This position is located in the Serial and Government Publications Division, General and International Collections, Library Services.
The position description number for this position is 65187.
This is a supervisory, non-bargaining unit position.
The incumbent will work a flexitime work schedule.
Relocation expenses will not be authorized for the person(s) selected under this vacancy announcement.
Responsibilities
The Serial and Government Publication Division at the Library of Congress is one of the world’s great hubs for access to and research of newspapers, magazines, journals, comics, and government publications. The division maintains one of the largest and most comprehensive newspaper collections in the world, spanning four centuries of local, national and international people and events. The division oversees the flagship service ‘Chronicling America’, the product of an on-going partnership between the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the Library of Congress, a website and searchable database providing access to historic U.S. newspapers. The division is also home to the largest publicly available collection of comic books in the United States, starting from the ‘Golden Age’ in the 1930s up to present day copyright and independent publisher titles. The division also makes available some 55,000 current foreign and domestic serial titles on a daily basis. Additionally, the division collects and serves current U.S. federal, state, municipal, and foreign and international serial government publications in Western European languages. These collections and expert assistance are available online and onsite in the Newspaper and Current Periodical Reading Room which won the Washington City Paper ‘Best of D.C. 2019’ award for ‘Best Place to Learn About the Past’.
The Chief of Serial and Government Publication Division is a senior management position at the Library of Congress, responsible for bringing vision, leadership, and innovation to the role. The Chief provides national leadership in the fields of research, reference, and information science as they relate to the division’s collections and services, and represents the library at national and international meetings, events, and programs. The role involves setting strategies to organize, digitize and make content and information accessible; ensuring community-based engagement and diversity in collections development for the national library; implementing innovative onsite and online user experiences that support traditional and evolving forms of research; and pursuing creative and practical channels for increasing user engagement with the Library, its staff, and collections.
The Chief of the Serial and Government Publications Division is responsible for the custodial collection management, development, preservation, security, and service of those collections in the Division’s custody including, bound serial collections, government publications, periodicals, Federal Advisory Committee Collection, Federal Agencies Collection, newspaper collections (including the 18th century and other Gold-level newspaper collections), a Gold-level comic book collection, and other custodial collections in print, non-print, and electronic formats, as well as the related reference and information services to the Library’s many constituencies, including Members of Congress and their staff, the Congressional Research Service, representatives of other government agencies, the general public, scholars, researchers, academic institutions and others. The incumbent serves as the senior advisor to the Director, General and International Collections, on all matters pertaining devising and implementing policies, procedures, and methods relating to custodial collection management, development, preservation and security efforts to ensure compliance with U.S. Government and Library-wide polices of service and access to public and sensitive Library collections.
In accordance with established Library of Congress procedures, regulations and collective bargaining agreements, the Chief sets policy for and has broad administrative supervision of the division. Supervises and directs the work of a group of employees performing work at the GS-14 level (the assistant chief and the heads of the reference, newspaper and government publications and periodicals sections), as well as other administrative staff.
Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with various high-level individuals, including Members of Congress and their staff, other legislative and executive agencies, world-class scholars, and managers of other libraries and information providers. Establishes and maintains close and cooperative working relationships with other agency or department management and officials. Serves as a principal liaison for the organization at professional conferences, seminars, and exhibits, and with other cultural, academic and government agencies.
Travel Required
Not required
Supervisory status
Yes
Promotion Potential
15
Job family (Series)
1410 Librarian
Requirements
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.
Ability to lead and inspire change.**
Ability to direct a significant library program using professional knowledge and subject area expertise as it relates to the acquisition and maintenance of serial and government collections.**
Ability to manage, develop and lead a diverse workforce.**
Knowledge of the principles, concepts, and techniques of library or information science.
Ability to build coalitions and professional networks.
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 [email protected]. 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 [email protected]. 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
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 [email protected]. 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.
Benefits
Benefits
A career with the U.S. Government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Learn more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time, or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
Help
This job is open to
The public
U.S. citizens, nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
Clarification from the agency
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.
