Chief, Prints and Photographs Division

About the role

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.

What you will do

• Career Showcase Chief, Prints and Photographs Division VAR003483 Thursday, November 19, 2026 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM ET This event will be available on Zoom for Government.
• Join a live, virtual Career Showcase to learn about an exciting career opportunity directly from senior leaders at the Library of Congress.
• Simply log on to the link below on Thursday, November 19, 2026, at 1:00 PM (ET) to learn about the Chief, Prints and Photographs Division VAR003483 role at the Library of Congress.
• Registration is not required.
• To participate anonymously, simply identify yourself as "Anonymous2026" when entering the session.
• Please join the webinar on Zoom>> When: Thursday, November 19, 2026, at 1:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Topic: Library of Congress – Chief, Prints and Photographs Division VAR003483 Zoom Link: *** Or join by telephone: *** US (New York) Webinar ID: *** Request ADA accommodations five business days in advance at *** or ***.
• A recording of the Career Showcase will be available by no later three business days following the event.
• The position serves as the Chief of the Prints and Photographs Division, and reports to the Director of the Special Collections Directorate (SCD), Researcher and Collection Services (RCS) within the Library Collections and Services Group (LCSG) at the Library of Congress.
• The Chief of the Prints and Photographs Division is a forward looking, people focused, and collaborative leader with broad responsibility for the development, stewardship, interpretation, promotion, and service of the visual material collections under the Division's purview to meet the needs of government officials, researchers, and all users who request information or seek access to collections and services.
• Under the Chief's general direction, the Division's primary role is to preserve and expand access to and use of one of the foremost visual material collections in the United States and to engage new audiences through public programming.
• As Chief, you will: Provide vision and leadership for the development and maintenance of the Library's visual material collections, including the integration of digital technology, and facilitating the effective use of these collections by researchers, visitors, and others worldwide, including the future direction of research services, public programming, and outreach.
• Exercise responsibility for cultivating relations with potential donors, securing funds for new initiatives in concert with Library Development, selectively acquiring new collections, and thoughtfully enhancing services and programs; and for effectively communicating and collaborating with stakeholders across the Library and with external partners and organizations.
• Play a key role in establishing a positive image for the Library and its collections, as well as its service to Congress, researchers, visitors, and the general public.
• Exercise responsibility for the overall execution of the Division's budget for appropriated funds as well as gift and trust funds, balancing the needs of collections, services, programs, and staffing.
• Set and implement a collection development strategy that ensures a diverse, balanced, and sustainable portfolio in the Division's major collecting areas of architecture design and engineering, fine prints, photographs, popular and applied graphic arts, and posters, ensuring that analog and digital collections are relevant to researcher needs and that they are served in a timely and efficient manner.
• Lead efforts to sustainably steward the Division's collections and to increase access, discovery, use, and dissemination of the Division's collections and resources, both analog and digital, for all users, both onsite and offsite.
• Ensure the Division supports the vision of being a library for all, onsite and online, and build services and programs around the needs of researchers and visitors.
• Lead effort to raise awareness and promote outreach and engagement with the Division's collections and resources for users, including Congress, researchers, visitors, and the public, both national and international.
• Coordinate with the Library's other units focused on congressional outreach, visitor experience, library events, exhibits, and educational outreach.
• Perform the full range of human resource management functions relative to directly and indirectly supervised staff.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• The position description number for this position is 471337.
• The salary range indicated reflects the locality pay adjustments for the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan area.
• The incumbent of this position will work a flexitime work schedule.
• This is a supervisory, non-bargaining unit position.
• Relocation expenses may be authorized for the person(s) selected under this vacancy announcement.

Requirements

• Your resume is important to this application process.
• It will be reviewed to determine whether you possess the qualifications referenced above.
• All applicants are required to submit a resume that provides specific information (to include accomplishments, work experience and education/training) that clearly describes what you would bring to the position.
• 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: *** Conditions of Employment 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 drug use and activities (e.g., selling or distributing) may deem you ineligible for employment.

How you will be evaluated

The Library of Congress will evaluate applicants using the information provided in your resume. Reviews are intended to explore applicants' experience, knowledge, and training directly related to the job in order to identify the best qualified applicants for selection.

For Senior Level positions, applicants do not need to respond to specific competency questions but will be requested to answer one question related to how they became aware of this job opportunity. You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Documents you must provide

• Current or former federal employees must submit their most recent Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50 or equivalent).
• 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.
• The program does not accept certification from health care providers.
• For more information contact the Library's Office of Equal Employment Opportunity Office at *** or email ***.
• FAILURE TO SUBMIT YOUR CERTIFICATION WILL CAUSE YOUR APPLICATION TO NOT BE CONSIDERED UNDER THE SELECTIVE PLACEMENT PROGRAM.

What to expect next

Please review our evaluation process under Qualifications and Evaluations. You may check the status of your application for this position at any time by logging onto the USAJOBS "My USAJOBS" tab and clicking on "My Applications." You will receive final notification via e-mail when the vacancy has been filled.

Additional information

All initial appointments, permanent or indefinite, to the Library of Congress require completion of a one-year probationary period. In addition, all newly appointed Senior Level executives, from outside the Library as well as from within, must serve a one year probationary period in accordance with the Library of Congress Regulations (LCRs) 9-1610 Senior Level Executive System.

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 ***. 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 Equal Employment Opportunity at *** or email ***.

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.

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 participates 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 will 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, the Ethics in Government Act of 1978. 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 (click here for the form) and provide the required documentation listed on the back of the form. If required supporting documentation is not attached, Veterans' Preference will not be considered in the application process.

For more information regarding eligibility requirements, please see the Library of Congress Merit Selection Plan, Section 8.5, at: Senior Level Merit Selection Plan.