Deputy Assistant Director and Specialist (Government and Finance Division)

Deputy Assistant Director And Specialist

CRS seeks a senior manager to serve as Deputy Assistant Director and Specialist in the Government and Finance Division. The selectee will support the Assistant Director in managing the division, which provides expert research to meet ongoing congressional policy making and oversight needs, centered around some of the nation's leading policy and economic issues. Among the government issues covered are legislative and budget process, congressional operations, election administration, congressional oversight, organization and management of the executive branch, intergovernmental relations, rulemaking, information policy, emergency management, and economic development. Among the economic issues covered are fiscal and monetary policy, banking, financial regulation, insurance and securities, fintech, the macroeconomy, taxation, public finance, federal debt and deficits.

The ideal candidate will possess an intellectual curiosity about the breadth of policy issues in the division's portfolio, a deeper subject knowledge of one of the areas covered by the division, and a demonstrated ability to exercise judgement and discretion in a client-focused environment. Candidates with research and research management experience in issues covered by the division and are capable of collaborating with a highly motivated and talented research staff committed to providing Congress the highest level of nonpartisan, authoritative, objective policy analysis are encouraged to apply. Previous experience in public policy research, analysis, and writing, and knowledge of congressional decision making and legislative process is desired. Strong interpersonal and collaborative skills along with excellent writing, reviewing and communication skills are required.

The selectee will assist the Assistant Director, who heads the division, on all aspects of the administration and operations of the division; monitors research, administration and operations of the division in relation to its capacity for and actual experience in meeting needs of the Congress; ensures that the division is working toward identifying public policy problems facing the Congress and follows through with analysis that provides an objective, authoritative framework in which the Congress can assess the consequences of legislative/policy options; demonstrates intellectual leadership in monitoring congressional needs in policy areas within the research management responsibility of the division; collaborates with other senior research division managers to assure full identification of significant issues and develops analytical approaches; and serves with full delegated authority as the Assistant Director in his/her absence. The Deputy Assistant Director performs special research, consultative, or administrative assignments as requested by the CRS Director or the Assistant Director.

Major duties of this position include:

• Demonstrates intellectual leadership in the formulating, framing, conducting and communicating of research policy and analysis conducted in the division, in terms of subject matter expertise, methodology and relevance to congressional needs. Reviews the written products of staff to ensure that the Service's quality standards are met.
• In collaboration with other senior managers, ensures coverage of all issues identified throughout the Service. Oversees implementation of the research agenda, including approaches, frameworks, or methodologies. Monitors, updates, and adjusts the research agenda to meet the changing needs of Congress, reassesses/reallocates capacity and communicates adjustments to supervisors and staff. Coordinates research activities with managers in other divisions to promote research and analysis across the Service.
• Performs the human resource management functions relative to the staff supervised. Ensures that supervisors and staff conduct research and analytical activities in a collaborative manner that incorporates expertise from multiple disciplines available from both inside and outside the division. Establishes and clearly communicates performance expectations for staff members in support of agency goals. Provides informal feedback and periodically formally evaluates staff on performance measures and results.
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with various high-level individuals, including committees and officers of the United States Congress, other legislative agencies and the Library of Congress, executive branch departments and agencies, professional organizations, universities, and other research organizations in order to advance the programs and objectives of the Congressional Research Service.