Supervisory Librarian

Summary

The Library of Congress shares its vast collections of books, manuscripts, photographs, maps, audiovisual materials, and priceless artifacts to cultivate curiosity and spark imagination. We engage, inspire, and inform Congress and the American people with a universal and enduring source of knowledge and creativity.

We seek highly talented professionals to join a vibrant and collaborative community. Your work here will have lasting impact on the Library and its users well into the future.

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Duties

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This position is located in the Directorate of Acquisitions and Bibliographic Access (ABA) and may be used in any division within U.S. Arts, Science, and Humanities Division. The incumbent of this position serves as Section Head and is responsible for managing the work, including acquisitions and cataloging functions, of the section, overseeing the work of a staff of librarians and library technicians performing these functions, and performing administrative and human resource management functions relative to the staff supervised. The incumbent serves under the administrative supervision of the division chief. The incumbent works highly independently, exercising considerable judgment, and carries out duties and responsibilities in accordance with broad overall guidelines and policies.

As the Supervisory Librarian, you will:

• Supervise a group of employees performing work up to the GS-13 level. Provide administrative and technical supervision necessary for accomplishing the work of the unit. Determine the human resources needed to accomplish the work of the unit, and independently plans, schedules, coordinates and carry out the unit's activities. Perform the administrative and human resource management functions relative to the staff supervised. Establish guidelines and performance expectations, including quality assurance, for staff members which are clearly communicated through the formal employee performance management system. Observe workers' performance and demonstrates and conduct work performance critiques. Provide informal feedback and annual formal evaluations to employees.
• Resolve informal complaints and grievances. Develop work improvement plans, recommending personnel actions as necessary. Provide advice and counsel to workers related to work and administrative matters. Effect disciplinary measures as appropriate to the authority delegated in this area. Reviews and approve or disapprove leave requests. Assures that subordinates are trained and fully comply with safety regulations.
• Serve as an expert in the organization, development, and implementation of multiple projects. Serve as a project leader, team leader, or chairperson for working groups, task forces, committees, etc. Coordinate the details involved in special projects of lasting importance. Utilize critical judgment to determine scope, emphasis, approach, appropriate techniques, and manner of presentation. Develop technical standards or protocols applicable to a library function. Participate in planning the work of a unit, including formulating goals and objectives and identifying improvements in methods and procedures. May serve as COTR or administer service contracts.
• Make significant recommendations to change, interpret, or develop important or innovative policies, programs, approaches, or analysis methods. Assess the availability of financial and human resources, independently plan, schedule, coordinate and carry out activities related to the library acquisitions program. Assist in preparing and overseeing the acquisitions budget. Ensure the comprehensiveness and accessibility of library collections. Make extensive unreviewed technical judgments regarding library operations. Evaluate offers of gifts for compatibility with library acquisition policies and recommend acceptance or rejection. Select experts to represent the library at auction sales.
• Interpret and revise existing training policy and program guidance for use by others, including section, division, and/or directorate members. Independently plan, schedule, coordinate, and monito the effectiveness of training operations. Solve problems in particularly difficult circumstances. Plan new or significantly updated methods of training, incorporating the latest in information technology. Prepare/edit instructor manuals, technical manuals, training manuals, or user manuals. Analyze training needs at the section and division levels in order to identify or develop appropriate training. May also conduct formal classroom training as necessary.
• Performs various other duties as assigned.
• The position description number for this position is 137599.
• The salary range indicated reflects the locality pay adjustments for the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan area.
• The incumbent of this position will work a Flexitime 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

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Conditions of employment

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 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 supervise, motivate, and lead a diverse workforce. **

Knowledge and application of the principles, concepts, and techniques of library science. **

Ability to analyze, plan, develop, and execute library programs and projects. **

Ability to provide consultation or liaison duties.

Ability to provide training.

Knowledge of automated tools, technologies, and metadata standards, such as integrated library systems, digital library applications, and general office software.

Ability to communicate in writing.

Ability to communicate effectively other than in writing.

Additional information

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 View email address on click.appcast.io. 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 Equal Employment Opportunity at View phone number on click.appcast.io or email View email address on click.appcast.io. 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:

The Library reserves the right to fill a lesser or greater number of vacancies indicated during the life of this vacancy announcement.

Initial permanent appointments to the Library of Congress require completion of a one-year probationary period. In addition, per Library of Congress Regulation 9-532, an appointee or internal selectee is subject to a one-year supervisory probationary period if this is their first supervisory/managerial position at the Library of Congress. Probationary periods served at other Federal agencies do not count toward this requirement.

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 may 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, Ethics in Government Act of 1978.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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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.

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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.