Librarian Job in Washington, DC

Vacancy No. WWICS-FED-LIB-RCS-25-01 Department Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
Salary $69,923.00 to $90,898.00 Grade 09 to 09
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 1/17/2025 Close Date 1/30/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Washington, DC


Summary

The Wilson Center is one of the three special institutions created by congressional statute to perform a national mission in affiliation with the Smithsonian Institution. It is governed by its own presidentially appointed Board of Trustees and supported by public and private funds. The Center conducts and sponsors original scholarship and convenes balanced and inclusive dialogue through its programs, which cover all regions of the world and several major global issues.

Duties

Position is an advanced trainee with a career-ladder to the full performance GS-11 grade level. Duties described are of the full performance level of the GS-11 Librarian. The person selected for this position will receive intense training, both classroom and on the job in preparation for expanded role. Selectee will gain increasing independence and authority as they transition to the full performance level.

Duties include but are not limited to the following:

  • Manages and requests materials directly from the Library of Congress, inputs and maintains records for tracking, and ensures timely return of material.
  • Serves as a liaison with Library of Congress reading room librarians and Loan Division to negotiate and implement specific loan policies and procedures, resolve problems, and encourage use of LC resources by WC researchers. Serves as back-up for other ILL loans managed through OCLC World Share.
  • Manages, adapts, and implements the Ex Libris 360 Core A-Z journal and e-book software program and other linking technologies.
  • Participates in research and planning for future technology acquisitions; works with library management and vendor on future implementation of linking and/or content discovery services.
  • Checks out materials using ILS circulation system; manages microfilm scanner software to provide best tools for users doing digital research on microfilm.
  • Conducts comprehensive library orientations for interns covering Wilson Center and Library of Congress resources, and demonstrates use of relevant online materials, providing instruction in use of specialized information resources.
  • Responds to reference inquiries by locating bibliographic, factual, and statistical materials using relevant academic journals, books, articles from the press, and reports from a wide array of social science research resources, particularly in public policy, area studies, international relations, and modern history.
  • Works closely with program staff and website manager to track Wilson Center publications, both online and in print.
  • Organizes publication listings and creates bibliographies.
  • Participates in planning, selecting or designing new database or other programs to house citations and helps to design output to meet Center needs.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen or National
  • You must complete a background investigation
  • Telework eligible
  • Selective Service Registration is required, as applicable
  • You may be required to complete a one-year probationary period
  • You must maintain a bank account for direct deposit
  • All qualification requirements for this position must be met by the closing date of this announcement
  • Current and former federal employees within the General Schedule (GS) must meet the time-in-grade requirements outlined in the "Qualifications" section of this announcement

Qualifications

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

Must have completed 1 full academic year of graduate study in library science in an accredited college or university, in addition to completion of all work required for a bachelor's degree.

OR

Must have a total of at least 5 years of a combination of college-level education, training, and experience. The education, training, and experience established knowledge and understanding of the theories, principles, and techniques of professional librarianship; a knowledge of literature resources; and the knowledge and abilities essential for providing effective library and information services.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

GS-9: to qualify you must have at least one (1) year of specialized work experience equivalent to the GS-7 grade level in the Federal service (obtained either in the private or public sectors) performing the following types of duties:

  • Developing and presenting library-led educational training and orientations;
  • Providing advanced reference and research services in the fields of social sciences, particularly public policy, area studies, international affairs, and modern history;
  • Managing a serials A-Z program to provide access to e-journals and e-books;
  • Evaluating software and implementing new library technologies, including updating current library tools;
  • Working knowledge of the collections reading rooms and loan policies of the Library of Congress or similar research libraries;
  • Managing, requesting, and tracking interlibrary loans with the Library of Congress or university libraries; and
  • Working knowledge of the holdings, arrangements and services of academic and special libraries.

OR

Must have successfully completed 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education or master's in library science or equivalent graduate degree, e.g., LL.B. or J.D., related to the position.

OR

Must have a combination of experience and education as described above that equates to one year of experience. Percentage of the required education plus my percentage of the required experience equal one hundred percent.

NOTE: THIS INFORMATION MUST BE SUPPORTED IN YOUR RESUME/APPLICATION DOCUMENTS TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THE POSITION 

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s).

For more information on the qualifications for this position OPM Qualification Standards 

Volunteer Experience: Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

You must include months, years and hours per week worked to receive credit for your work and/or volunteer experience. One year of specialized experience is equivalent to 12 months at 40 hours per week. Part-time hours are prorated. You will not receive any credit for experience that does not indicate exact hours per week or is listed as "varies".

TIME-IN-GRADE REQUIREMENTS: Merit promotion applicants must meet applicable time-in-grade requirements to be considered eligible.


(Must submit your SF-50 that shows Time-in-Grade eligibility and reflects your title, series, and grade if you are a current permanent Federal employee. No award SF-50 will be accepted).

Education

To qualify based on education, you must submit a legible copy of transcripts from an accredited institution with your name, school name, credit hours, course level, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking. Transcripts do not need to be official, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.

If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet qualification requirements, you must show that your education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.

In addition, when reviewing applicant's transcripts, assumptions will not be made. Applicants MUST state which coursework is relevant.

Additional information

Work Environment

The position is primarily sedentary, although some slight physical effort may be required. 

Work is performed in a typical office setting that is adequately lighted, heated and ventilated.

