Career Center

About the Alliance

L’Alliance Française de Washington, D.C. (AFDC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, non-governmental organization. It is the leading center in the Washington, D.C. metro area for French language services and francophone resources. The goal of the Alliance is to enrich the lives of the D.C. community by offering the chance to connect with people of different backgrounds and cultures, in order to better appreciate and take part in the greater global community.

AFDC offers:

• French language courses for adults, children, and corporate and federal employees
• The only official testing center in the Mid-Atlantic to offer French language certifications including the TEF/TCF, DELF/DALF and the DAEFLE
• Cultural programming for adults and children that present a comprehensive look at contemporary francophone culture
• An extensive bilingual library with over 6,000 books, movies, CDs, magazines and other resources for both native speakers and French language students.

About the position

The librarian staffs the library desk; manages a collection of ~6,000 items, acquisitions, subscriptions cataloging, weeding, promotion; and maintains a series of monthly events for children and adults. The Librarian reports to the Alliance Française Executive Director and supervises a team of volunteers that assist in library duties.

Preferred Start Date: 06/01/2026 and no later than 06/15/2026

Responsibilities:

• Full-time position. Includes working evenings (Monday thru Thursday 10:30am to 6:30pm) + three later evenings per month (until 7:30pm) and Saturdays  from 9:00am to 5:00pm - Days and hours are NOT negotiable
• Part-Time positions includes 2.5 days a week + 2 Saturdays per month (to alternate with another PT librarian) and sharing the additional three later evenings per month
• Serve a population of Alliance Française students, Francophones, and native-speakers of French in the DC area
• Manage a library collection of approximately 6,000 items and 20 magazine subscriptions for children and adults
• Supervise a team of library volunteers
• Organize/produce monthly library events, collaborate on events with Cultural and Youth Programs, field trips…)
  • Adult programs include: Conversation night, Book Club, Game Night
  • Children programs include: Story Time, Music Hour
• Maintain collections up to date, order and catalog new items for circulation, and weed collection as needed
• Maintain ledger of library income/expenses
• Maintain database of library accounts whether physical or digital as well as any library data needed for board reports
• Coordinate the library’s communication strategy through a bi-weekly newsletter and social media posts, and updates website pages dedicated to the library including the library calendar and event page
• Manage the library’s participation in Culturethèque – the premier French e-library offered by the Institut Français
• Consult/exchange with colleagues in other AF chapters or other libraries
• Represent the AFDC if and when needed for programs relevant to the Library or other departments when requested
• Liaise with PMB and any external partners relevant to the functioning and daily operations of the AFDC library
• Other tasks as required

Level of Language Proficiency

Knowledge of French language at native-speaker level is an absolute MUST. Do NOT apply if you do NOT speak, read, and write French at native-level (C1).

We are the French language and cultural center in DC. We serve not only learners of French language but also French and French-speaking patrons living in the Greater DMV, including diplomats.

The librarian will have to speak to library patrons in French, and also to answer the phone in French, write emails, reports, and newsletters in French.

Excellent grammar and spelling in written French langage is required for the position

Qualifications:

• 4-year degree
• Fluent in English and in French
• Understanding of American and French cultures and of non-profit cultural organizations
• Strong interest in Francophone cultures
• Knowledge of the French book market, Francophone literature, music, and cinema
• Excellent customer service skills
• Excellent organizational skills
• Must be able to work well with others, as well as independently
• Computer literacy is required, including but not limited to: Microsoft Office Suite, Zoom, etc.
• Ability to multi-task

Preferred qualifications:

• Bachelor in French, MLS or currently enrolled in an MLS program
• Experience with PMB – a French library integrated management system
• Strong Experience with Canva
• Strong Experience with Eventbrite
• Experience with CRM
• MicrosoftOffice Suite 652 Proficient: MUST know how to use ALL Microsoft programs, including but not limited to: XLS, Outlook, PPT, and Word.

General Requirements

• Applicants must be eligible for employment in the US.
• This position is located in a historic facility without elevator access. Essential duties include transporting inventory (approximately 50 lbs) between multiple floor levels via stairs multiple times per month.
• The AFDC is a grand-fathered historic building with no elevator. The library is located on the main floor.
• Covid19 vaccination booster is mandatory; masking is optional.
• Application is open until filled.

Instructions to Apply to This Job

Only complete applications will be considered (resume, letters of motivation in French and in English), list of references and answer to the question.

Please do NOT call or email once you submitted your COMPLETE application. 

Only those applicants who are retained will be contacted for a first interview, and if retained after this first interview, for a second interview with the Executive Director.

Interviews will be conducted in both the French and the English languages.

There may be more than two interviews to determine the best fit for our small and dedicated team.

About Alliance Francaise de Washington, Inc.

The Alliance Française is the largest network of French language and cultural centers in the world. It was created in 1883. The Alliances françaises chapters across the world are dedicated to promoting the French language and francophone culture in order to foster cultural dialogue. The Alliance Française of Washington DC (AFDC) is a non-governmental, non-profit, organization with a 501 (c ) 3 status. As such it does not receive any funds from the French government or any other government. It is one of the 830 AF chapters in the world and one of the 103 chapters established in the USA. Its mission is to promote the French language and culture as well as Francophone cultures to a largely American and international public who wants to learn French and/or wants to learn more about the culture. The AFDC serves as the French language and cultural center in the Nation’s Capital. It is the leading center in the Washington DC metropolitan area for French language services and francophone resources. The goal of the Alliance Française of Washington DC is to challenge and enrich the lives of the Washingtonian community by offering the chance to connect with people of different backgr...ounds and cultures in order to better understand and appreciate the greater global community. Our mission: To Build Connections and Bridges Through French Language and Culture (s) Our vision: To Be the French Heartbeat of the Nation's Capital Our values: 1. Inclusiveness: Celebrating Diversity of Students, Faculty, Staff and Global Communities 2. Integration: Blending the Best Educational and Cultural Experiences of the French-speaking world 3. Innovation: Pioneering New Learning Tools and Pedagogy as well as Cultural Approaches

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