Summary
The Congressional Research Service (CRS) Foreign Affairs, Defense and Trade Division is accepting applications under its 2023 Graduate Recruit Program for a Research Librarian. This position will be filled at the GS-09 level (see “Duties” below).
Please note: Applicants selected for this position may be considered for other similar CRS Graduate Recruit Positions.
This job is open to The public
U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
Clarification from the agency
Graduate students and Library of Congress employees who meet all of the following eligibility requirements: 1. U.S. Citizenship; 2. Current enrollment in or anticipated graduation from an appropriate, accredited advanced degree program. (Library employees may already possess a graduate degree). At the time of appointment, Library employees must maintain employment status without a break in service; 3. General education requirements for a GS-09 appointment (see “Qualifications Required” below).
Duties
About the Graduate Recruit Program:
Initial appointments under the Graduate Recruit Program will be made for a period up to 120 days. Initial appointments are expected to convert to permanent, contingent upon the participant’s successful performance, completion of all degree requirements, and availability of funding. Those students who return to school to complete their advanced degree program may be eligible for a permanent position once they obtain their degree.
About CRS
CRS works exclusively for the United States Congress, providing policy and legal analysis to committees and Members of both the House and Senate, regardless of party affiliation. As shared staff to congressional committees and Members of Congress, CRS experts assist at every stage of the legislative process—from the early considerations that precede bill drafting, through committee hearings and floor debate, to the oversight of enacted laws and various agency activities.
CRS is well known for analysis that is authoritative, confidential, objective, and nonpartisan. Its highest priority is to ensure that Congress has immediate access to the nation’s best thinking on public policy issues of interest to its Members and Committees.
KEY REQUIREMENTS
See QUALIFICATIONS REQURED below.
DUTIES FOR THIS POSITION INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:
The Congressional Research Service (CRS) Foreign Affairs, Defense and Trade (FDT) Division is seeking a Research Librarian in the Research and Library Services Section. The section broadly supports the work of Congress in issue areas including defense management and budget; defense policy and arms control, foreign policy and global issues, international trade and finance; Middle East and Africa; Asia; and, Europe and the Americas.
This Research Librarian position will provide research and library services to CRS policy analysts and congressional clients, focusing on the areas of the world in particular with a legislative function.
Candidates earning a Master of Library Science (MLS) or equivalent degree and background working in a library, information center, or research organization are encouraged to apply. Previous experience with public speaking in an instructional capacity is desired.
The research librarian position carries promotion potential to the GS-13 level.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
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
Who may be considered:
Graduate students and Library of Congress employees who meet all of the following eligibility requirements:
U.S. Citizenship
Current enrollment in or anticipated graduation from an appropriate, accredited advanced degree program. (Library employees who already possess a graduate degree and maintain Library employment status without a break in service may be considered for appointment under the CRS Graduate Recruit Program).
General education requirements for a GS-09 appointments (see table below).
KNOWLEDGE, SKILL, AND ABILITY REQUIREMENTS:
The critical knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs), gained through education, experience and/or training, needed to successfully perform the duties of the position:
GS-09 Grade Level
Knowledge of Research Resources in Foreign Affairs, Defense and Trade**
The ability to apply knowledge of research resources in foreign affairs, defense and trade such as databases, directories, statistical compilations, federal government agency websites, government documents, and legal documents. This includes the ability to select resources by weighing the relative value of the resources for research projects.
Ability to Conduct Information Research**
The ability to conduct information research projects. This includes: (1) identifying, proposing, developing, and executing specialized research projects; (2) collaborating and consulting with subject specialists to develop and improve the projects; (3) executing a research methodology, assessing the progress of research and developing and revising a methodology as needed; and (4) assuring a research methodology is transparent and results are accurate, objective, and responsive in preparation for movement of a product through a review process.
Ability to Communicate in Writing**
Wrote and edited a variety of documents (e.g. reports, memoranda, email responses) in anticipation of or in response to the needs of internal and external clients. This includes: (1) designing, writing, and editing products that described the findings of research projects and may contain abstracts, methodological descriptions, summaries, charts, graphs, and tables; (2) organizing the content of a product to serve the needs of a client; (3) co-authoring products in collaboration with colleagues; (4) incorporating comments by reviewers or stakeholders during a review process; and (5) updating products to maintain accuracy and currency.
Education
GS-09 Grade Level
Two years of progressively higher level appropriate graduate education leading to a Master’s degree, OR
Master’s or equivalent graduate degree, OR
One year of specialized experience at the GS-07 grade level in the federal service or at a comparable level of difficulty outside the federal service.
ADDITIONAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS FOR LIBRARIAN POSITIONS
GS-09 Grade Level
Two full years of progressively higher level graduate education in library or information science, OR master’s degree in library or information science or equivalent graduate degree related to the position, OR enrollment in a master of library or information science degree program or equivalent graduate degree program with one year of relevant work experience equivalent to the GS-07 level.
