn about an exciting career opportunity directly from senior leaders at the Library of Congress. Simply log on to the link below on Thursday, November 21, 2024, at 1:00 PM p.m. (ET) to learn about the Chief, African and Middle Eastern Division role at the Library of Congress. Registration is not required.
To participate anonymously, simply identify yourself as "Anonymous2024" when entering the session.
Please join the webinar on Zoom>>
When: Thursday, November 21, 2024, at 1:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Topic: Library of Congress – Chief, African and Middle Eastern Division
Zoom Link: https://loc.zoomgov.com/j/1617116378
Phone: +1-669-254-5252
Webinar ID: 161 711 6378
Request ADA accommodations five business days in advance at (202) 707-6362 or ada@loc.gov.
A recording of the Career Showcase will be available by no later three business days following the event.
The position serves as the Chief, African and Middle Eastern Division (AMED), in the Library Collections and Services Group (LCSG), Researcher and Collections Services (RCS), General and Internal Collections Directorate (GICD) within the African and Middle Eastern Division (AMED), at the Library of Congress (LC) and reports directly to the Director, GICD.
The incumbent serves as the Library's principal representative in matters dealing with the countries, languages and regions covered by the division. This includes the provision of services related to collections of the relevant countries of origin, the related American Diasporas, and engagement with African, Middle Eastern, and Hebraic studies broadly. With guidance from the director, and in keeping with overall Library strategy and objectives, the Chief formulates the division’s vision, establishes the mission and goals, determines objectives, manages resources, and evaluates the overall performance of the division.
The Chief has primary responsibility for building the collections of the de facto national library as it pertains to the growth and direction of the Library's AMED collections, facilitating research and reference service onsite and virtually, and coordinating library outreach and engagement with a large and diverse array of users and communities.
The Chief is responsible for effectively communicating and cooperating with stakeholders across the Library, and with external organizations.
Operationally, the Chief is responsible for governance and compliance within the division, sets policies for, administers, and supervises division staff, programs, services, and activities, and ensures the overall administrative and operational effectiveness of the division, in keeping with established policies, procedures, and timelines.
The Chief has responsibility for oversight and administration of all aspects of the division’s organization, services, and programs. Incorporates inclusive and equitable policies and processes to ensure diversity and accessibility in all collections development, research service, and outreach and engagement efforts. Establishes and maintains an assessment approach to ensure the division evaluates its effectiveness and strives for continuous improvement.
The Chief sets and implements a collection development strategy that ensures a diverse, balanced, and sustainable portfolio via the division’s Africa, Near East, and Hebraic Sections. Supports the Library’s mandate to have collections that are inclusive and representative of a diversity of creators and ideas and ensures the acquisition of material of underrepresented perspectives and voices.
Supervises a group of employees performing work up to the GS-14 level. Provides administrative and technical supervision relative to the staff supervised. Plans work to be accomplished by subordinates, sets, and adjusts short-term and long-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; demonstrates and conducts work performance critiques.
The Chief establishes and maintains effective working relationships with various high-level officials, including Members of Congress and their staff, other legislative and executive agencies, donors, and distinguished members of the public, to advance the mission of the Division and the mission and goals of the Library.
Establishes and maintains close and cooperative working relationships with Library officials, other government agencies, and academic and cultural institutions with related interests in the subject areas of the Division. Communicates with service units and directorate management teams on the status of various work activities, programs, and projects.
Relocation fees may be considered for the person(s) selected under this vacancy announcement.
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/static/portals/careers/documents/loc_supervisor_core_competencies.pdf
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 or current drug use and activities (e.g., selling or distributing) may deem you ineligible for employment.
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.
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 experience:
Implementing the principles, concepts, and methods of library science. ** The successful candidate has applied professional knowledge of library and information management principles, concepts, and methods to manage library functions and carry out library programs in a research library setting; used this knowledge to create content, organize material, and provide access to analog and digital collections. Experience with the following: 1) setting priorities and policies for general and special collections management; 2) developing strategies to improve the research experience and a culture of assessment; 3) determining strategies to organize, digitize and make collections accessible; 4) providing leadership for collection management, development and acquisition; 5) working closely with library subject specialists in setting performance goals; and 6) developing collaborative approaches to public outreach to increase the use of Library collections and services.
Knowledge of the countries, languages, and regions of Africa and/or the Middle East. ** The successful candidate has professional knowledge of the countries, languages, and regions of Africa and/or the Middle East in order to command credibility in the research and information communities, to recognize trends in research, and identify collaborative opportunities with persons from the regions.
Ability to lead and inspire change. ** The successful candidate has the ability to lead people effectively and inspire change in developing and implementing Library of Congress values, principles, and direction. This includes the ability to promote ideas with enthusiasm, conviction, and assertiveness; resolve contentious situations; solicit and consider others’ opinions; gain support and commitment from others; motivate and inspire others; and promote a culture of change and growth.
Ability to supervise, develop and lead a diverse workforce. ** The successful candidate has led people to meet an organization’s vision, mission, and strategic goals. Provided an inclusive workplace that fostered the development of others, facilitated cooperation and teamwork, and supported constructive resolution of differing opinions by using innovative approaches and future-oriented thinking. Performed human resources management functions such as: managed the budget and personnel planning for divisions under his/her direction; established performance expectations for the division chiefs and staff; provided formal and informal performance feedback and evaluated staff; and promoted the goals of equal employment opportunity and ensured the office was free of discriminatory employment practices.
