Supervisory Attorney (Section Research Manager)
Open and Close Dates: 06/03/2020 to 07/20/2020
Salary: $142,701 to $170,800 per year
The Congressional Research Service (CRS), American Law Division (ALD) is seeking a Supervisory Attorney (Section Research Manager).
The Supervisory Attorney for the American Law Division (ALD) of the Congressional Research Service (CRS) leads a section of ALD legislative attorneys who advise Members of Congress, congressional committees, and their staffs on legal questions of national and international significance.
Service to Congress: Directs and supervises the legal research, analysis, and writing by a section of ALD legislative attorneys for Congress on questions of national or international importance that arise during the legislative process. Through critical review, ensures that legal research, analysis, and writing is objective, authoritative, nonpartisan, timely, and accessible; reflects the congressional agenda; and responds to the legislative needs of Congress. Establishes and maintains relationships with Members of Congress and congressional committees and staff.
Projects and Collaboration: Directly supervises a section of ALD legislative attorneys as well as multiple subject matter teams of ALD legislative attorneys and may, as directed by the ALD Assistant/Deputy Assistant Director (AD/DAD), design, organize, coordinate, and implement major projects, programs, and initiatives related to sensitive and complex legal questions of national or international importance. Coordinates and collaborates with counterparts in other CRS divisions to design, develop, and implement multidisciplinary projects, programs, and initiatives related to sensitive and complex legal questions and public policies of national or international significance.
Administrative: Advises and assists the ALD AD/DAD on all facets of division administration. Contributes to and helps develop CRS-wide strategic goals and priorities. Ensures that ALD staff accommodate the changing needs of Congress and congressional committees and staff. Leads staff in achieving the Library’s and CRS’s visions, missions, and goals by managing performance, communicating priorities and management initiatives effectively, fostering continuous improvement and innovation, building and maintaining relationships, and leveraging diversity and inclusiveness. Oversees ALD staff’s implementation of CRS policies. Exhibits commitment to the Supervisor Core Competencies of the Library of Congress.
The Supervisory Attorney’s responsibilities will include:
- Ensuring that attorneys produce objective, authoritative, and nonpartisan analysis that enables Congress to assess legal issues that inform the legislative agenda, congressional oversight of executive agencies, and the scope of Congress’s power;
- Utilizing a knowledge of constitutional and administrative law, critically reviewing written analyses produced by legislative attorneys to ensure accuracy, authoritativeness, objectivity, and overall quality;
- Identifying and coordinating legal research and analysis conducted by the section on matters of legislative importance and, as directed by the AD/DAD of ALD, engaging in such functions for division-wide projects;
- Proactively establishing relationships with committees of jurisdiction, building long-term relationships with clients, and taking initiative to seek out new congressional contacts for CRS;
- Managing congressional requests for legal analysis from attorneys in the section;
- Collaborating with other managers to ensure an integrative approach to the work by identifying significant issues facing Congress, developing legal analytical approaches to address them, and applying appropriate resources;
- Managing and supervising legislative attorneys, communicating performance standards/expectations to staff, assessing performance and giving feedback; and
- Performing special assignments as directed by the AD/DAD.
Candidates with management experience in high-pressure legal environments (e.g., in law firms or litigating on behalf of the federal government), who have strong interpersonal skills, and are capable of leading a highly motivated, talented team of attorneys committed to providing Congress nonpartisan, authoritative, objective legal analysis are encouraged to apply. Prior experience as a judicial clerk on a federal or state court may be beneficial. Prior experience in environmental or financial regulatory law is helpful, but not necessary.
CRS works exclusively for Congress, providing policy and legal analysis to committees and Members of the House and Senate, regardless of party affiliation. As a legislative branch agency in the Library of Congress, CRS has been a valued and respected resource 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.
CRS is fully committed to workforce diversity. Interested applicants must apply online at USAJOBS https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/569841700.
