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Summary

The Smithsonian Institution (SI) is the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex, with 21 museums and the National Zoo. This position is in the Discovery, Acquisitions, and Technical Services (DATS) department, Smithsonian Libraries and Archives (SLA). The SLA gathers, organizes, and disseminates the records and history of the Institution to support its research and education programs.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
03/06/2026 to 03/20/2026
Salary
$102,415 to - $133,142 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 12
Location
Washington, DC
FEW vacancies
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—Ad-hoc telework
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent - Federal
Work schedule
Full-time - Full-Time, Permanent
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
12
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
26R-ST-313528-DEU-SLA
Control number
860260900

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

This position is open to all U.S. Citizens or U.S. Nationals. Note: Federal employees with permanent status or individuals eligible for special appointing authorities may also apply to Job Announcement #26R-ST-313528-MPA-SLA More than one selection may be made from this announcement.

Duties

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The Librarian (Serials and eResources) is responsible for managing the lifecycle and access for digital and print serials and electronic resources.  Plays a key role in the review and selection of resources.  Is the lead in the purchase, management and license negotiation of electronic resources.  Is the point of contact for access of eResources.  

In this position, you will:

  • Manage acquisitions of electronic resources and serials, including negotiating with vendors and providers of digital content to serve the research needs of the Libraries’ and Institution.
  • Assists in developing operating plans, including managing Discovery, Acquisitions, and Technical Services (DATS) eSerials and eResources budget(s), vendor relationships, and contractual agreements.
  • Supervises four or fewer staff in serials, eResources and cataloging.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Pass Pre-employment Background Investigation
  • May need to complete a Probationary Period
  • Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer
  • Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered with Selective Service.

Conditions of Employment

Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.

For information on qualification requirements, see Qualification Standards Handbook for General Schedule Positions on OPM website.

Qualifications

All librarians must meet the requirements for professional education in library science or possess equivalent experience and education.

A. Completion of 1 full academic year of graduate study in library science in an accredited college or university, in addition to completion of all work required for a bachelor’s degree.

OR

B. A total of at least 5 years of a combination of college-level education, training, and experience. To qualify on this basis, the applicant must establish conclusively that the education, training, and experience provided a knowledge and understanding of the theories, principles, and techniques of professional librarianship; a knowledge of literature resources; and the knowledge and abilities essential for providing effective library and information services.

In addition to meeting the basic qualification requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the specialized experience and/or education requirements listed below:

GS-12 Experience: You qualify for this position if you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 level in the Federal Service.  For this position Specialized experience is defined as managing an acquisitions or electronic resources unit or department that handles the acquisition, cataloging, licensing, lifecycle management, and access to electronic resources, serials, and electronic collections. This experience may include applying new rules and standards to existing workflows, completing large‑scale descriptive projects, and collaborating with colleagues on new initiatives. It also includes contributing to operating plans, supporting budget planning and expenditure forecasting, and ensuring the cost‑effective acquisition of serials and electronic resources.


Your resume must be no more than two (2) pages and should clearly demonstrate how your experience aligns with the responsibilities and specialized experience required for this position. Do not copy language directly from the vacancy announcement, as you will be deemed ineligible for consideration. Instead, provide detailed, descriptive information about your actual experience.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Part-time and/or unpaid experience related to this position will be considered to determine the total number of years and months of experience. Be sure to note the number of paid or unpaid hours worked each week.

Education

There is no substitution for specialized experience at the GS-12 grade level. 

Additional information

  • This position is not included in the bargaining unit.

Recruitment Incentive: Recruitment incentive(s) may be authorized for this position.  However, approval for incentives are contingent upon various availability. If authorized, certain incentives will require the incumbent to sign a service agreement to remain in the Federal government for a certain time period.

Note: This statement does not imply nor guarantee an incentive will be offered and paid.

Selections may be made for vacancies across the Smithsonian Institution (SI). By applying to this position, you agree to allow your application and other personal information to be shared with one or more SI hiring officials for employment consideration for same/similar positions within the location(s) identified in this announcement.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Applicants for this position may be evaluated in multiple stages. The first stage is an evaluation of your responses to the online multiple-choice questions that assess your experience, education, and/or training for the job related competencies below:

  1. Skill in acquiring, receiving and managing digital and print subscriptions; and collecting, curating, and presenting use, price, and availability data for electronic resources and collections.
  2. Ability to contribute to budget planning, monitor fund allocations, forecast expenditures, and ensure cost-effective acquisition of serials and electronic resources.
  3. Ability to supervise a diverse staff.

Applicants who meet or exceed minimum qualifications will be assigned to one of three category groups based on job-related criteria:

  • Best Category - Meets the minimum qualification requirements and excels in most of the job related competencies above.
  • Better Category - Meets the minimum qualification requirements and satisfies most of the job related competencies above.
  • Good Category - Meets the minimum qualification requirements, but does not satisfy most of the job related competencies above to a substantive degree.

This category rating process does not add veterans' preference points or apply the "rule of three", but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category. A selecting official may make selections from the highest quality category (Best Category) provided no preference eligible in that category is passed over to select a non-preference eligible in that category unless the requirements of 5 U.S.C. 3317(b) or 3318(b) are satisfied. Preference eligibles who meet minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent must be listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-9 grade level or higher. Applicants who have not submitted a resume in the USAjobs system and/or have not answered all of the vacancy questions will not be considered for this position.

Important Note:

Your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses to the occupational questionnaire or other assessment tool for consistency. If a determination is made that you have rated yourself higher than is supported by your resume, you will be assigned a rating commensurate to your described experience. Your resume should provide sufficient information regarding how your education and experience relate to this position, including the major duties and qualifications criteria listed.


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