Ability to provide program oversight and administrative management to agency programs and operations. ** The successful candidate has provided a wide range of managerial, analytical, technical, and advisory functions related to the administrative programs within the division. This included: 1) provided oversight for human resources, finance, information technology, facilities management and other services, 2) oversaw and guided short- and long-term strategic planning initiatives, 3) accomplished strategic and organizational goals by ensuring the effective interaction and integration of processes, 4) delegated and managed financial operations, 5) provided operational services in support of workforce planning goals, 6) managed effective and efficient administration of facilities requirements, 7) set performance expectations, 8) provided advice, counseled and training to staff, 9) developed policies and guidelines affecting agency programs, and 10) directed, monitored and participated in outreach initiatives.
Ability to build and engage coalitions and professional networks in support of mission. The successful candidate has identified, built, and maintained relationships and professional networks to gain support and commitment from scholars and other learners; the publishing and creative community; and colleagues in the library field. This includes: 1) participating in and representing the institution at professional association meetings; 2) working collaboratively with other departments, agencies and organizations to further agency goals and objectives; 3) establishing cordial relationships with donors and potential donors to obtain additions to Library collections; and 4) working with the archival and research library community to identify trends and issues related to the collections and services of the Library.
Ability to communicate effectively other than in writing. The successful candidate has the ability to speak clearly, politely, and under control to peers, staff, managers, supervisors, and external audiences to both provide and seek information. This also includes actively listening to and understanding information; and listening to and answering questions thoughtfully and completely.
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 at step one 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. For more information, please see: https://www.loc.gov/careers/working-at-the-library/frequently-asked-questions/vetting-personnel-at-the-library/
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 participate 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.
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 8.5, at: Merit Selection Plan.
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.
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.
Please carefully follow all instructions under the How to Apply tab to ensure you are considered for the position.
You are required to apply online for this announcement. We are unable to accept mailed or emailed documents. You must complete the entire application process, including submission of all documents BEFORE this announcement closes. To do so, complete the following steps.
Step 1: If you do not already have one, create a resume on USAJOBS. Although you must enter your Social Security Number for USAJOBS, this information will not be provided to the Library of Congress.
Step 2: Review the Job Announcement. We recommend you go to the end of the Qualification and Evaluation section of the job announcement to preview the online questions that you will answer in Step 4. You may wish to customize your USAJOBS resume to ensure that it supports your responses to these questions.
Step 3: Click on the "APPLY ONLINE" button to the right of this announcement. Follow USAJOBS' instructions to access your account and submit your resume. You will be redirected to the Hiring Management website to complete the application process. If this is your first time in Hiring Management, you will be asked to answer questions related to your eligibility for Federal employment. You will be able to update this information and save it to our account for future announcements.
Step 4: Once you have completed the eligibility questions, you will be taken directly to the vacancy application questions. Answer all questions honestly and thoroughly. Step 5: Hiring Management offers three options that will electronically attach your documentation to your online application once you finish answering the questions in the job announcement.
(1) You may select a document that you have already uploaded to USAJOBS for a previous announcement.
(2) You may electronically upload a document directly from your computer to your application. Be certain to review your complete application for confirmation of the document uploaded and click on "Finished" to be returned to USAJOBS.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If you have multiple documents of the same kind, e.g. 2 undergraduate transcripts from different schools or 2 SF-50s, etc., be sure that they are all in the same file on your computer or in your USAJOBS profile before uploading them. If you try uploading them individually, only the last one sent will be visible in our system. If you have any questions about this information, please contact the person on this announcement BEFORE the closing date.
Step 6: Click on "Finish" after you have completed your application. Once you have submitted your application, you can check your status online through your Hiring Management or MY USAJOBS account. Your complete online application and any required supplemental documentation (e.g., SF-50, etc.) must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) on the closing date of the announcement. It is your responsibility to ensure that all documents are received on time and that the materials are readable. Failure to do so will result in your application being excluded from consideration for this announcement.
If you are experiencing any technical difficulty with the online process, you MUST CONTACT THE POINT OF CONTACT FOR THIS ANNOUNCEMENT BEFORE THE CLOSING DATE. For all technical issues please contact jobhelp@loc.gov, no later than 4:30pm EST of the Closing Date. REQUESTS FOR EXTENSIONS WILL NOT BE GRANTED.
Please review our evaluation process under Evaluation. You may check the status of your application for this position at any time by logging onto the USAJOBS "My USAJOBS" tab and clicking on "My Applications." You will receive final notification via e-mail when the vacancy has been filled.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/816398100. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
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The Library of Congress serves the Congress in fulfilling its duties and preserves and promotes knowledge and creativity for the benefit of the American people. It is the nation's oldest federal cultural institution and the world's largest library, with more than 158 million items in its physical collections (including books, manuscripts, prints, photos, film, video, and sound recordings) and over 37 million items online. Located primarily on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., the Library is the home of the U.S. Copyright Office, the Congressional Research Service (CRS), the Law Library of Congress, and the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled.
