Director for Preservation Job in Washington, DC

The Director for Preservation is responsible for the long-term usability of the Library’s tangible collections. The Preservation Directorate encompasses four Divisions: Conservation, Preservation Research and Testing, Collections Management, and Preservation Services, together totaling about 180 staff. 

The operational work of the Directorate is reflected in the scope of responsibility for each of the subordinate divisions. The Conservation Division provides treatment and preventive care for the tangible general and special collections. Its programs include emergency response, environmental monitoring, and preparing materials for digitization and exhibition. The Collections Management Division is responsible for the more than 22 million through inventory management and circulation, as well as oversight of the Library’s offsite high-density storage facilities. The Preservation Services Division provides after-market binding for newly-acquired general collections monographs and serials, serves as the custodian of the master negative microfilm collection, and management of contracted preservation services. The Preservation Research and Testing Division conducts preservation science research on the material composition of collections items as well as other materials in contact with collection items, such as storage, housing, lighting, and exhibition displays. 

In addition to the oversight of the overall operation, the Director for Preservation drives organizational change through internal coalitions with peers and providing support and accountability with their staff. Key programs in the next few years include expanding inventory control of the general collections, increasing capacity for digitization and exhibition preparation activities, opening and operationalizing a new high-density storage facility, leading the implementation of a new open-source inventory management software system, and managing the institution’s actions to further comply with its new Collections Security Plan. 

The Director is responsible for the efficient administration of the Preservation Directorate and ensuring that activities are in compliance with regulations and directives. The Director's fiscal responsibilities include developing annual staffing plans, ensuring budget execution for annual and continuing resolution funding, and the management of contracting actions for the Directorate. 

The Director fulfills human resource management responsibilities as the supervisor of the staff in their management chain, including the Chiefs of each of the four Divisions. Supervisors are expected to effectively communicate goals, vision, and performance expectations for direct staff members, routinely provide informal feedback, and periodically evaluate staff on organizational performance. In addition, supervisors will resolve informal complaints of directorate staff, and take personnel actions as necessary, including disciplinary measures.

The Director works under the supervision of the Associate Librarian for Discovery and Preservation Services (AL-DPS), under the leadership of the Deputy Librarian for Library Collections and Services, who leads the Library Collections and Services Group (LCSG). Other key relationships include the Associate Librarian for Researcher and Collection Services (AL-RCS), the Law Librarian, fellow LCSG Directors, the Collection Development Officer, and LCSG Chiefs. Additionally, the Director serves as the primary LCSG liaison with leadership and staff in the Security and Emergency Preparedness Directorate (SEPD), which shares responsibility for collections security. The Director is also a primary contact for the Integrated Support Services Directorate (ISS), the Library’s liaison to the Architect of the Capitol (AOC), which manages the Library’s physical campus including the offsite collections storage facilities such as those at Ft. Meade.

The Director serves as the primary advisor to the Library on programs for the preservation of tangible library materials, counseling senior management and officials regarding the preservation, conservation, general maintenance, and safeguarding of the Library's collections. In support of this role, the incumbent must establish and maintain effective working relationships and lines of communication across the Library. The Director attends interagency meetings of the federal government, international meetings within the library community, and serves as a representative of the Library on diverse matters, sometimes extending beyond the assigned program responsibility.

Career Showcase

Director for Preservation (VAR002930)

Tuesday, December 3, 2024

1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. ET

This event will be live-streamed 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 Tuesday, December 3, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. (ET) to learn about the Director for Preservation (VAR002930) position 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: Tuesday, December 3, 2024, at 1:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Topic: Library of Congress – Director for Preservation
Telephone: 1-646 828-7666
Webinar ID: 161 327 3419

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 no later than three business days following the event.

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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:

1. Knowledge of the principles, concepts and techniques of preservation in a library, archives, or museum setting**:  The successful candidate has professional knowledge of preservation principles, concepts, and techniques to oversee the preservation of tangible material.  This includes being responsible for the full range of preservation activities including binding, collections care, preservation reformatting, conservation treatment, preservation science research and testing, and overall maintenance and safety of collections, in diverse physical formats, locations, and condition, including some of the nation's rarest and most valuable treasures.

2.  Ability to lead people and manage a diverse cultural heritage workforce**:  The successful candidate has the ability to lead people to meet an organization’s vision, mission, and strategic goals.  This includes providing an inclusive workplace that fosters the development of others, facilitating cooperation and teamwork, and supporting constructive resolution of differing opinions by using innovative approaches and future-oriented thinking.  This also includes the ability to perform human resources management functions such as: being responsible for the budget and personnel planning for divisions under his/her direction; establishing performance expectations for the division chiefs and staff; providing formal and informal performance feedback and evaluating staff; and promoting the goals of equal employment opportunity and ensuring the office is free of discriminatory employment practices. 

3.  Ability to provide management and oversight of preservation programs in order to achieve results**:  The successful candidate has the ability to provide management and oversight of preservation programs.  This includes the ability to provide direction in the development, planning, implementation, and evaluation of new and enhanced programs. 

4.  Ability to provide consultation or liaison duties:  The successful candidate has the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with individuals at all levels within and outside the organization. This includes working closely with cultural heritage organizations in developing and communicating principles, standards, plans, and procedures for national and international efforts to preserve collections. 

5.  Ability to communicate in writing:  The successful candidate has the ability to write a variety of clear, cogent, accurate and well organized documents.  These documents include: 1) policies, 2) program management documents, 3) budget justifications, 4) annual reports, 5) special reports, 6) project plans, 7) project assessments, 8) annual plans for presentations, and 9) performance management documents. 

6.  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.

All initial appointments, permanent or indefinite, to the Library of Congress require completion of a one-year probationary period. In addition, all newly appointed Senior Level executives, from outside the Library as well as from within, must serve a one year probationary period in accordance with the Library of Congress Regulations (LCRs) 9-1610 Senior Level Executive System.

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.

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 will 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, the Ethics in Government Act of 1978.

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: Senior Level Merit Selection Plan.

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.

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.

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