Director, Metadata and Knowledge Services, Baker Library, Harvard Business School

Description

Job Summary
Reporting to the Executive Director of Baker Library, the Director of Metadata and Knowledge Systems (MKS) is a senior leader responsible for developing and leading the vision and strategy for Baker Library’s metadata, information products, and knowledge management systems.

As an active member of Baker Library’s senior leadership team, the role is a key stakeholder in the continued development and implementation of knowledge governance framework, and the growth of strategic partnerships with peers and industry leaders.

The Director demonstrates best practice leadership and management in an adaptive organization and collaborative culture that seeks diversity in its people, collections, and perspectives.

Are you a champion of radical exploration of the ways metadata and knowledge management systems will impact the world? Are you curious about ways in which technological advances and new applications will strengthen the library’s ability to support faculty, students, and staff? Are you excited by the idea of leading a dedicated, enthusiastic staff committed to developing products and services at the intersection of higher education and business? If so, consider joining our team as the Director of Metadata and Knowledge Systems at Harvard Business School. This position will work closely with faculty, staff, and school leadership to make valued contributions in support of Harvard Business School’s mission to educate leaders who make a difference in the world. Check out some of our services for the HBS community, explore our exhibits, or just browse our website at https://www.library.hbs.edu/.

Position Description
The Director of Metadata and Knowledge Systems will be part of a dynamic hands-on team supporting Baker Library (BL) technology, ensuring we have the technology, workflows, and support needed to satisfy the range of information the scholarly and professional community needs.

Serves as the Library’s chief technology and metadata management strategist.

Manages the MKS department with four direct reports (who have oversight of 12 staff members and approximately 10 contingent workers) responsible for the program delivery of: the user experience program; Baker Library technology and the knowledge discovery program; information products; metadata management; information architecture; and the HBS analytics program.

Influences HBS’s direction through metadata and knowledge management, the delivery of products and services, as well as the continuous evolution of our technology ecosystem in collaboration with HBS IT and other Baker Library departments.

Builds and strengthens relationships with HBS IT and Harvard Library leaders to create partnerships that advance the HBS mission.

In collaboration with MKS and senior leadership, leads strategic budgeting and planning, acquires information technology, manages technology licenses, and contracts with outside vendors.

Responsible for the MKS budget, forecasting, and other financial reporting.

Provides overall direction for metadata projects ensuring the work is grounded in applicable standards and accepted best practices, and provides inclusive representation of marginalized perspectives in local, national, and international standards and policies.

Powers Baker Library’s commitment to digital Library access, user experience, and product design and delivery through supporting product development standards, repositories, and best practice processes, including through the implementation of metadata, taxonomy, machine learning, artificial intelligence, natural language processing, and analytics.

Oversees the development, delivery and continued support of the systems, platforms, and processes that enable the delivery of information products and publications, knowledge management services and external consulting, platform-wide technical development and support services, product and service prototypes and usability testing, and external vendor selection, management, and contract negotiation.

Supervises the design, implementation, and continued support of the HBS-wide web analytics platform, programmatic outreach and assessment of web analytics to HBS web content owners, and Baker Library’s analytics program to monitor and ensure efficacy and impact through web-based delivery of publications, products, and services.

Develops and maintains key relationships with academic peers and industry thought leaders, as well as customers – including technology providers, vendors, information and publishing industry associations, and other constituencies.

Leads the revisioning of the user experience program for Baker Library.

This role is responsible for other duties as assigned

Basic Qualifications
Master’s degree in Library and Information Science, digital technologies, or a related field is required.

10 years or more of progressive staff management experience in metadata and/or knowledge management through project management, consulting, digital strategy, or in a formal supervisory capacity is required.

Additional Qualifications and Skills
Experience leading and implementing progressive initiatives, strategic priorities, projects, and transformational change.

Expertise in providing leadership to create and promote a clear vision; experienced decision-maker, able to sell ideas and follow through on decisions.

A demonstrated track record of bringing innovative and complex projects to completion, especially for projects requiring collaboration across library departments and/or with academic schools and/or academic-support departments at the university and/or multi-institutional organizations or community-based projects.

Excellent written and oral communication, interpersonal and presentation skills, with the ability to explain complex concepts to a wide variety of users in individual and group settings.
Adept at building and maintaining relationships to facilitate impactful digital leadership across disparate audiences.

Solid analytical skills with an ability to gather and synthesize information and interpret both quantitative and qualitative data and present them to non-technical audiences in an easily understandable manner.

Ability to drive work on multiple fronts simultaneously, in a user-centric, fast-paced, complex work environment.

Strong understanding of digital, web, data, and knowledge governance at both the system and policy levels.

Readiness to embrace a culture of learning that supports the professional growth and development of the team.

Sense of humor, a willingness to take risk, a willingness to fail and learn from it, and possesses an adventuresome spirit.

Please note that candidates advancing to final interviews will be asked to make a presentation to a group related to subject expertise required for the role.

Our expectations are that employees of HBS adhere to and represent our Community Values.

They are:
Respect for the rights, differences, and dignity of others
Honesty and integrity in dealing with all members of the community
Accountability for personal behavior

Additional Information
This role is offered as a hybrid (some combination of onsite and remote) where you are required to be onsite at our Boston, MA based campus 3 days per week. Specific days and schedule will be determined between you and your manager.

We may conduct candidate interviews virtually (phone and/or via Zoom) and/or in-person for this role.

Harvard University continues to place the highest priority on the health, safety and wellbeing of its faculty, staff, and students, as well as the wider community. Please note that all new employees will be required to provide confirmation of primary series COVID-19 vaccination upon hire, as detailed on our COVID-19 Vaccine Requirement Webpage. Harvard University Health Services employees and other health care individuals are also required to be up to date on vaccination as described by the CDC. Individuals may claim exemption from the vaccine requirement for medical or religious reasons. Additional information regarding this requirement, exemptions, verification of vaccination status, and other related policies and resources may be found on the University’s COVID-19 Information Website.

A cover letter is required to be considered for this opportunity.

Harvard Business School will not offer visa sponsorship for this opportunity.

Culture of Inclusion: The work and well-being of HBS is profoundly strengthened by the diversity of our network and our differences in background, culture, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, and life experiences. Explore more about HBS work culture here https://www.hbs.edu/employment