The Program Specialist will work on a four-year, grant-funded initiative, the Connecting Communities Digital Initiative (CCDI), located within the Digital Strategy Directorate at the Library of Congress. As part of the Mellon-funded “Of the People: Widening the Path” program, CCDI provides financial and technical support to individuals, institutions and organizations to create imaginative projects that use the Library’s digital collections and center one or more of the following groups: Black, Indigenous, Hispanic or Latino, Asian American and Pacific Islander, and other communities of color from any of the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and U.S. Virgin Islands. CCDI also hosts remote interns each year and works with a nine-member advisory board. For the duration of the initiative, the Program Specialist will work closely with the Program Director, the Senior Innovation Specialists, the other Program Specialist and other members of the CCDI staff to administer the program, coordinate annual grant opportunities, plan an annual event, and document and share CCDI activities internally and externally.
The Program Specialist will collaborate with colleagues to recruit, select, and support individuals, institutions and organizations for grant projects that use creative approaches to re-mix and re-use Library of Congress digital materials. The Program Specialist will serve as a point of contact for awardees as they undertake their projects and will help identify opportunities to connect with Library of Congress colleagues, collections and services. In addition, the Program Specialist will support remote interns working across the organization, and foster and support network and community-building activities across CCDI’s cohort.
Through the grant-making program, the incumbent will work with other Library staff to identify resources to inspire users to consult and use its resources to fulfill their personal goals and aspirations and for lifelong learning in order to enhance the Library of Congress's longstanding strengths in digital collections, metadata expertise and long-term stewardship, merging them with research in the digital humanities and digitally enhanced learning.
Other duties could include developing project plans, maintaining timelines, developing procedures to increase the flow of information and overcome obstructions in program operations and processes, and establishing efficient processes by identifying weaknesses and developing and implementing improvement plans.
Applies a range of qualitative and quantitative methods to assess program effectiveness and complex management processes, projects and systems. Investigates and analyzes adverse quality trends or conditions and facilitates the initiation of corrective actions within the office.
Facilitates high-level Library of Congress meetings, both externally with outside entities and internally among library divisions. Prepares conferences and briefings, organizes background materials and conducts research. Stages thematic events and conferences.
The salary range indicated reflects the locality pay adjustments for the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan area. The incumbent for this position will be paid according to the locality from which they will conduct their work.
Note: The salary range indicated reflects the locality pay adjustments for the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan area. The incumbent for this position will be paid according to the locality from which they will conduct their work.
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.
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 work with organizations or institutions that serve Black, Indigenous, Hispanic, Asian American and Pacific Islander or other communities of color within a professional context.**
Knowledge of digital libraries and/or other cultural heritage organizations.**
Ability to plan and manage special projects, events, and initiatives.**
Ability to communicate in writing.
Ability to communicate effectively other than in writing.
There are no education requirements for this position.
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 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.
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. 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.
A “Not to Exceed" (NTE) status is used to identify 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.
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.
Benefits
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.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
The Library of Congress evaluates applicants through an applicant questionnaire and a structured interview. Applicants may also be screened for some jobs through licensing, certification, and/or education requirements, a narrative/application review, and/or a preliminary telephone interview. The knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) that are marked with a double asterisk (**) in the vacancy announcement and the applicant questionnaire are considered the most critical for a position. To be considered for final selection, applicants must demonstrate fully acceptable experience in these designated KSAs in the narrative/application review, preliminary telephone and/or full structured interview. The various assessment tools listed above are designed to verify or explore applicants' experience, knowledge, and training directly related to the job in order to identify the best qualified applicants for selection.
For more information regarding eligibility requirements, please see the Library of Congress Merit Selection Plan, Section 8.5, at: Merit Selection Plan
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