Library of Congress Hiring for Legislative Data Specialist at Washington, DC Full Time

Help Duties

The Legislative Data Specialist contributes to the Office of Legislative Information Services mandate to quality review, troubleshoot and publish legislative data and documents through Congress.gov legislative information for the United States Congress and their constituents. The Legislative Data Specialist also assists with the day-to-day support to the congressional community as well as ongoing data modernization and enhancements efforts to Congress.gov.

The selectee will serve on a team of information professionals responsible for analyzing, developing, and testing the legislative information systems of the United States Congress. Duties of the Legislative Data Specialist include supporting and training congressional staff and CRS users of the systems, and testing and evaluating new versions of the systems throughout the development process. The selectee will also participate in efforts to ensure the accuracy, availability, and reliability of the information provided to the Congress via the legislative information systems and other Web-based legislative information services, including communicating with data partners from the House, Senate, and Government Publishing Office, as well as end users, about problems or abnormalities in Web-based legislative data and collaborating in order to identify, diagnose, and resolve problems or abnormalities.

Participates in efforts to ensure the accuracy, availability, and reliability of the information provided to the Congress via the legislative information system and other Web-based legislative information services by monitoring a variety of quality control reports, identifying routine and non-routine problems or abnormalities in web-based legislative data, collaborating with colleagues in order to diagnose and resolve problems, as well as communicating on issue resolution to affected users.

Performs testing and other tasks related to the development of the legislative information systems of the United States Congress.

Provides client support and troubleshooting for problems and issues encountered by congressional staff and CRS users of the legislative information system, performs user testing relating to the development of new legislative information systems and enhancements, and develops and delivers training.

The Office of Legislative Information Services is the organization within CRS and the Library of Congress that produces legislative information for the United States Congress that is considered to be authoritative for Federal legislation: it is consulted widely by lawmakers, policymakers, academics, and members of the public who are seeking accurate, objective information on both new and amended Federal legislation.

The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce that ensures the Service is well positioned to anticipate and meet the information

and analytical research needs of a 21st-century Congress.

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 a legislative branch agency within the Library of Congress, CRS has been a valued and respected resource on Capitol Hill for more than a century.

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 legal and public policy issues of interest to its Members and Committees.

This position may be eligible for subsequent conversion to a permanent appointment, contingent upon business need, available funding and the selectee’s performance. If the position does not become permanent at the end of the 5-year period, CRS employees will be returned to their former position or a position of similar grade and duties without loss of federal service tenure or seniority.

Requirements Conditions of Employment

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

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 apply knowledge of data standards**
• Ability to identify information needs and contribute to operations, troubleshooting, maintenance, systems development and implementation **
• Knowledge of legislative information**
• Ability to deliver information resource training
• Ability to communicate in writing
• Ability to interact collaboratively with others
• Ability to communicate effectively other than in writing

Education

• 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

• 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.

In addition to meeting the basic entry qualification requirements, applicants must have directly related education and/or specialized experience.

GS- 11

3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education in library science or doctoral degree (Ph.D. or equivalent) related to the position.

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

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. Women, minorities, and persons with disabilities who meet eligibility requirements are strongly encouraged to apply.

Applicants must submit a complete application package that is received by the closing date of this announcement.

Appointment/retention is subject to a favorable evaluation of an appropriate personnel security/suitability investigation. For more information, please see: Vetting Process

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 [email protected]. 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 [email protected]. 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.

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. Probationary periods served at other Federal agencies do not count toward this requirement.

A “Not to Exceed” (NTE) status identifies an appointment with a specific ending date. However, the Library has the right to separate a NTE employee at any time due to either performance issues or budget constraints.

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.

Are you a veteran? Please indicate the type of veterans’ preference you are claiming in your application materials and/or applicant profile and provide the appropriate supporting documentation to validate your claim. Those applying for 5-point preference must submit Member Copy 4 of your DD 214. Those applying for 10-point preference must fill out an SF-15 (click here for the form) and provide the required documentation listed on the back of the form. If required supporting documentation is not attached, Veterans’ Preference will not be considered in the application process.

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