Summary
These positions are located in both the East Asian Section, and the South, Southeast Asian, Tibetan and Mongolian Section, Asian Division, General and International Collections Directorate, Researcher and Collections Services.
The position description number for this position is 056721.
The salary range indicated reflects the locality pay adjustments for the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan area.
This is a supervisory, non-bargaining unit position.
Duties
The incumbents of these positions serve as the Head, East Asian Section, and the South, Southeast Asian, Tibetan and Mongolian Section in the Asian Division, and is responsible for the day-today operation of the Asian Division’s reference service and scholarly activities, supervising the reference staff and area specialists, and serving as a specialist in matters dealing with the countries, languages and regions within the Division’s geographic area of responsibility. The incumbent assures the provision of timely and accurate reference service to the Congress and other Library patrons, directs the development and maintenance of the Library’s collections pertaining to the region and facilitates the effective uses of these collections by scholars, researchers, and other users. The incumbent plans and produces scholarly programs, exhibits, seminars, and colloquies to bring attention to research developments and collections of interest to both scholars and the general public. The incumbent may be responsible for cultivating relations with potential donors, securing funds for new initiatives, acquiring new collections, and establishing new services. In addition, the incumbent may also be assigned to perform general administrative duties for the division and to serve in lieu of the chief or assistant chief as required.
Supervises a group of employees performing reference and scholarly work up to the GS-13 level. Provides administrative and technical supervision necessary for accomplishing the work of the unit. Performs the administrative and human resources management functions relative to the staff supervised. Establishes guidelines and performance expectations for staff, which are clearly communicated through the formal employee performance management system. Observes workers’ performance; demonstrates and conducts work performance critiques. Provides informal feedback and periodically evaluates employee performance. Resolves informal complaints and grievances. Develops work improvement plans, recommending personnel actions as necessary. Provides advice and counsel to workers related to work and administrative matters. Effects disciplinary measures appropriate to the delegated authority. Reviews and approves, or disapproves leave requests. Ensures subordinates are trained and fully comply with safety regulations.
Analyzes major issues in information access and dissemination, and develops authoritative new approaches, methods and standards to resolve critical or highly unusual reference information problems. Uses broad knowledge of multiple information sources and/or experts outside The Library of Congress, both domestic and international to resolve reference issues. Meets with researchers and scholars and analyzes questions and requirements in-depth and detail and suggests search strategies involving the greatest complexity or time. Provides research services for users involving not only directing the user to information sources, but also locating and evaluating the information itself.
For acquisition services, incumbent assesses the availability of financial and human resources, and independently plans, schedules, coordinates and carries out activities related to the Asian Division’s acquisitions program. Ensures the comprehensiveness and accessibility of Library collections. Reviews publishing trends and the book market to check for new collection sources. Plans and develops programs to fill gaps and augment collections to improve services to clientele. Develops and maintains services and guidance for the library system to facilitate operations in the field.
Assignments consist of a broad range of technical information activities or require substantial depth of analysis, and typically require solving problems in information access and dissemination in particularly difficult and responsible circumstances. Reviews and analyzes major issues in information research and dissemination including lenders services to scholars, research scientists, professionals, military personnel, legislators and their staffs, or other clientele, and officials within and outside The Library of Congress.
Initiates, establishes, and maintains professional relationships with research and reference librarians and other specialists to share resources and information. Presents papers at conferences, seminars, and meetings in librarianship and other relevant fields.
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
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.
Ability to lead a diverse workforce.**
Knowledge of the history, politics, and literature of an Asian country/area.**
Ability to communicate in one or more Asian languages and English.**
Knowledge of the principles and techniques of library collections development.**
Knowledge of automated systems and tools used in research libraries to carry out reference services.
Ability to provide consultation or liaison duties.
Ability to communicate in writing.
Ability to communicate effectively other than in writing.
Education
A. Completion of 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
B. A total of at least 5 years of a combination of college-level education, training, and experience. To qualify on this basis, the applicant must establish conclusively that the education, training, and experience provided a 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.
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.
Additional information
Relocation expenses will not be authorized for the person(s) selected under this vacancy announcement.
Although it is the Library’s policy to afford the maximum pay benefit to employees when setting rates of pay, a new appointee who has had no previous Federal service will generally be paid at step one of the grade.
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. For more information, please see: https://www.loc.gov/careers/working-at-the-library/frequently-asked-questions/vetting-personnel-at-the-library/
The Library reserves the right to fill a lesser or greater number of vacancies indicated during the life of this vacancy announcement.
Initial appointments, permanent or indefinite, to the Library of Congress require completion of a one-year probationary period. In addition, per Library of Congress Regulation 2010-12, an appointee or internal selectee is subject to a one-year supervisory probationary period, if this is his/her first supervisory/managerial position at the Library.
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.
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.
