Senior Reference Services Associate, Special Collections

Job Description Summary

The Special Collections Research Center (SCRC) is building and making accessible a teaching and research collection for use by students and faculty of the University and diverse external research communities. Under the direction of the University Archivist, the Senior Reference Services Associate is responsible for collaboratively providing support, coordination, and oversight of the research services of the Special Collections Research Center. Working as part of a team, the Associate collaborates on research services and outreach initiatives, works with instructors, fellows, and researchers, contributes to collections care and maintenance across all collecting areas of the department. The associate also guides the work of student assistants in these areas.

The Senior Reference Services Associate, Special Collections:

• Provides professional customer service, research assistance, and in-depth reference support to diverse populations (students, faculty, and external researchers) in person and remotely.
• Manages the daily operation of the Special Collections Reading Room, including registering researchers and supporting access and proper use of rare materials.
• Collaborates with department colleagues on outreach activities for all collecting areas including University Archives, manuscript collections, and rare books including the Kiev Judaica collection.
• Provides assistance to support research, teaching, and learning with specialized collections.
• Participates in collections maintenance as assigned, helping to ensure discoverability of rare and unique materials across collecting areas. Contributes to the cataloging workflow of specialized materials as assigned.
• Ensures collection access by retrieving materials from on and offsite storage areas, tracking their use, and safely re-shelving materials.
• Trains student workers on public services related tasks.
• Supports instruction activities of the department as assigned.
• Fulfills requests for reproductions, including performing digitization and scanning of materials according to departmental guidelines.

Performs other work duties as assigned. The omission of specific duties does not preclude the supervisor from assigning duties that are logically related to the position.

Minimum Qualifications

Qualified candidates will hold a Bachelor’s degree in an appropriate area of specialization plus 2 years of relevant professional experience, or, a Master’s degree or higher in a relevant area of study. Degree must be conferred by the start date of the position. Degree requirements may be substituted with an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience providing customer service to diverse populations.
• Excellent written and oral communications.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Ability to prioritize between multiple projects and manage time effectively.
• Ability to work effectively independently and as part of a team.
• Experience searching library databases and catalogs.
• Familiarity with library copyright and fair use basics.
• Basic reading knowledge of languages other than English represented in the collections (e.g. French, German, Hebrew, Yiddish, Latin).

Hiring Range
$51,455.52 – $70,708.76

GW Staff Approach to Pay

How is pay for new employees determined at GW?

Campus Location: Foggy Bottom, Washington, D.C.

College/School/Department: University Libraries

Family: Libraries

Sub-Family: Library Services – Staff

Stream: Individual Contributor

Level: Level 2

Hours Per Week: 40

Work Schedule: Monday – Friday, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, occasional evenings and Saturdays

Will this job require the employee to work on site?
Yes

Employee Onsite Status
Hybrid

Telework: Yes

Required Background Check
Criminal History Screening, Education/Degree/Certifications Verification, Social Security Number Trace, and Sex Offender Registry Search

Special Instructions to Applicants

Employer will not sponsor for employment Visa status

Internal Applicants Only? No

Posting Number: S014109

Job Open Date: 03/27/2026

Background Screening
Successful Completion of a Background Screening will be required as a condition of hire.

EEO Statement

The university is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer that does not unlawfully discriminate in any of its programs or activities on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law.

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