Director of the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine

Harvard University • Boston, MA

17d • Hybrid

About The Position

Harvard Medical School (HMS) and Harvard Library seek an accomplished, forward‑looking executive to serve as Director of the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, the biomedical research library of Harvard University. The Director leads the development of library services for the health and biomedical sciences at Harvard, partnering directly with the Harvard Medical School, the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, and an extensive network of affiliated hospitals and research institutes, and with colleagues across Harvard Library, and is the senior-most leadership role for Countway Library, which includes: One of the world’s premier biomedical research collections, Extensive library services deeply embedded in curricula and research programs, A globally recognized Center for the History of Medicine and rare and special collections, A recently transformed, award‑winning physical environment that serves as a hub for study, collaboration, teaching, and wellness. Operating with an annual budget of approximately $10 million, the Director reports to the Executive Dean of Harvard Medical School and works in close partnership with the Vice President for the Harvard Library and University Librarian.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in library/information science (e.g., MLIS) or equivalent.
• At least 10 years of progressively responsible management experience in a complex organization, including 5+ years at a senior administrative level.
• Demonstrated success in setting and executing strategy, leading change, and delivering results in a matrixed environment.
• Proven expertise in budget stewardship, resource prioritization, and decision making under fiscal and regulatory constraints.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree beyond the MLIS (e.g., PhD or other relevant doctorate) or equivalent scholarly/professional achievement.
• Experience in an academic health sciences, biomedical research, or similarly research intensive context.
• Exceptional communication skills, sound judgment, diplomacy, and the ability to build trust and influence across a wide range of stakeholders.
• Background in scholarly communications, open access/open science, data services, and/or stewardship and activation of historical and rare collections.
• Deep knowledge of research library operations and trends, including digital transformation, data intensive research support, and advanced technologies such as AI.
• Demonstrated commitment to equity, inclusion, accessibility, and community engagement for both staff and users.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic vision and leadership in the ongoing evolution of library services, collections, and facilities that advance health and biomedical sciences research, education, and clinical practice.
• Partner directly with and lead library programs for the Harvard Medical School, the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, and an extensive network of affiliated hospitals and research institutes.
• Provide executive leadership for Countway Library, including collection development, research and teaching services, and facilities utilization, in collaboration with university-wide Harvard Library services for collections, research support, and library technologies.
• Monitor shifts in research, education, technology, regulatory requirements, and user expectations, and collaboratively advance a continually evolving portfolio of services in data, digital scholarship, open science, scholarly communication, and responsible use of AI, ensuring ethical, equitable, and evidence-based approaches to information.
• Ensure that library strategy and resources are tightly aligned with evolving curricula and pedagogical needs, including serving as an ex‑officio member of the Educational Policy Coordinating Committee (EPCC) for the program in medical education; and leading Countway’s role in LCME accreditation, including self‑study materials related to library resources, space, staffing, and services, and active participation in the April 2027 site visit.
• Serve as a key institutional leader and partner to deans, department chairs, faculty, and administrative leaders at HMS, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, and across Harvard, and represent Countway in university‑wide library governance, consortial relationships, and external professional communities.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a diverse, highly skilled staff, fostering a culture of service excellence, innovation, collaboration, inclusion, and continuous learning.
• Oversee Countway’s budget, financial planning, and resource allocation, making strategic decisions about collections, staffing, infrastructure, and vendor relationships; identify opportunities to augment funding, including through development and philanthropic partnerships.
• Provide high‑level stewardship of the Center for the History of Medicine, including conservation, curation, digitization, and global engagement with scholars and the public, in collaboration with Harvard Library’s archives and special collections leadership.
• Advocate for Countway and Harvard Library as an essential academic and community asset, articulating its impact on research, education, clinical care, and the well‑being of the Harvard community.

Benefits

• Generous paid time off including parental leave
• Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage starting on day one
• Retirement plans with university contributions
• Wellbeing and mental health resources
• Support for families and caregivers
• Professional development opportunities including tuition assistance and reimbursement
• Commuter benefits, discounts and campus perks

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive