Company Description
By working at Harvard University, you join a vibrant community that advances Harvard's world-changing mission in meaningful ways, inspires innovation and collaboration, and builds skills and expertise. We are dedicated to creating a diverse and welcoming environment where everyone can thrive.
Why join Harvard Medical School?
Harvard Medical School's mission is to nurture a diverse, inclusive community dedicated to alleviating suffering and improving health and well-being for all through excellence in teaching and learning, discovery and scholarship, and service and leadership.
You’ll be at the heart of biomedical discovery, education, and innovation, working alongside world-renowned faculty and a community dedicated to improving human health. This is more than a job - it’s an opportunity to shape the future of medicine.
About the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine:
Countway Library of Medicine is one of the largest academic medical libraries in the world and a core resource for clinical medicine, biomedical sciences, dentistry, and public health. Countway Library benefits from its role as an important part of the Harvard Library, the world's largest academic library. Through its Center for the History of Medicine, Countway stewards internationally renowned historical and rare collections, including the Archives and Records Management Program for the Harvard medical area and the Warren Anatomical Museum Collection.
Countway advances education and research through curricular services and deep expertise in evidence-based practice, research data management, and scholarly communication. It champions open knowledge and open access to collections in support of education, research, teaching, community building, and professional development.
Countway is deeply embedded in the medical, dental, and public health curricula. Librarians and archivists provide individual research consultations and teach courses and workshops—onsite and virtually—on topics such as evidence searching, analysis and synthesis, research data management, and presentation skills. The Center for the History of Medicine supports global scholarship through rare books, archives, artifacts, and audiovisual materials, with strengths across numerous clinical and public health domains and a particular focus on Harvard’s own medical and public health history.
A multi-phased, multi-million-dollar renovation completed in 2023 transformed Countway into a contemporary, technology-enabled, biophilic learning environment. The library offers expanded collaboration and individual study spaces, classrooms, event venues, and wellness areas, and has received multiple architectural awards, including recognition from the American Library Association and the Boston Preservation Alliance.
Application Process:
Applications will be reviewed by the Search Committee. Confidential review of applications, nominations, and expressions of interest will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Although the position will remain posted until filled, applicants are strongly encouraged to apply by the end of the day on Friday, September 4th, 2026.
Job Description
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.
Key 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.
As part of your application, we recommend including a cover letter that will help us better understand your qualifications and background. This can provide valuable insight into your experience and interest in the role.
Qualifications
Basic Qualifications:
- 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.
Additional Qualifications and Skills:
- 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.
Additional Information
- Standard Hours/Schedule: 35 hours per week
- Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position.
- Pre-Employment Screening: Identity, Education, Criminal, Credit
- Staying Informed About Your Application: Due to the high volume of applications, we may not always be able to reach out right away, but you can track your status anytime through the Careers@Harvard portal.
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Work Format Details
This position has been determined by school or unit leaders that some of the duties and responsibilities can be effectively performed at a non-Harvard location. The work schedule and location will be set by the department at its discretion and based upon operational needs. When not working at a Harvard or Harvard-designated location, employees in hybrid positions must work in a Harvard registered state in compliance with the University’s Policy on Employment Outside of Massachusetts. Additional details will be discussed during the interview process. Certain visa types and funding sources may limit work location. Individuals must meet work location sponsorship requirements prior to employment.
Salary Grade and Ranges
This position is salary grade level 062. Please visit Harvard's Salary Ranges to view the corresponding salary range and related information.
Benefits
Harvard offers a comprehensive benefits package that is designed to support a healthy work-life balance and your physical, mental and financial wellbeing. Because here, you are what matters. Our benefits include, but are not limited to:
- 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
Learn more about these and additional benefits on our Benefits & Wellbeing Page.
EEO/Non-Discrimination Commitment Statement
Harvard University is committed to equal opportunity and non-discrimination. We seek talent from all parts of society and the world, and we strive to ensure everyone at Harvard thrives. Our differences help our community advance Harvard's academic purposes.
Harvard has an equal employment opportunity policy that outlines our commitment to prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or identified in the university's non-discrimination policy. Harvard's equal employment opportunity policy and non-discrimination policy help all community members participate fully in work and campus life free from harassment and discrimination.
