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Collections Strategy Team Lead, Harvard Graduate School of Design- Cambridge, MA

Position Title: Collections Strategy Team Lead
Working Title: same
Supervisor’s Title: Librarian/Assistant Dean for Information Resources
Department:      Frances Loeb Library
Full or Part Time: FT
Grade: 58

SUMMARY:
The Frances Loeb Library is part of the dynamic and energizing environment of the Graduate School of Design. The GSD offers an exciting setting for interaction and the exchange of ideas through the combination of disciplines—architecture, landscape architecture, and urban planning and design—together with the research of our studio-based as well as MDes and Doctoral programs. We are seeking an energetic and forward thinking individual work as part of a team to support research, teaching, and learning at the GSD.

TYPICAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Reporting to the Librarian/Assistant Dean for Information Services, the position leads a team of professional librarians focusing on collections, team-building within the team and in collaboration with the Research and Teaching Support Team; and also shares in library-wide administration with the Assistant Dean and the Research and Teaching Support Team Lead.

·         Oversees all the library’s collections programs (circulating collections, special collections) in all formats (print, born digital, digitized, data/GIS), providing leadership in re-envisioning collection building.

·         Coordinates Loeb Library selectors for collection development in the circulating collections, and Special Collections to build distinctive collections by acquiring and preserving antiquarian materials, primary sources, secondary sources, born digital collections, GIS and data sources, and electronic resources.

·         Working with the Assistant Dean strategizes, proactively initiates, and maintains contact with donors to obtain archival collections; solicits gifts in support of the Library collections. Works with the Assistant Dean, faculty, and the Collections Team on further development of the archival collections;

·         Keeps abreast of print and digital publication trends and emerging trends in architecture, architectural history, landscape architecture, and urban planning and design, ensuring the collections are reflective of current trends.

·         Keeps abreast of trends in Open Access, and works with faculty on open access publishing;

·         Assesses collection strengths and corrects weaknesses for curricular and research support.

·         Establishes and maintains effective and efficient relationships with approval, firm order, and antiquarian vendors and booksellers;

·         Ensures effective stewardship of the collections budget, including monitoring acquisition budgets and fund assignments;

·         Maintains and updates the Loeb Library collection policy in consultation with Loeb selectors and collection development colleagues across the Harvard Libraries;

·         Engages in research services and activities, including contributing to regular hours of support for Special Collections researchers in collaboration with other librarians. Provides in-depth research consultations and resolves complex reference questions for library patrons;

·         Supervises the Special Collections Team made up of the Special Collections Archivist, the Materials and Media Collections Librarian, and the Digital Archivist;

·         Oversees Special Collections operations and works with the Collections Team to ensure excellent services are provided;

·         Provides collections-related programming for the library;

·         Creates and maintains in-depth and relevant content for multiple web presences for Loeb Library collections and collection-related events and news;

·         Is the GSD liaison with Information and Technical Services, and Preservation Services of the Harvard Library to ensure that acquisitions, cataloging, and collection management functions match service needs. In the context of the Harvard Library, prepares management reports and analysis of data about collections;

·         Proactively exchanges information and best practices with selectors across the Harvard Libraries for shared purchases, purchase recommendations, and de-duplication;

·         Participates in the Harvard Library governance structure, as a member or chair of standing committees and working groups;

·         Contributes to collaborative collection development and digital projects with external partners, e.g., Ivy Plus and the Ivy Plus Art and Architecture Group;

·         Represents the collection and the Library to local, regional, national and international constituencies;

·         Contributes to professional and scholarly work in the field of librarianship and the design fields through writing, presentation, and working on projects related to our disciplines;

·         Covers Assistant Dean’s responsibilities when Dean is unavailable with the Research and Teaching Services Team Lead;

·         Works with the Assistant Dean and Research and Teaching Services Team Lead to oversee daily library operations;

·         Collaborates with the Assistant Dean on space planning;

·         Works with the Assistant Dean on budgeting.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

·         Manages the collection development budget;

·         Directly supervises three professional staff members.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

·         MLS required or equivalent experience;

·         5 years of professional-level experience in collection development and in special collections/archives or an architectural collection in an academic setting required;

·         Demonstrated knowledge of one or more of the subject areas of architecture, landscape architecture, or urban planning;

·         Supervisory and managerial experience;

·         Knowledge of archival processing; knowledge of standards and best practices for archival processing of analogue and born-digital collections, and understanding of preservation needs.

·         Knowledge of broader collections issues in libraries (i.e. journal pricing issues, vendor relations, open access);

·         Experience working with the scholarly publishing market and the book trade;

·         Strong analytical, organizational, and project management skills required;

·         Strategic thinker;

·         Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a collaborative and/or team environment;

·         Demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion;

·         Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to work effectively with culturally diverse library users and colleagues;

·         Evidence of a strong service orientation and demonstrated ability to work effectively with faculty, students, library users, and library colleagues;

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

·         Flexibility and creative problem solving skills required;

·         Knowledge of trends in scholarly communication and digital scholarship and commitment to principles of open access;

·         Knowledge of intellectual property issues related to art library collections and services;

·         Working knowledge of a second language;

·         Familiarity with working in a design environment;

·         Strong technical skills and an enthusiasm for adopting new technologies and systems that expand access to collections and facilitate their use in research and teaching;

·         Record of engagement with professional groups and activities and/or contributions to professional or scholarly literature;

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

·         The position involves frequent use of computer workstation.

·         The ability to lift, carry, and position books and other materials weighing up 15 lbs.

·         The ability to use desktop (keyboard, monitor, and mouse) and mobile computing tools, such as laptops and tablets.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

·         The work associated with this position is performed in an office, reading room, and library stack settings.

TO APPLY:
Apply online, please go to https://hr.harvard.edu/search-jobs. On the left-hand side, please click on 'Administrative/Staff Jobs External Candidates' to search for the positions.  In the job search field, enter the job requisition number, 48619BR.




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