Duties
The Middle East and Africa Section (ME) of FDT covers the Middle East and Africa – to include Iran, Turkey, Afghanistan, and North Africa – and U.S. bilateral political, security, and economic relations in the region and multilateral affairs. The ideal candidate will have formal education, training, and/or experience conducting research on Middle Eastern affairs and U.S. relations with the region, including Iran, Lebanon, Syria, and security issues. The ideal candidate is expected to possess and enhance over time the skills necessary to provide legislative analysis and consultation to congressional committees, Members, and staff through increasingly sophisticated levels. The analyst may support research undertaken throughout CRS.
CRS works exclusively for the United States Congress, providing policy and legal analysis to committees and Members of both the House and Senate, regardless of party affiliation. As a legislative branch agency within the Library of Congress, CRS is a valued and respected resource on Capitol Hill.
CRS is well known for analysis that is authoritative, confidential, objective, and nonpartisan. Its highest priority is to ensure that Congress has immediate access to the nation's best thinking on public policy issues of interest to its Members and Committees.
CRS is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce that ensures the Service is well positioned to anticipate and meet the information and analytical research needs of a 21st-century Congress.
Prepares a variety of analytical, descriptive and background reports, memoranda, and written materials on subjects or public policy issues within the employee's designated areas of responsibility to support congressional decision-making.
Through personal consultation, assists committees, Members, and staff with consideration of legislative issues by providing information and analysis, and applying professional subject-area knowledge.
Participates in CRS seminars, workshops, and/or outreach programs for committees, Members, and staff. Locates and provides information requested by Members and committees of Congress or their staff.
Applicants should have experience conducting sophisticated analysis of Middle Eastern affairs and U.S. relations with the region, including Iran, Lebanon, Syria, and security issues; knowledge of the U.S. legislative branch and its operations; and the ability to work as part of a collaborative team. The work can require rapid response to emerging policy issues during active legislative processes. The ideal candidate will have a solid background in Middle Eastern affairs and U.S. relations with region, including Iran, Lebanon, Syria, and security issues, and the ability to apply such knowledge in a legislative context. Professional experience analyzing or implementing policy and legislation is preferred. Strong research, analysis, writing, and presentation skills are essential, and applicants with an advanced degree in regional studies, international relations, national security policy, history, economics, foreign languages, or similar disciplines are strongly encouraged to apply. Applicants with Farsi and/or Arabic language skills are encouraged to apply.
The analyst will prepare authoritative, objective, and nonpartisan analytical studies and descriptive and background reports and other products that analyze Middle Eastern affairs and U.S. relations with the region; provide personal consultation and assistance to congressional committees, Members, and staff on Middle Eastern affairs and U.S. relations with the region throughout the legislative process; and participate in team research projects and seminars.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret clearance.
Conditions of Employment
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.
The selected candidate must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret Clearance.
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 Middle Eastern affairs and U.S. relations with the region, including Iran, Lebanon, Syria, and security issues **
- Ability to analyze public policy issues**
- Ability to write in a public policy context**
- Ability to convey analysis and information orally through briefings, consultations and other presentations
- Ability to lead collaborative research tasks
- Ability to exercise objectivity in all phases of analysis and consultation
- Ability to communicate effectively other than in writing
Education
Degree: behavioral or social science; or related disciplines appropriate to the position.
OR
Combination of education and experience that provided the applicant with knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field.
OR
Four years of appropriate experience that demonstrated that the applicant has acquired knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field.
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. Opens in a new windowLearn 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.
How to Apply
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.
Next steps
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.