Duties
The position serves as the Chief, Research Engagement and General Collections (REGC) Division, General and International Collections Directorate (GICD), Researcher and Collections Services (RCS) within the Library Collections and Services Group (LCSG) at the Library of Congress (Library). The position reports to the Director, GICD.
The position has broad management and direction of seven sections: Researcher Experience, Humanities and Social Science, History and Genealogy, Business, Science, Collections Services, and Access Services.
The Research Engagement and General Collections Division is a gateway to the collections and services under its purview, setting strategies for acquiring, developing, digitizing, and making discoverable the Library's collections; ensuring diversity in collections development, community outreach and engagement, and user services; implementing innovative onsite and online services that support traditional and evolving forms of research; and pursuing creative and practical channels for increasing public engagement with the Library, its staff, and collections.
The Chief has full responsibility for the division’s role in building the collections of the de facto national library; facilitating research and reference instruction and support onsite and virtually; and coordinating library outreach and engagement and interaction with a large and diverse array of users and communities.
The Chief ensures the division balances new collections acquisitions with responsible stewardship of existing collections, while building a more diverse and inclusive record for future generations. In the provision of the division’s reference and research services, the Chief is responsible for ensuring an outstanding research experience through traditional in-person methods in reading rooms and emerging technologies, including social media and digital scholarship, to assist researchers and other audiences in the use of library resources. The Chief is responsible for a robust assessment program that enables continuous improvements in the provision of services.
Supervises a group of employees performing work up to the GS-15 level. Provides administrative and technical supervision relative to the staff supervised. Plans work to be accomplished by subordinates, sets, and adjusts short-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. Establishes guidelines and performance expectations for staff and clearly communicates these through the formal employee performance management system. Provides informal feedback and periodically evaluates employee performance. Resolves informal complaints and grievances. Recommends appointment, promotion, or reassignment and develops work improvement plans, recommending personnel actions as necessary. Provides advice and counsel to workers related to work and administrative matters.
The Chief is responsible for governance and compliance within the division, and for overseeing the overall administrative and operational effectiveness of the division, in keeping with established policies, procedures, and timelines.
As a key member of the management team of GICD, RCS, and LCSG, provides expert advice to the Director of GICD and other executives of LCSG, and senior management officials in other parts of the Library, including CLLE, VSO, etc., on various programs, plans, and policies.
Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with various high-level individuals, other legislative and executive agencies, members of Congress, visiting dignitaries, and distinguished members of the public.
Ensures the division supports the vision of being a library for all, onsite and online, and builds services around the experience and needs of our researchers, regardless of what stage of sophistication individual researchers have with the complexities of using the Library of Congress collections.
Performs other duties as assigned.
The position description number for this position is 451284.
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: 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 or current drug use and activities (e.g., selling or distributing) may deem you ineligible for employment.
Qualifications
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 with the principles, concepts, and techniques of modern librarianship as it relates to collections and provision of researcher services. ** The successful candidate has applied professional experience with library and information management principles, concepts, and techniques to manage library functions and carry out library programs in a research library or information science setting; using this knowledge to design and deliver responsive research support services, create content, organize material, and provide access to collections. Experience with the following: 1) Setting collecting priorities for development of general collections, 2) Providing research services to diverse user groups and fostering growth in usage, 3) Working closely with library subject specialists in setting research services priorities and targets, and 4) Incorporating assessment activities into routine research services procedure and leveraging data to inform decision making.
Ability to lead and inspire change. **The successful candidate has the ability to lead tasks and people effectively and inspire change in developing and implementing agency 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 cultural heritage 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, counsel 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.
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.