Summary This position is located in the African and Middle Eastern Division, General and International Collections Directorate, Researcher and Collections Services. The position description number for this position is 459598. The salary range indicated reflects the locality pay adjustments for the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan area. The incumbent of this position will work a flextime work schedule. The tour of duty for this position is full-time This is a supervisory, non-bargaining unit position Responsibilities The position serves as the Chief, African and Middle Eastern Division (AMED), in the Library Collections and Services Group (LCSG), Researcher and Collections Services (RCS), General and Internal Collections Directorate (GICD) within the African and Middle Eastern Division (AMED), at the Library of Congress (LC) and reports directly to the Director, GICD. The incumbent serves as the Library's principal representative in matters dealing with the countries, languages and regions covered by the division. This includes the provision of services related to collections of the relevant countries of origin, the related American Diasporas, and engagement with African, Middle Eastern, and Hebraic studies broadly. With guidance from the director, and in keeping with overall Library strategy and objectives, the Chief formulates the division’s vision, establishes the mission and goals, determines objectives, manages resources, and evaluates the overall performance of the division. The Chief has primary responsibility for building the collections of the de facto national library as it pertains to the growth and direction of the Library's AMED collections, facilitating research and reference service onsite and virtually, and coordinating library outreach and engagement with a large and diverse array of users and communities. The Chief is responsible for effectively communicating and cooperating with stakeholders across the Library, and with external organizations. Operationally, the Chief is responsible for governance and compliance within the division, sets policies for, administers, and supervises division staff, programs, services, and activities, and ensures the overall administrative and operational effectiveness of the division, in keeping with established policies, procedures, and timelines. The Chief has responsibility for oversight and administration of all aspects of the division’s organization, services, and programs. Incorporates inclusive and equitable policies and processes to ensure diversity and accessibility in all collections development, research service, and outreach and engagement efforts. Establishes and maintains an assessment approach to ensure the division evaluates its effectiveness and strives for continuous improvement. The Chief sets and implements a collection development strategy that ensures a diverse, balanced, and sustainable portfolio via the division’s Africa, Near East, and Hebraic Sections. Supports the Library’s mandate to have collections that are inclusive and representative of a diversity of creators and ideas and ensures the acquisition of material of underrepresented perspectives and voices. Supervises a group of employees performing work up to the GS-14 level. Provides administrative and technical supervision relative to the staff supervised. Plans work to be accomplished by subordinates, sets, and adjusts short-term and long-term priorities, and prepares schedules for completion of work. Assigns work to subordinates based on priorities, selective consideration of the difficulty and requirements of assignments, and the capabilities of employees. Observes workers’ performance; demonstrates and conducts work performance critiques. The Chief establishes and maintains effective working relationships with various high-level officials, including Members of Congress and their staff, other legislative and executive agencies, donors, and distinguished members of the public, to advance the mission of the Division and the mission and goals of the Library. Establishes and maintains close and cooperative working relationships with Library officials, other government agencies, and academic and cultural institutions with related interests in the subject areas of the Division. Communicates with service units and directorate management teams on the status of various work activities, programs, and projects. The Library has many user types, including Congress, researchers, foreign and domestic agencies, national and international academics and scholars, research and scientific institutions, professional, business, and other communities of practice, visitors, and the general public. The Chief ensures the division supports the vision of being a library for all, onsite and online, and builds services around the experience and needs of our researchers, regardless of what stage of sophistication individual researchers have with the complexities of using the Library of Congress collections. As a key member of the management team of GICD, RCS, and LCSG, provides expert advice to the Director of GICD and other executives of LCSG, and senior management officials in other parts of the Library, including Center for Learning, Literacy and Engagement (CLLE), Visitor Engagement Office (VEO), etc., on various programs, plans, and policies. Relocation fees may be considered for the person(s) selected under this vacancy announcement. Requirements 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: https://www.loc.gov/static/portals/careers/documents/loc\_supervisor\_core\_competencies.pdf 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. The competencies below are required for this position. Those marked with a double asterisk (**) are considered the most critical competencies