Program Specialist (Special Assistant)

Summary

The Library of Congress shares its vast collections of books, manuscripts, photographs, maps, audiovisual materials, and priceless artifacts to cultivate curiosity and spark imagination. We engage, inspire, and inform Congress and the American people with a universal and enduring source of knowledge and creativity. We seek highly talented professionals to join a vibrant and collaborative community. Your work here will have lasting impact on the Library and its users well into the future.

Duties

• This position is located in the Researcher and Collections Services, Kluge Center. The Program Specialist (Special Assistant) provides program, administrative, and technical support to the Director of Scholarly Programs, who is responsible for developing and coordinating scholarly programs for the Library of Congress. The Program Specialist (Special Assistant) assists in implementing these programs in collaboration with other Library Services areas responsible for the collections and reference services. Responsibilities include implementing programs to attract scholars to the Library to use the collections; developing or sponsoring symposia, conferences, meetings, and lectures; and preparing fundraising proposals for scholarly programs. As the Program Specialist (Special Assistant) you will: • Assure that responses to correspondence are consistent with The Library of Congress' policies and The Library of Congress' position on difficult or complex matters. • Provide assistance to staff to ensure that the tailored responses to complex inquiries from high level sources or significant interest groups are timely, complete, appropriate, and in compliance with executive preferences and policies. • Assure that analytical, background and supporting information is provided in the correspondence package. • Analyze communication to ensure conformance with executive policy. • Write correspondence, reports, grant proposals (budget), or other documents related to work assignments or developmental activities. • Gather, interpret, and analyze information to develop appropriate responses. Records information necessary for reports. Actively participates in discussions and meetings. • Plan and carry out the approved assignments and resolve most of the conflicts which arise. • Coordinate the work with others as necessary and interpret policy in terms of established objectives. • Plan and propose the approach to be taken or the methodology to be used for some work assignments. • Research and identify complex program issues or problems impacting program initiatives in major organizational components, such as programs covering a multi-state area. • Make recommendations for and coordinates resolutions and improvements. • Perform a wide variety of administrative and analytical duties connected with the formulation, justification, presentation, execution, and review of a substantial segment of the financial and academic programs. • Review, analyze, and interpret legislation, appropriation language, directives, and Treasury Department and IRS guidelines pertaining to domestic and foreign matters such as fellowships, government travel and contracting, visas and taxes for non-resident aliens. • Assist in the tracking, updating, and monitoring of the implementation of the Library's Strategic Plan. • Work collaboratively with Library managers and staff on management plans, programs, and budgets. • Assist in advising Library planners and managers on the economies and efficiencies that new developments can offer to Library management and operations. • Prepare a final paper or project related to self-directed work assignments. Makes strategic recommendations to challenges facing the Library or identifies identify long-range operational, administrative, or managerial functions of the Library where planning efforts must be placed. • Provide authoritative guidance and leadership to programs impacting one or several major agency organizations. • Plan, organize, and carry through to completion analytical studies involving issues related to key agency programs. • Provide expert advice and guidance on broad projects and programs with national impact. • Consult with all levels of management and other federal agencies, and with academic and commercial organizations world-wide. Establishes and maintains liaison with program directors and works closely with their representatives to ensure that concerns such as proper requirements definitions and adequate funding are met.…

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 analyze problems and make recommendations. ** Ability to provide program management, evaluation, and oversight. ** Ability to convey analysis and information orally through briefings, consultations, and other presentations. Ability to perform administrative and analytical functions related to financial and academic programs. Ability to communicate in writing. Ability to communicate effectively other than in writing.