Additional information
The Congressional Research Service, within the Library of Congress, is part of the Legislative Branch of the federal government. As such, all positions are in the excepted service.
The salary range indicated reflects the locality pay adjustment for the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. This is a non-supervisory, bargaining unit position.
The appointment tenure for this position is full-time temporary with the expectation of subsequent conversion to permanent; flexible work schedules may be available. The position description number for this vacancy announcement is 393480 (GS-09). Relocation expenses are not authorized for the person(s) selected under this vacancy announcement.
The Library reserves the right to fill a lesser or greater number of vacancies indicated during the life of this vacancy announcement.
Appointment/retention is subject to a favorable evaluation of an appropriate personnel security/suitability investigation. Applicants who are referred for an interview will be required to submit a completed Form 1862 Library of Congress Applicant Data Form/Reference Form.
Those Graduate Recruit Program participants who are converted from a temporary appointment to a permanent position, and who have not yet completed the one-year probationary period required of all new Library employees, will be required to do so. Time served in the temporary appointment will not count toward completion of this one-year probationary period requirement.
CRS staff not placed in a permanent position under the Graduate Recruit Program will return to the position occupied before entering the program or a position of similar grade and duties without loss of federal service tenure or seniority. Before applying, other Library of Congress employees should consult their supervisor or service unit management regarding the status of their position should they be selected for the program but not placed in a permanent position.
The Library of Congress is an equal opportunity employer. Women, men, minorities, and persons with disabilities who meet eligibility requirements are strongly encouraged to apply.
This agency provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify Carmen Reese at CRSGraduateRecruit@crs.loc.gov or (202) 707-6275. The decision on granting reasonable accommodations will be made on a case-by-case basis.
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Benefits
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Completed application packages will be forwarded to a panel of CRS staff that will first assess applicants against basic eligibility and general education requirements of the position. An evaluation panel will then assess the degree to which candidates meet the critical knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) required to perform the duties of the position and offer the better qualified candidates an opportunity for an interview in person, by telephone or by other telecommunications means. In addition to the critical KSAs listed above, the following competencies will also be addressed during the interview:
• Ability to Utilize Information Technology
• Ability to Interact Collaboratively with Others
• Ability to Focus on the Client
• Ability to Solve Problems and Make Decisions
• Ability to Communicate Effectively Other Than in Writing
A complete applicant package will require applicants to provide responses to a vacancy questionnaire, which includes mandatory submission of a Candidate Statement of Interest. Finalists may be required to submit a writing sample related to their academic discipline.
Candidates may be required to complete a writing test.
You may preview questions for this vacancy.
Required Documents
It is recommended that you review your application to ensure it contains the following items:
- Resume (uploaded through USAJobs.gov)
- Completed vacancy questionnaire
- Graduate transcripts or a self-prepared course list (attachment to application)
Note: the “Documents” section of the application may request that you attach Form 1862 Library of Congress Applicant Data Form/Reference Form. You may choose to upload this form as part of your application or submit it at the time of interview. Incomplete applications will not be referred to interview officials and will be disqualified from further consideration.
AGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION:
Carmen Reese
CRSGraduateRecruit@crs.loc.gov
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.
How to Apply
Carefully follow instructions under the How to Apply tab.
You are required to apply online. 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.
Step 1: If you do not already have one, create a resume on USAJOBS. The Library of Congress will NOT be able to access your Social Security information.
Step 2: Review the Job Announcement. It is recommend that you go to the Qualification and Evaluation section of the job announcement to preview the online questions that you will answer when you get to 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.
Step 4: Once you have completed the eligibility questions, you will be taken directly to the vacancy application questions.
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.
(3) You may follow the “Faxing Supporting Documentation” instructions within the online application, which will provide the necessary cover sheets for each of your documents so that they will be correctly submitted. The fax number will be available on the cover sheet. Please note that each cover sheet and corresponding document must be faxed separately. Be certain to review your complete fax transmittal confirmation to ensure that all pages have been received.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If you have multiple documents of the same kind, (e.g. two undergraduate transcripts from different schools), be sure 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. Likewise, if sending them by fax, be sure and include both of them behind the respective fax cover sheet and send them as one fax. If you send them individually with the same cover sheet, the last one sent will overwrite the first one. Finally, if you upload a document, e.g. your undergraduate transcript, do not also fax that same document (or fax another undergraduate transcript), because whichever one you send last will be the only one that is 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 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 technical difficulty, 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. If you have questions you MUST CONTACT Carmen Reese at CRSGraduateRecruit@crs.loc.gov or (202) 707-6275 no later than 4:30 p.m. EDT of the closing date.
Agency contact information
Carmen Reese
Address
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS101 Independence Ave. SE
LM107
Washington, District of Columbia 20540
United States
Next steps
Please review our evaluation process under Evaluation. You may check the status of your application for this position at any time by logging onto the USAJOBS “My USAJOBS” tab and clicking on “My Applications.” You will receive final notification via e-mail when the vacancy has been filled.