To ensure compliance with an applicable preliminary nationwide injunction, which may be supplemented, modified, or vacated, depending on the course of ongoing litigation, the Federal Government will take no action to implement or enforce the COVID-19 vaccination requirement pursuant to Executive Order 14043 on Requiring Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination for Federal Employees. Therefore, to the extent a Federal job announcement includes the requirement that applicants must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 pursuant to Executive Order 14043, that requirement does not currently apply. Federal agencies may request information regarding the vaccination status of selected applicants for the purposes of implementing other workplace safety protocols, such as protocols related to masking, physical distancing, testing, travel, and quarantine.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) provides eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your ICTAP eligibility; 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement; and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and rate equivalent to the Highly Qualified or better category using established category rating criteria. You must provide proof of eligibility with your application. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of ICTAP eligibility or a copy of your separation personnel action form. 

The Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provides eligible surplus and displaced competitive service employees in the CIGIE with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your CIGIE component has notified you in writing that you are a surplus or displaced employee eligible for CTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your CTAP eligibility, 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement, and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and rate equivalent to the Highly Qualified or better category using established category rating criteria. You must provide a copy of your written notification of CTAP eligibility with 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.

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. Benefits Information

EEO Statement

Reasonable Accommodation Statement

Selective Service

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 You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

A review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the Occupational Questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully; errors or omissions may affect your rating.

Candidates who apply under Competitive Merit Promotion procedures will undergo a quality review to determine if they are highly qualified based on the content of their resume and their responses to the questionnaire. Best qualified candidates will be referred if all required supporting documentation has been provided.


Candidates who apply under Noncompetitive Merit Promotion procedures will undergo a quality review to determine if they are minimally qualified based on the content of their resume and their responses to the questionnaire. Qualified candidates will be referred if all required supporting documentation has been provided.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):

  • Administration and Management
  • Library Science
  • Customer Service
  • Information Technology in Libraries

In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.


You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Required Documents

Note: Failure to submit a resume or supporting documentation may result in elimination for further consideration.

The following documents are required and must be submitted by the closing date of this announcement.

1. Résumé/CV, which includes a list of all significant jobs held and duties performed, with dates specified in month and year format, and indicate hours worked per week. If military or civilian, please include your rank and/or grade.

2. Transcripts

3. A complete Occupational Questionnaire (which may include narrative responses)

4. Veteran Preference Documentation:

  • If you are a Discharged, Non-Disabled Veteran, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 showing character of discharge (Member 4 copy), or other Documentation of Service and Separation under Honorable Conditions, as listed on the SF15. If you don't have your DD-214, you may request it after discharge from the National Archives.
  • If you are a veteran within 120 days of discharge, you must submit signed documentation from the Armed Forces certifying: 1) your expected release/retirement from active duty, 2) under honorable conditions, 3) your pay grade/rank/rate at time of discharge, 4) dates of active duty service, 5) any campaign or expeditionary medals received, & 6) dated within 120 days of your separation.
  • If you are a Disabled Veteran, Purple Heart Recipient, or Mother or Spouse of a Disabled or Deceased Veteran, you must submit all additional proof required by the SF15, and if applicable, a completed SF15. You may request a copy of your Department of Veterans Affairs letter from www.ebenefits.va.gov or call 1-800-827-1000 to establish proof of disability.

5. Documentation for Interagency/Career Transition Assistance Plan consideration if you are a displaced Federal employee within the local commuting area. You must include: 1) Proof you are a displaced Federal employee, e.g., RIF Separation Notice, Notice of Proposed Removal, etc; 2) SF-50s (Notifications of Personnel Action) showing career/conditional tenure competitive status, promotion potential and duty location; and 3) your most recent performance appraisal. To exercise selection priority, displaced or surplus Federal employees must be rated well-qualified or above 85 on the rating criteria for this position.

6. FEDERAL EMPLOYEES: Competitive Service current and/or former federal employees eligible for Promotion, Reassignment, Transfer, Reinstatement, etc. You must submit a copy of their SF-50, verifying highest rate of pay and documenting career or career-conditional status in the competitive service (Tenure 1 or 2) for which the applicant is claiming eligibility. Do not submit award SF-50s. If you are applying for a higher grade and your SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you meet the one year time-in-grade requirement so you will need to provide an SF-50 which clearly demonstrates you meet the time-in-grade requirements (examples of appropriate SF-50s include Promotions, Within-grade Grade/Range Increases, and SF-50s with an effective date more than one year old). 

7. LAND MANAGEMENT WORKFORCE FLEXIBILITY ACT: Current or former land management agency appointees. You must submit (1) a copy of your SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, that reflects having initially been hired under competitive examining procedures to a time limited (temporary/term) appointment; (2) a copy of SF-50(s), Notification of Personnel Action(s), that reflect having served under one (1) or more time-limited (temporary/term) appointments by a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of two (2) or more years; and (3) a copy of your Performance Appraisal Plan and/or Supervisor Memorandum that reflects having performed at an acceptable level during each period of service. For more information, click here.

8. OTHER HIRING AUTHORITIES: Applicants claiming eligibility based on a Special Hiring Authority must submit applicable proof of eligibility as outlined in the following site(s): Special Hiring Authorities, Schedule A, Peace Corps & AmeriCorps, Interchange Agreement, Military Spouse.


Do not submit photographs with your application package. Documents with photographs may not be seen by hiring officials - you must remove your image from any badges, licenses, etc.

How to Apply

You must submit a complete application package by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date of this announcement.

To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.

Click the Submit My Answers button to submit your application package.
* It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date of the announcement.

*To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the more information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. 

* To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.

Agency contact information

Wilson Center HR
Phone
000-000-0000
Fax
000-000-0000
Email
Jobs@wilsoncenter.org
Address
Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, District of Columbia 20004
United States
Learn more about this agency

Next steps

Once the Occupational Questionnaire is received you will receive acknowledgement that your submission was successful. If you are among the most qualified candidates and your name is referred to the hiring official, you may be contacted directly for a possible interview. You will be notified of the status of your Application Package at the time candidates are referred for consideration, and when the selection process is complete.

This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.