Chief Technology Strategist for Harvard Library

Description

Harvard Library provides a wide range of services to students, faculty and researchers at Harvard as well as throughout the world.   With a collection of more than 19 million volumes, a vast collection of primary source materials, a digital preservation repository containing more than 44 million files, and access to more than 1 million electronic resources, e-journals, and e-books, the Harvard University Library is the largest university library in the world. Over the past 15 years, Harvard has developed a technical infrastructure that incorporates digital content into libraries’ collections and services.  The Harvard Library is now at a pivotal moment as it moves forward into a new phase of managing and creating large digital collections at scale which both improves on its past achievements and significantly expands its contributions in new arenas, such as data curation and online learning. 

Duties & Responsibilities:

The Chief Technology Strategist (CTS) is a new senior staff position which reports directly to the Vice President for the Harvard Library.   The CTS will be a member of the Library Leadership Team, and will work closely with the head of Library Technology Services (LTS).   LTS is a unit of 30 staff which is part of Harvard University Information Technology, Harvard University’s centralized IT organization. The Harvard Library is itself a new entity, encompassing an integrated shared services element of Access Services; Information and Technical Services; and Preservation, Conservation, and Digital Imaging, and uniting through shared vision and policy the 73 libraries of Harvard’s 12 schools. 

The Chief Technology Strategist will:

• Participate in university-wide planning that aligns IT strategies and infrastructure with the broader vision of library and information services
• Create and articulate an evolving technology strategy to support that vision
• Identify technical solutions to realize the IT strategy
• Track trends in development and use of information technologies, and recommend strategies that will place the Harvard Library at the forefront in its mission to be an integral part of the teaching, learning, and research programs of Harvard University.
• Represent the library in collaborations in the University as well as with colleagues and peer institutions around the world with emphasis on open source, interoperable, and collaborative solutions
• Provide creative leadership in helping libraries and their users adapt and thrive in an era of disruptive change
• Provide advice and consultation to units across the University
• Develop proposals to funding agencies to secure support for library technological innovations

Reflecting President Drew Faust’s vision of “One Harvard”, in which the rich diversity of its component schools work together to achieve more than the sum of its parts, the Harvard Library is becoming “One Library”. Emerging technologies are playing a major role in changing the ways in which scholarship is pursued and transforming teaching and learning. The Chief Technology Strategist will contribute to the development of Harvard Library’s services in online learning; data curation; Open Access; digitization of collection; use of social media;   new learning spaces which support collaboration, experimentation, and creative expression; and its partnerships with faculty and others in research projects. Harvard Library is a member of the Coalition for Networked Information (CNI), Hathi Trust, National Digital Stewardship Alliance (NDSA) and Digital Preservation Network (DPN) and other organizations in which technological advances are integral to discussion and development.

Basic Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Computer Science, Library Science or a related field or an equivalent combination of education and experience required
• Ten or more years of system architect experience and/or technical leadership in life-cycle development of large systems; Experience working in an academic library environment preferred
• Experience with complex computer systems including network architectures, systems administration, software applications, and the development and programming of scalable, reliable production systems and large scale information systems
• Knowledge of key trends in digital libraries including ability to successfully evaluate emerging technologies and articulate their relevance to library systems

Additional Qualifications

• Proven ability to lead complex and cross-organizational projects and effectively communicate, persuade, and document architecture and technical design to a diverse community of stakeholders and audiences
• Sophisticated understanding of how information is organized, accessed, and used to support the academic and research missions of the university
• Demonstrated expertise in existing and emergent digital content and storage management standards and technologies
• Demonstrated ability to function successfully in a matrix environment 

To apply:  Send your resume to: Angela_Boudreau@harvard.edu

Additional Information

The University Founded in 1636, Harvard University is preeminent among the world's research universities. Harvard has grown from nine students with a single master to an enrollment of more than 6,600 undergraduate students, over 14,000 graduate students, and an additional 2,000 part-time students. Over 16,000 people work at Harvard, including approximately 2,100 faculty members. An additional 10,000 individuals have faculty appointments in Harvard-affiliated teaching hospitals.

Designated a university in 1780, Harvard includes 12 colleges and schools. The Faculty of Arts and Sciences—comprising Harvard College, the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and the Division of Continuing Education—is the oldest and largest of the Harvard faculties. The University's world-renowned graduate and professional schools include Harvard Business School, Harvard Divinity School, Harvard Graduate School of Design, Harvard Graduate School of Education, Harvard Law School, Harvard Medical School (including the School of Dental Medicine), Harvard School of Public Health, Kennedy School of Government and Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study.

In the course of 375 years, Harvard's Library has grown from a single collection of 400 volumes to a 73-unit library system whose holdings include nearly 17 million volumes, more than 21 million digital files, 10 million microforms, 8 million photographs, and an estimated 400 million manuscript items.

For additional information visit the Harvard Library web site at:  http://lib.harvard.edu/about-us

HARVARD OFFERS AN OUTSTANDING BENEFITS PACKAGE INCLUDING:

Time Off: 3 - 4 weeks paid vacation, paid holiday break, 12 paid sick days, 11.5 paid holidays, and 3 paid personal days per year.

Medical/Dental/Vision: We offer a variety of excellent medical plans, dental & vision plans, all coverage begins as of your start date.

Retirement: University-funded retirement plan with full vesting after 3 years of service.

Tuition Assistance Program: Competitive tuition assistance program, $40 per class at the Harvard Extension School and discounted options through participating Harvard grad schools.

Transportation: Harvard offers a 50% discounted MBTA pass as well as additional options to assist employees in their daily commute.

Wellness options: Harvard offers programs and classes at little or no cost, including stress management, massages, nutrition, meditation and complimentary health services.

Harvard access to athletic facilities, libraries, campus events and many discounts throughout metro Boston.