Data Services Librarian

Description

Reporting to the Coordinator of Research Services, the Data Services Librarian will help define and realize the critical components of data services in a major research university. A key priority for the position is to develop sustainable data services and data management infrastructure and processes. This is a newly created position offering a leadership role in promoting and realizing the library’s role as a key partner for research data support and services at GW.

The successful candidate will work closely with faculty, students, and librarians in the sciences, social sciences and humanities, providing individual research consultations, instructional support for librarians teaching data intensive courses and collection development support for the acquisition of data.

The George Washington University offers comprehensive programs of undergraduate and graduate liberal arts study as well as degree programs in medicine, public health, law, engineering, education, business, and international affairs. The new Science and Engineering Hall, Computational Biology Institute and forthcoming genome and engineering research institutes confirms GW’s emphasis on enhancing STEM research and support. The Virginia Science and Technology Campus – with 17 laboratories and institutes – is poised to be the primary big data campus in the D.C. Area. With the Division of Information Technology, the Libraries are key partners in moving data to the forefront of research support, including data identification, collection, curation and preservation. With undergraduate, graduates and faculty increasingly generating or utilizing data, the library seeks exceptional candidates to assist in developing an enhanced research data environment. The George Washington University Libraries value and foster flexibility, creativity and openness to new ideas for all staff. The GW Libraries are committed to and support development, training and professional service. The GW Libraries staff participates in meetings of the Association of Research Libraries, the Washington Research Library Consortium, and the Northeast Research Libraries Consortium, as well as other leading library organizations.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities:
The Data Services Librarian proactively collaborates and coordinates with teams to develop services relating to data management plans for faculty and researchers and supports students and faculty through appropriate research consultation, referrals and instruction. This position provides opportunities for programmatic development, initiating best practices in E-Research and investigating and implementing new technologies and research tools in support of data services initiatives. The position supervises graduate student consultants for statistical and GIS support.

The Data Services Librarian will serve on Library, University, and Washington Research Librarian Consortium committees, as well as represent the Libraries and the University in a variety of national groups and forums. The candidate collaborates with internal units within the libraries as well as external units, including the Office of the Vice President for Research. This position serves as designated library representative to the InterUniversity Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR) and is the primary contact for data management support in the Libraries.

Minimum Qualifications:

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• ALA-accredited MLS with a minimum of two years of library experience or an advanced degree in a data-intensive research field and 3 years of relevant experience in an academic or research setting.
• Experience in supporting university faculty with research that involves data services, grant proposal development and data management, or experience working with research data and researchers.
• Familiarity with funding agency requirements for data management plans.

Advertised Salary: commensurate with experience

Other Benefits:
Comprehensive benefits package includes 22 days/year paid annual leave plus 12 days per year paid sick leave; medical; TIAA/CREF; tuition assistance.

EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES PREFERRED:

• Ability to initiate and manage collaborative projects and develop policies in collaboration with campus and library units.
• Strong project planning, management and execution skills.
• Demonstrated subject knowledge and experience in the social sciences including an understanding of issues related to scientific research and scholarly publishing.
• Familiarity with statistical software packages (STATA, SPSS, SAS, R),
• Familiarity with GIS and data visualization.
• Familiarity with local and national data repositories, and data management plans.
• Instruction experience
• Strong engagement in professional service and scholarship.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Creativity and excellent organizational skills.