George Washington University

Research Services Librarian for the Social and Political Sciences

George Washington University$58K — $130K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • ALA-accredited Master's degree in library and information science or advanced degree with relevant experience.
  • Demonstrated collaboration skills promoting inclusivity.
  • Strong initiative with a results-driven approach.
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills.
  • Awareness of current research trends in academic environments.
  • Experience in supporting Social Science research methods and publishing.

Responsibilities

  • Support research and instructional needs in Social and Political Sciences.
  • Conduct library instruction for undergraduate and graduate courses.
  • Provide research consultations through various channels.
  • Collaborate on collection development based on departmental needs.
  • Offer expert guidance on Social Science research methods and data analysis.
  • Contribute to scholarly communication and open access initiatives.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive benefits package includes 22 days/year paid annual leave and 12 days/year sick leave.
  • Paid winter break and 8 holidays.
  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
  • 401(A) retirement plan with matching contributions.
  • Tuition assistance and professional development support.
  • Eligible for research leave after a defined service period.
Full Job Description
Recruitment Plan

I. RECRUITMENT PLAN

Posting Number:
F002653

Academic Title:
Research Services Librarian for the Social and Political Sciences

Rank:
Librarian I, Librarian II, Librarian III, Librarian IV

Administrative Title:

Discipline
Libraries

Specialty:

Contract Type:
Renewable Appointment (initial appt period) - Renewable period depending on rank at date of hire.

Required Licenses/Certifications and other Specific Requirements:
Criminal History Screening, Education/Degree/Certifications Verification, Social Security Number Trace, and Sex Offender Registry Search

Proposed Start Date:
10/01/2026

Full-Time/Part-Time:
Full-Time

Position Description Summary:

GWLAI seeks a collaborative and service-oriented Research Services Librarian for the Social and Political Sciences to join the Research and User Services (RUS) department. RUS is a highly collaborative unit where librarians work together and share responsibility for meeting the full range of student, faculty, and researcher needs across disciplines. This position plays a vital role in supporting interdisciplinary teaching, research, and publishing across the Social and Political Sciences with an emphasis on international affairs, political science, public policy, economics, and related fields. As an active member of the RUS team, the incumbent also provides research support, instruction, and collection development services to all areas of the university, including the First Year Writing program. GWLAI staff and librarians are champions of open access and support open scholarly communication and publishing practices, including the adoption and creation of open educational resources (OER). Librarians contribute to the scholarly community through research, professional engagement, and service.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities:
  • Support the research and instructional needs of faculty, students, and researchers in the Social and Political Sciences, with an emphasis on international affairs, political science, public policy, economics, and related fields.
  • Conduct library instruction for undergraduate and graduate level courses in partnership
    with faculty, including partnering with GW's first-year University Writing Program.
  • Provide research consultations and services (chat, email) across disciplines.
  • Participate in collaborative collection development and relationship-building with departments and research units to understand and meet their evolving needs.
  • Provide expert guidance on Social Science research methods, statistical data analysis, visualization and use, text and data mining, and/or other quantitative and qualitative research methods.
  • Contribute to strategic initiatives or teams within GWLAI, including efforts related to scholarly communication, open access publishing, open education, research impact and visibility, and/or data literacy and computational fluency.


Minimum Qualifications:
  • ALA-accredited Master's degree in library and information science OR other advanced degree with relevant experience by date of appointment.
  • Demonstrated collaboration skills and a commitment to supporting an inclusive and equitable research community.
  • Strong initiative and a results-driven approach in previous roles
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills.
  • Awareness of current scholarly communication and research trends, issues, and challenges facing researchers in an academic environment.
  • Experience or demonstrated potential to support Social Science research methods and publishing practices.


Advertised Salary:
Librarian 1: $58,566 - $65,000; Librarian 2: $61,156 - $78,000; Librarian 3: $65,156 - $81,000; Librarian 4: $71,656 - $130,000

Other Benefits:

Salary and appointment at the rank of Librarian I/II/III/IV are dependent upon qualifications.

Salary is negotiable, contingent upon rank, skills and qualifications and is competitive for DC area academic libraries. Comprehensive benefits package includes 22 days/year paid annual leave; 12 days/year paid sick leave; paid winter break and 8 other holidays; medical, dental, and vision; 401(A) retirement plan, 4% base and GW will match 150% of the first 4% of your 403(B) contributions, up to a maximum of 6% of your eligible compensation; tuition assistance; ongoing support for professional development; and paid parental leave. Librarians are eligible to apply for research leave after a defined period of service. For benefit details, please visit GW Benefits.

This position is classified as a Council of Librarians position and is eligible for a hybrid on-campus/remote work schedule. This position is a continual reappointment position with reappointment periods of 3-5 years depending on rank. Proven commitment to the profession is expected and can be exhibited through service, publication, and/or presentations.

Other Information:

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
  • Knowledge of, or experience working with, financial and economic data.
  • A strong understanding of the research lifecycle, scholarly communication, and academic publishing.
  • A robust understanding of computational and data research methods, statistical data analysis and use methods, text and data mining, or other quantitative and qualitative research methods.
  • Experience with GIS, coding, data visualization, or computational research tools.


We recognize that strong candidates may not meet every qualification. If you are passionate about this role, we encourage you to apply and highlight how your experiences align with the position.

This position reports to a Director of Research Services and is eligible for partial telework.

The University and GWLAI have a strong commitment to recruiting librarians of the highest caliber who have thrived in different environments and would enrich the University with different experiences and perspectives. We offer a work environment that values and supports collaboration, teamwork, and professional growth and development.

A virtual information session for interested candidates will be offered in the coming weeks. Please visit https://go.gwu.edu/librarianjobs for details.

Special Instructions to Applicants:

When applying for the Research Services Librarian for the Social and Political Sciences position please highlight the experiences you have that address the job responsibilities and demonstrate your ability to thrive in this position and within the broader GWLAI and university communities.

  • To be considered, please complete an online application and upload a CV
    and a cover letter that includes an assessment of skills and experiences related to minimum and preferred qualifications.
  • Only complete applications will be considered. Review of applications will begin on October 12, 2026 and will continue until the position is filled.
  • Employment offers are contingent upon the satisfactory outcome of a reference check and standard background screening.


Department Link:
http://library.gwu.edu/

Posting Close Date:

Open Until Filled:
Yes

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

Quick Link
https://www.gwu.jobs/postings/128316

About George Washington University

George Washington University is a private research university that offers undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs in a variety of fields, including business, law, medicine, and public policy. The university is located in Washington, D.C., and has a total enrollment of approximately 28,000 students. George Washington University was founded in 1821 and has a long history of academic excellence and research innovation. The university is known for its strong programs in international affairs, political science, and public health.
Learn more about George Washington University
Size
12,000 employees
Industry

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