Position: Supervisory Librarian (Head, Paper Conservation Section)
Location: Library of Congress (Paper Conservation Section, Conservation Division, Preservation Directorate, Discovery and Preservation Services)
Posted: USA Jobs
Salary: $117,962-153,354

This position is located in the Paper Conservation Section, Conservation Division, Preservation Directorate, Discovery and Preservation Services. The position description number for this position is 209488. This is a supervisory, non-bargaining unit position. The salary range indicated reflects the locality pay adjustment for the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan area. Relocation expenses will not be authorized for the person(s) selected under this vacancy announcement.

Duties: The Conservation Section is responsible for all work related to the assessment, stabilization, and conservation treatment of artifacts on paper and other substrates in the Library’s special collections and works closely with all custodial divisional representatives to develop, establish, coordinate and carry out a comprehensive, Library-wide conservation program appropriate to the collections’ needs. The incumbent serves as a Section Head and is responsible for work conducted in this section, which includes assessments, surveys, treatments, documentation, and housing of paper format collections and paper artifacts; preparation of collection items for exhibitions and loans; research into optimizing paper conservation treatment methods and protocols; participation in the division’s intern program and other teaching and training programs; and creation of publications, reports, and guidelines.

As Section Head, reporting to the Chief of the Conservation Division, the incumbent manages and supervises staff at grade levels GS-09 through GS-12. Provides administrative and technical supervision needed for accomplishing the section’s work. Performs administrative and human resources management tasks related to the staff supervised. Establishes guidelines and performance expectations for staff, which are clearly communicated through the formal employee performance management system and ongoing informal discussions throughout the year. If needed, develops work improvement plans to improve productivity and/or the quality of conservation services. Ensures subordinates receive training to successfully perform and fully comply with Library of Congress regulations. Ensures personnel management in the organizational entity under supervision is accomplished without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, handicap, or national origin. 

Plans, distributes, and reviews conservation activities undertaken by Paper Conservation Section staff. Oversees all section activities performed by staff and contractors, including conducting condition surveys of internal collections and individual items, technical analyses, developing treatment plans and selecting or designing and creating appropriate housings, conducting conservation treatment, documenting item condition and treatment, and preparing collections items for loan, exhibition, or short-term displays and other usage preparations for paper-based items such as broadsides, charts, drawings, graphic prints, manuscripts, maps, posters and sketches. 

Upon request by the Chief of the Conservation Division, designs centralized and mission-specific projects using established and/or proposed program objectives.  Manages divisional programs and projects with a focused, mission-specific scope. Identifies and implements needed actions concerning development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of preservation programs and projects. Submits program goals and reports monthly, quarterly, and annual results to the Division Chief.

Develops, establishes, and maintains professional relationships with librarians, curators, exhibition office staff, and other specialists to share resources and information to coordinate workflow, project planning and policy development in the Library. As a consultant, provides technical recommendations on the conservation and/or preservation of Library materials.

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

Qualifications: 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. 

• 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 lead a diverse workforce.**
• Knowledge and application of the principles, concepts, and techniques of preservation and conservation.**
• Ability to analyze, organize, plan, and execute preservation and conservation programs and projects.
• Ability to build and maintain professional relationships.
• Ability to communicate in writing.
• Ability to communicate effectively other than in writing.