George Washington University
Senior Reference Services Associate, Special Collections
🇺🇸
Hybrid - Washington, DC
🕑
Full-Time
💰
$51K - $71K
💻
Other
🗓️
March 6th, 2026
Edtech.com's Summary
George Washington University is hiring a Senior Reference Services Associate, Special Collections. The role involves providing research and reference support, overseeing technical services for the Special Collections Research Center including the Kiev Judaica collection, and collaborating with faculty, researchers, and students while promoting and maintaining specialized collections.
Highlights
- Provide in-person and remote reference services and research assistance.
- Support planning, material selection, setup, and teaching of instructional sessions, including the Kiev fellowship.
- Promote the Special Collections Research Center through outreach, exhibits, social media, presentations, and faculty contacts.
- Select, acquire, process, and make available new purchases and donations aligned with donor intent and university mission.
- Contribute to cataloging specialized materials and monitor preservation needs of collections.
- Train and supervise student assistants.
- Required qualifications: Bachelor's degree plus 2 years of relevant experience or a Master's degree or higher in a relevant field.
- Preferred qualifications include experience in cultural heritage institutions, customer service, catalog/database searching, public speaking, and familiarity with social media, copyright, and preservation basics.
- Hiring salary range: $51,455.52 - $70,708.76 annually.
- Position reports to the Public Services and Instruction Librarian within the Columbian College of Arts & Sciences Libraries department.
Senior Reference Services Associate, Special Collections Full Description
Senior Reference Services Associate, Special Collections
Please see Special Instructions for more details.
Employer will not sponsor for employment Visa status
Posting Details
I. JOB OVERVIEW
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 Public Services and Instruction Librarian, the Senior Reference Services Associate is responsible for collaboratively providing support, coordination, and oversight of the research and technical services of the Special Collections Research Center, including the Kiev Judaica collection. Working as part of a team, the Associate collaborates on public services and outreach initiatives, works with instructors, fellows, and researchers, contributes to collections care and maintenance, and guides the work of student assistants in these areas.
The Senior Reference Services Associate, Special Collections will:
Provide reference services, including research and access assistance in person and remotely. Support the planning, materials selection, set-up, and teaching of instructional sessions, including the Kiev fellowship. Promote the Special Collections Research Center through outreach, exhibits, social media, presentations, faculty contacts, and the online presence of the Special Collections Research Center, including the Kiev collection. Provide assistance to support research, teaching, and learning with specialized collections. In keeping with donor intent and the teaching and research mission of the University, thoughtfully select, acquire, process, and make available new purchases and donated materials for the Kiev collection. Contribute to the cataloging workflow of specialized materials. Monitor environmental and preservation needs of specialized collections’ book stacks and make recommendations relating to preservation and conservation concerns. Train and supervise students.
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.
Additional Required Licenses/Certifications/Posting Specific Minimum Qualifications:
Preferred Qualifications: | Bachelor’s degree Previous work experience in a cultural heritage institution (e.g. library, archives, historical society, or museum) and/or relevant coursework Experience providing customer service to diverse populations Experience searching library databases and catalogs 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 Familiarity with social media to promote library resources Familiarity with library copyright and fair use basics Familiarity with library preservation basics Experience with public speaking, instruction, and/or tours
Hiring Range | $51,455.52 - $70,708.76
GW Staff Approach to Pay | How is pay for new employees determined at GW?
The Senior Reference Services Associate, Special Collections will:
Provide reference services, including research and access assistance in person and remotely. Support the planning, materials selection, set-up, and teaching of instructional sessions, including the Kiev fellowship. Promote the Special Collections Research Center through outreach, exhibits, social media, presentations, faculty contacts, and the online presence of the Special Collections Research Center, including the Kiev collection. Provide assistance to support research, teaching, and learning with specialized collections. In keeping with donor intent and the teaching and research mission of the University, thoughtfully select, acquire, process, and make available new purchases and donated materials for the Kiev collection. Contribute to the cataloging workflow of specialized materials. Monitor environmental and preservation needs of specialized collections’ book stacks and make recommendations relating to preservation and conservation concerns. Train and supervise students.
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.
Additional Required Licenses/Certifications/Posting Specific Minimum Qualifications:
Preferred Qualifications: | Bachelor’s degree Previous work experience in a cultural heritage institution (e.g. library, archives, historical society, or museum) and/or relevant coursework Experience providing customer service to diverse populations Experience searching library databases and catalogs 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 Familiarity with social media to promote library resources Familiarity with library copyright and fair use basics Familiarity with library preservation basics Experience with public speaking, instruction, and/or tours
Hiring Range | $51,455.52 - $70,708.76
GW Staff Approach to Pay | How is pay for new employees determined at GW?
Healthcare Benefits
GW offers a comprehensive benefit package that includes medical, dental, vision, life & disability insurance, time off & leave, retirement savings, tuition, well-being and various voluntary benefits. For program details and eligibility, please visit https://hr.gwu.edu/benefits-programs.
GW offers a comprehensive benefit package that includes medical, dental, vision, life & disability insurance, time off & leave, retirement savings, tuition, well-being and various voluntary benefits. For program details and eligibility, please visit https://hr.gwu.edu/benefits-programs.
II. JOB DETAILS
Campus Location: | Foggy Bottom, Washington, D.C.
College/School/Department: | Columbian College of Arts & Sciences (CCAS)
Family | Libraries
Sub-Family | Library Services - Staff
Stream | Individual Contributor
Level | Level 2
Full-Time/Part-Time: | Full-Time
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: | S014077
Job Open Date: | 03/05/2026
Job Close Date: |
If temporary, grant funded, Sponsored Project funded or limited term appointment, position funded until: |
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.
College/School/Department: | Columbian College of Arts & Sciences (CCAS)
Family | Libraries
Sub-Family | Library Services - Staff
Stream | Individual Contributor
Level | Level 2
Full-Time/Part-Time: | Full-Time
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: | S014077
Job Open Date: | 03/05/2026
Job Close Date: |
If temporary, grant funded, Sponsored Project funded or limited term appointment, position funded until: |
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.
Posting Specific Questions
Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).
- * Are you currently employed with The George Washington University?
- No
- Yes
- * For current GW employees, have you completed your Introductory Employment Period (IEP)? (As a reminder, employees in their IEP are not eligible to apply for other internal university staff and research positions until the IEP is complete.)
- Yes, IEP complete
- No, still in IEP
- N/a - not a current GW employee
- * What is your salary range expectation?
(Open Ended Question)
Documents needed to Apply
Required Documents
- Resume
- Cover Letter
Optional Documents
Human Resource
Management & Development
Management & Development
2013 H Street, NW, 3rd Floor
Washington, DC 20006
Phone: 202-994-8500
Fax: 202-994-9680
Email: askhrmd@gwu.edu
Recognition_Toolkit
Talent@GWLogin
Washington, DC 20006
Phone: 202-994-8500
Fax: 202-994-9680
Email: askhrmd@gwu.edu
Recognition_Toolkit
Talent@GWLogin
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