Director and Head Librarian, Countway Library of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA

Posted July 1, 2015

Director and Head Librarian, Countway Library of Medicine

Full-time

Office of Resource Development

062

Responsibilities:

Harvard Medical School (HMS) is seeking a Director of the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, a partnership between the Harvard Medical Library and the Boston Medical Library (BML). The Director is the Head Librarian and Chief Administrative Officer for the Countway Library. The Director oversees the management and future direction of the Countway Library, is accountable to the leadership of HMS and of the BML, and works closely with the Vice President for the Harvard Library (the head librarian for Harvard University). The Director provides leadership to a complex organization serving a varied user base, including academia and practicing physicians, with a budget of $7.3 million and one of the largest collections of current and invaluable historical and rare material.

As the Head Librarian for the Countway Library, the Director is responsible for providing leadership in strategic planning; development and promotion of library resources and services; budget and human resources management; library fund raising; collaboration with other Harvard University libraries, the HMS Department of Biomedical Informatics, and external groups. The Head Librarian will be the key representative for HMS and BML as he or she works closely with University colleagues and other partners in an effort to embrace best practices, increase collaboration and consistency 
across Schools and, ultimately, engage actively in the endeavor to attain Harvard and BML’s joint goal of creating the flagship library of the 21st century with cutting edge library services for its wide user base for research, scholarship, pedagogy and learning in all areas of clinical care and knowledge management.
 The Head Librarian will also oversee the maintenance of state-of-the art library services with a vision of the future and navigate education, clinical, and research trends to tailor resources and services that will sustain a culture of attentive library service to all patrons.

The Head Librarian has supervisory responsibility for: Collections and Knowledge Management, Public and Access Services, Technology and Knowledge Management; and the Center for the History of Medicine. The incumbent in this position will actively engage the Joint Library Committee in governance and work cooperatively with the University Library’s Heads of Information and Technical Services, Preservation and Digital Imaging Services, and Access Services, ensuring effective advocacy and support for Countway services and clients. We are seeking an innovative, collaborative, and service-oriented librarian who will

• Lead Change:
  • Initiate and engage others in navigating changes and transitions successfully; lead changes in direction, priority, and approaches; respond constructively to ambiguity.
• Lead High Performing Teams:
  • Attract, develop, and lead individuals to innovate, maximize the collective skills of the organization to build collaborative, cohesive, results-oriented teams.
• Collaborate Internally and Externally:
  • Work collaboratively across the organization and with external stakeholders to generate, capture, and share knowledge, information, and learning; create a culture with processes that enable cross functional teamwork and development of cooperative relationships and innovative library services.
• Think Strategically:
  • Define, clarify, articulate, and implement goals and strategies that are aligned with the missions of the Countway Library, the Harvard Medical School, the Boston Medical Library, Harvard University, and the Harvard Library, by contributing intellectual rigor and creativity to key decisions and actions.
• Drive and Produce Results:
  • Establish measurable goals for organizational success and personal accomplishment; meet or exceed goals relying on strong business and financial acumen to establish a culture of accountability among direct reports and across the Harvard Library organization.

Candidates should be leaders with demonstrated understanding of and experience in navigating traditional and digital library resources. A record of documented, successful leadership and administrative accomplishment in highly complex organizations is expected.

Harvard Medical School is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Applications from members of underrepresented groups in medicine are encouraged. The Harvard Medical School (HMS) is seeking a Director of the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, a partnership between the Harvard Medical Library and the Boston Medical Library (BML).

Basic Qualifications

Master’s degree in library/information science required with at least 10-15 years of broad-based management experience in an academic research library. Minimum of 5 years of experience working at a senior administrative level.

Additional Qualifications

PhD preferred. Candidates should be leaders with demonstrated understanding of and experience in navigating traditional and digital library resources and in care and curation of historical material and objectives. A record of documented, successful leadership and administrative accomplishment in highly complex organizations, preferably involving medical library and information disciplines. Excellent communication and presentation skills; demonstrated ability to build relationships and partnerships across and at all levels of a complex organization; demonstrated ability to lead a team of high-performing, innovative library professionals; demonstrated strategic thinking and planning abilities; solid knowledge and understanding of leading edge technological applications in libraries.

The successful candidate will be a resourceful leader with the vision to undertake effective strategic planning for the future. Duties include managing the budget and human resources, guiding the implementation of new information technologies; participating in collection development; and undertaking programmatic leadership, public outreach and fundraising in concert with the faculty director of the library and other officers of the University.

Demonstrated understanding of the mission and operations of research libraries and special collections, and extensive knowledge of new library/information technologies.

Proven success in managing staff of varying levels and record of promoting organizational excellence.

Solid expertise in budgeting, financial management, and resource allocation.

Strong diplomatic skills, excellent judgment, and high level of professionalism.

Demonstrated enthusiasm for the mission of the enterprise and commitment to working collaboratively across libraries and functions.

Interested applicants please apply directly online at, www.employment.​harvard.​edu. Please search requisition number (Auto Req. ID) 36037BR.