In the scientifc scenario, the intensive generation and use of research data require innovative management models, which, in turn, needs new skills for the implementation of informational infrastructures focused on data. Librarians have an important role in data management services. This fact reinforces the need to develop skills for optimize their actions in this feld. This means improving librarians’ skills in supporting researchers, deploying service and literacy infrastructures, developing methodology for data sharing and reuse among other requirements. Taking as methodology the literature of the area, the study analyzes the role of librarians and the necessaries competences for the professional performance in the management of research data, outlining a professional profle of the data librarian and contributing to the debate on the subject in the area of Information Science.