Duties
The Editorial and Review Office is responsible for agency review and approval of all CRS written research products, including reports, confidential memoranda, congressional testimony, and seminars, briefings, and presentations prepared exclusively for Members of Congress and congressional committees and staff. The Coordinator of Review manages editors and review specialists. A key responsibility for ERO is reviewing up to two dozen CRS products daily, often under tight deadlines, in response to congressional demands, and in anticipation of pending issues before Congress.
The Coordinator of Review is responsible for final clearance of all CRS products prior to release to Congress. The Coordinator of Review applies established policy and research standards to assure objectivity, balance, accuracy and authoritativeness of products and presentations. As head of the Editorial and Review Office, the Coordinator of Review provides leadership and guidance to a staff of editors and review specialists. In this regard, the incumbent actively manages workload to maintain high productivity and meet stringent review deadlines. The Coordinator regularly communicates with all levels of CRS management and advises the Counselor to the Director (COU) and the CRS Director and CRS Deputy Director on policy issues and agency performance trends. Performs special assignments at the direction of the Deputy Director.
Reviews, evaluates, and clears written research products from all CRS divisions, including American Law; Domestic Social Policy; Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade; Government and Finance; Resources, Science, and Industry; and the Knowledge Services Group. Interacts with research product authors and their managers to ensure that products meet the organization’s quality and policy standards of authoritativeness, objectivity, impartiality, and nonpartisanship.
Provides advice and guidance to CRS research staff on the preparation of written research work. Participates in the development of CRS review policies. Responsible for explaining review policies to CRS research staff and managers.
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 has been a valued and respected resource on Capitol Hill for more than a century.
The mission of CRS is providing authoritative, confidential, objective, and nonpartisan research and analysis to Congress. CRS ensures that Congress has immediate access to the nation's best thinking on public policy issues of interest to its Members and Committees.
Applications received for this position will not be considered for any other CRS vacancies. To be considered for this position you must meet the critical competency requirements of the job at the levels described below.
- Ability to Direct and Manage Public Policy Research Review: I have routinely led or undertaken the review of analyses of public policy issues in a few areas of public policy, considering the impact of developments in other public policy areas on final work products.
- Ability to Assess the Credibility and Authoritativeness of Research: I have working knowledge of research standards, methods, and the credibility of sources by regularly reviewing and providing feedback on the research of others in an academic, business, or government setting including, 1) discerning whether work products achieve their objective of meeting client needs, 2) determining whether topics are adequately researched and do not suffer from serious omission, and 3) judging whether products are logically constructed and presented in clear, unambiguous language.
- Ability to Lead People and Manage a Workforce: I have led and managed legislative and policy research professionals and, in so doing, exercised the following management responsibilities, 1) made assignments for staff to ensure a high level of productivity; 2) developed and oversaw recruiting, hiring, mentoring, and training; 3) built and maintained exceptional staff performance by establishing performance standards and holding staff accountable for meeting or exceeding those standards; 4) identified and implemented methods to improve staff productivity; 5) promoted an atmosphere of collegiality and open communication.
The position description number for this position is 464366.
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.
This is a supervisory, non-bargaining unit position.
Relocation expenses will not be authorized for the person(s) selected under this vacancy announcement.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- See requirements listed below under Qualifications Required.
Your resume is important to this application process. It will be reviewed to determine whether you possess the qualifications referenced above. All applicants are required to submit a resume that provides specific information (to include accomplishments, work experience and education/training) that clearly describes what you would bring to the position. 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
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: Supervisor Core Competencies
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 competencies below are required for this position. Those marked with a double asterisk (**) are considered the most critical competencies for this position.
Ability to Direct and Manage Public Policy Research Review**: * The successful candidate has the ability to lead, organize, and contribute to the review of analyses of public policy issues that demonstrated the ability to support stakeholders such as Congressional clients. This includes applying knowledge of many areas of public policy in the critical review of work products, ensuring that the policy issues are aptly framed and defined, the alternatives are credibly presented and addressed, the agency standards for accuracy and quality are met and the finalized work products adhere to organizational standards.
Ability to Assess the Credibility and Authoritativeness of Research**: * The successful candidate has the ability to apply in-depth knowledge of research standards in the review of others’ written and recorded research products. This includes knowledge of research standards, methods, and the credibility of sources, and conforming to organizational standards (e.g., objectivity, nonpartisanship, authoritativeness, timeliness and nonadvocacy). This also includes the ability to discern whether a product achieves its objective of meeting clients’ needs, to determine whether a topic has been adequately researched and does not suffer from serious omission, and to judge whether a product is logically constructed and presented in clear, unambiguous language.
Ability to Lead People and Manage a Workforce**: * The successful candidate has the ability to oversee the overall performance of a multi-disciplinary workforce by assessing staffing requirements in relation to current and anticipated workload; developing staffing plans, justifications, and requests; guiding and overseeing staff performance under tight timeframes and in situations requiring high levels of productivity; and promoting an atmosphere of collegiality and open communication. This includes the development and oversight of recruiting, hiring, mentoring, and training a diverse workforce, as well as building and maintaining exceptional staff performance.
Ability to Apply Established Standards to Difficult, Complex, and Evolving Issues and Situations: * The successful candidate has the ability to interpret broad policy and accuracy standards and apply them to specific issues and products. This requires the exercise of objectivity and impartiality despite personal preferences or other pressures. This also includes the ability to develop and apply appropriate courses of action for difficult, complex, evolving, and/or unprecedented situations, as well as acting appropriately in a given situation, using discretion and being committed to confidentiality.
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. This includes appropriately judging the amount, form, depth and level of detail, and content of information to the needs of the receiver/audience.
Education
MA, JD, or equivalent is preferred.
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.
You must submit a legible copy of your college/university transcripts to your online application. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable at the time of application. Official transcripts will be required if selected. Failure to submit the required legible documentation at the time of application will result in disqualification of your application.
Foreign Education – Education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed equivalent to conventional/accredited U.S. education programs to be acceptable for Federal employment. If your college/university is outside the U.S., your transcripts must be accompanied by a report from a credential evaluation service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or the Association of International Credentials Evaluators (AICE). Failure to submit a foreign education evaluation report will result in disqualification of your application.
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.
Required Documents
MA, JD, or equivalent is preferred.
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.
You must submit a legible copy of your college/university transcripts to your online application. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable at the time of application. Official transcripts will be required if selected. Failure to submit the required legible documentation at the time of application will result in disqualification of your application.
Foreign Education – Education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed equivalent to conventional/accredited U.S. education programs to be acceptable for Federal employment. If your college/university is outside the U.S., your transcripts must be accompanied by a report from a credential evaluation service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or the Association of International Credentials Evaluators (AICE). Failure to submit a foreign education evaluation report will result in disqualification of your application.
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 Office 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.
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.
How to Apply
Please carefully follow all instructions under the How to Apply tab to ensure that you are considered for the position.
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 Qualifications and Evaluations section of the job announcement to review the qualifications listed to ensure that your resume reflects your accomplishments in those areas.
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: 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. 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.
Next steps
Please review our evaluation process under Qualifications and Evaluations. 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.