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Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Library of Congress: Legislative Assistant

Job Title:Legislative Analyst
Department:Legislative Branch
Agency:Library of Congress
Job Announcement Number:150055

SALARY RANGE:

$76,378.00 to $99,296.00 / Per Year

OPEN PERIOD:

Wednesday, March 11, 2015 to Wednesday, April 1, 2015

SERIES & GRADE:

GS-1412-12

POSITION INFORMATION:

Open - Permanent

PROMOTION POTENTIAL:

13

DUTY LOCATIONS:

1 vacancy - Washington DC, DC View Map

WHO MAY APPLY:

U.S. citizens

SECURITY CLEARANCE:

Other

SUPERVISORY STATUS:

No

JOB SUMMARY:

The Congressional Research Service (CRS) Office of Congressional Information and Publishing (CIP) is seeking a Legislative Analyst to join its Legislative Analysis and Information Section (LAIS). The Office of Congressional Information and Publishing is the organization within CRS and the Library of Congress that is mandated to produce legislative information for the United States Congress. This information 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.

Drawing on his/her knowledge of the Federal legislative process as well as knowledge of specific subject fields (e.g., criminal law, environmental law and regulation, international law, etc.), the Legislative Analyst will: analyze newly-introduced and amended Federal legislation to determine the legislation's meaning, intent, and impact on existing law; prepare official digests and other summaries and abstracts of Federal legislation; communicate and collaborate with the CRS research community to ensure integration of legislative analysis and research products; and consult with congressional staff and committees to resolve questions regarding legislative intent and/or errors or omissions in legislative drafting; combine expert knowledge of one or more legislative subject areas with knowledge of new methods for organizing, accessing, and disseminating information to create and maintain innovative products and services; and analyze gaps in the congressional information services, evaluate new options, and make recommendations. The Legislative Analyst performs this work in an online environment.

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 over 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 public policy issues of interest to its Members and committees.

KEY REQUIREMENTS

  • See QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED below.

DUTIES:

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Applies extensive specialized knowledge in one or more subject fields (e.g., criminal law, environmental law and regulation, international law, etc.) and comprehensive knowledge of the operations, rules, procedures, and organization of the United States Congress to the analysis of Federal legislation.

Writes official digests and other authoritative summaries of Federal legislation in one or more subject fields (e.g., criminal law, environmental law and regulation, international law, etc.). These digests/summaries are mandated by statute and are utilized as authoritative resources by lawmakers, policymakers, academics, and members of the public who are seeking accurate, objective descriptions of both new and amended Federal legislation.

Consults with congressional staff and committees to assess and review new or unusual circumstances, variations in approach, and incomplete or conflicting information encountered during the process of digesting Federal legislation.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

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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 analyze and interpret legislative text.**
  • Ability to conduct legislative research.**
  • Ability to communicate in writing.**
  • Knowledge of public policy areas.**
  • Ability to plan and organize.
  • Knowledge of the legislative process.
  • Ability to communicate effectively other than in writing.

.

HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:

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.


To preview questions please click here.

BENEFITS:

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OTHER 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. While 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 the minimum step of the grade.

This is a non-supervisory, bargaining unit position.

The tour of duty for this position is full-time.

The position description number for this position is 12959.

The incumbent of this position may elect to work a flexitime or compflex work schedule.

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 interview will be required to submit a completed OF-306, Declaration for Federal Employment.

Initial appointments, permanent or indefinite, to the Library of Congress require completion of a one-year probationary period.

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 this agency. The decision on granting reasonable accommodations will be made 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 certificate of disability may be issued by a State Vocational Rehabilitation Office, Disability Services or Career Services office of an applicant's college or university, or the Department of Veterans Affairs. The date of certification must be within one year of the vacancy closing date and must be submitted with your application. For more information view the directive on the Library's Selective Placement Program and/or contact the Library's Office of Inclusiveness & Compliance at 202-707-6024 (voice or TTY) or email spp@loc.gov. FAILURE TO SUBMIT YOUR CERTIFICATION WILL CAUSE YOUR APPLICATION TO NOT BE CONSIDERED UNDER THE SELECTIVE PLACEMENT PROGRAM.

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, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, and provide the required documentation listed on the back of the form. For more information regarding eligibility requirements, please see the Library's Merit Selection Plan, Section X.D. IF REQUIRED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION IS NOT ATTACHED, VETERANS' PREFERENCE WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED IN THE APPLICATION PROCESS.

HOW TO APPLY:

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Please carefully follow all instructions below to ensure you are considered for the position.

You are required to apply online for this announcement. We are unable to accept mailed or emailed applications. To apply online, complete the following steps.

Step 1: Review the Job Announcement. We recommend you go to the end of the Qualifications and Evaluations section of the job announcement to preview the application questions that you will be required to answer.

Step 2: Click the "APPLY ONLINE" button to the right of this announcement. Follow USAJOBS' instructions to access your account (if you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will be asked to build one). If you have not already created a resume in USAJOBS, you will be required to create one. Although you must enter your Social Security number for USAJOBS, this information will not be provided to the Congressional Research Service or the Library of Congress.

Step 3: USAJOBS will redirect you to the Library of Congress hiring management website, where you will complete the application process. Answer all questions honestly and thoroughly, and follow all instructions for uploading required documentation.

Step 4: Click "FINISH" after you have completed your application. Once you have submitted your application, you can check your status online through your USAJOBS account. Your complete online application must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) on the closing date of the announcement.

If you are experiencing any technical difficulty with the online process, 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 4:30 p.m. EST of the Closing Date. REQUESTS FOR EXTENSIONS WILL NOT BE GRANTED.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:

Current or former federal employees must submit their most recent Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50 or equivalent).

Disabled applicants claiming Selective Placement eligibility must submit the appropriate supporting documentation described in OTHER INFORMATION above. If this required documentation is not attached, your application will not be considered under the Selective Placement Program.

Veterans claiming Veterans' Preference eligibility must submit the appropriate supporting documentation described in OTHER INFORMATION above. If this required documentation is not attached, Veterans' Preference will not be applied to your application.

AGENCY CONTACT INFO:

Customer Service Center
Phone: 202-707-5627
Fax: 000-000-0000
Email: JobHelp@loc.gov
Agency Information:
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
101 Independence Ave. SE
LM-107
Washington, DC
20540
US
Fax: 000-000-0000

WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT:

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 "My Applications." You will receive final notification via e-mail when the vacancy has been filled.