for this position. A candidate's resume must show a proven record of accomplishment that clearly demonstrates he or she has experience: Implementing the principles, concepts, and methods of library science. ** The successful candidate has applied professional knowledge of library and information management principles, concepts, and methods to manage library functions and carry out library programs in a research library setting; used this knowledge to create content, organize material, and provide access to analog and digital collections. Experience with the following: 1) setting priorities and policies for general and special collections management; 2) developing strategies to improve the research experience and a culture of assessment; 3) determining strategies to organize, digitize and make collections accessible; 4) providing leadership for collection management, development and acquisition; 5) working closely with library subject specialists in setting performance goals; and 6) developing collaborative approaches to public outreach to increase the use of Library collections and services. Knowledge of the countries, languages, and regions of Africa and/or the Middle East. ** The successful candidate has professional knowledge of the countries, languages, and regions of Africa and/or the Middle East in order to command credibility in the research and information communities, to recognize trends in research, and identify collaborative opportunities with persons from the regions. Ability to lead and inspire change. ** The successful candidate has the ability to lead people effectively and inspire change in developing and implementing Library of Congress values, principles, and direction. This includes the ability to promote ideas with enthusiasm, conviction, and assertiveness; resolve contentious situations; solicit and consider others’ opinions; gain support and commitment from others; motivate and inspire others; and promote a culture of change and growth. Ability to supervise, develop and lead a diverse workforce. ** The successful candidate has led people to meet an organization’s vision, mission, and strategic goals. Provided an inclusive workplace that fostered the development of others, facilitated cooperation and teamwork, and supported constructive resolution of differing opinions by using innovative approaches and future-oriented thinking. Performed human resources management functions such as: managed the budget and personnel planning for divisions under his/her direction; established performance expectations for the division chiefs and staff; provided formal and informal performance feedback and evaluated staff; and promoted the goals of equal employment opportunity and ensured the office was free of discriminatory employment practices. Ability to provide program oversight and administrative management to agency programs and operations. ** The successful candidate has provided a wide range of managerial, analytical, technical, and advisory functions related to the administrative programs within the division. This included: 1) provided oversight for human resources, finance, information technology, facilities management and other services, 2) oversaw and guided short- and long-term strategic planning initiatives, 3) accomplished strategic and organizational goals by ensuring the effective interaction and integration of processes, 4) delegated and managed financial operations, 5) provided operational services in support of workforce planning goals, 6) managed effective and efficient administration of facilities requirements, 7) set performance expectations, 8) provided advice, counseled and training to staff, 9) developed policies and guidelines affecting agency programs, and 10) directed, monitored and participated in outreach initiatives. Ability to build and engage coalitions and professional networks in support of mission. The successful candidate has identified, built, and maintained relationships and professional networks to gain support and commitment from scholars and other learners; the publishing and creative community; and colleagues in the library field. This includes: 1) participating in and representing the institution at professional association meetings; 2) working collaboratively with other departments, agencies and organizations to further agency goals and objectives; 3) establishing cordial relationships with donors and potential donors to obtain additions to Library collections; and 4) working with the archival and research library community to identify trends and issues related to the collections and services of the Library. Ability to communicate effectively other than in writing. The successful candidate has the ability to speak clearly, politely, and under control to peers, staff, managers, supervisors, and external audiences to both provide and seek information. This also includes actively listening to and understanding information; and listening to and answering questions thoughtfully and completely. Education 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 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. Appointment/retention is subject to a favorable evaluation of an appropriate personnel security/suitability investigation. For more information, please see: https://www.loc.gov/careers/working-at-the-library/frequently-asked-questions/vetting-personnel-at-the-library/ 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. In addition, per Library of Congress Regulation 2010-12, an appointee or internal selectee is subject to a one-year supervisory probationary period, if this is his/her first supervisory/managerial position at the Library. 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 participate 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.