Director of Library Services, Harvard Kennedy School

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 the Harvard Kennedy School?

The John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University is one of 12 graduate and professional schools at the university. Harvard Kennedy School's mission is to improve public policy and leadership so people can live in societies that are more safe, free, just, and sustainably prosperous. By combining cutting-edge research, the teaching of outstanding students, and direct interaction with practitioners, we have an impact on solving public problems that no other institution can match. When you work at Harvard Kennedy School, you make a difference.

Job Description

The Director of HKS (Harvard Kennedy School) Library Services leads the ongoing development of library services and collections supporting world-class research and teaching in public policy and government, working directly with Harvard Kennedy School stakeholders and with colleagues across Harvard Library, and is the senior leadership role for the HKS Library.

The Director reports to the Chief Research Enablement Officer (CREO) as part of the research and library services department, and is a member of the CREO's management team, along with the Director of Research Computing and Data Services, the Executive Director of Research Administration, the Manager of Community Engagement and Special Projects, and the Senior Administrative Coordinator. The Director works closely with the Vice President for the Harvard Library and University Librarian or delegates.

The Director plays a central role in shaping a modern, research-driven library that integrates deeply into the School's research and learning ecosystem and cultivates a welcoming, user-oriented environment for students, faculty, fellows and staff. Collaborating closely with other Harvard Library units, the Director oversees the HKS Library staff, collections, services, and space, ensuring the development, stewardship, and accessibility of resources that align with evolving faculty, student, and fellows research, teaching, and learning needs and expanding access to policy-relevant data and scholarship.

The Director collaborates closely with other HKS research and library services teams such as Research Computing and Data, Research Compliance and Sponsored Awards, and academic leadership to support the full research lifecycle, with particular emphasis on discovery, data services, digital scholarship, open science and scholarly publishing. The Director champions innovation in library services, including the integration of emerging technologies, support for data-intensive research, and the evolving role of libraries in an AI-enabled research landscape.

As a key partner to faculty, the Office of Communications and Public Affairs, and HKS research centers, the Director helps identify emerging information needs, supports interdisciplinary inquiry, and enhances the visibility and impact of HKS research outputs.

The ideal candidate brings a strong record of leadership in university research libraries, experience managing services in a complex environment, and a collaborative approach suited to a highly networked, matrixed organization.

Job-Specific Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic leadership in the ongoing evolution of library services, collections, and facilities that advance research, teaching and learning in public policy and government.
• Lead the HKS Library, overseeing teams that manage collection development (with a focus on e-resource licenses shared with other Harvard libraries, data, and other digital resources), research services (in-person and virtual consultations, academic integrity training, and support for research dissemination including research data management, digital scholarship, open science, copyright and publishing), course services (including course materials and instruction), and space utilization, working closely with university-wide library services and other libraries in the Harvard Library system and aligning local service delivery with university-wide standards, systems, and initiatives.
• Facilitate proactive engagements with the HKS community to ensure that library resources and services support and evolve with the changing research and teaching needs of the School and HKS community. Bolster internal and external communications regarding resources and services available to the faculty and students at the HKS.
• Partner with Harvard Library colleagues to further leverage and optimize services and expertise across the system and locally at HKS, and to identify methods that further modernize service delivery at the HKS Library.
• Lead HKS Library staffing, budgeting, and resource allocation, and provide leadership and effective personnel management to the team. Promote collaborative interdisciplinary teamwork, open communication, responsible self-direction, and excellence in all aspects of execution.
• As a leader in HKS and a member of the research and library services team, execute library services and programs with excellence, bringing a high degree of care and precision to all aspects of services provided to internal and external HKS communities.
• Working with the CREO, the HKS research and library services leadership team, HKS faculty, the Executive Dean, the Academic Dean for Teaching and Curriculum, Degree Programs, and Research Centers, identify key strategies to facilitate internal communication between research programs and their supporting services, and help develop strong internal communication between researchers at HKS to support a growing community of practice for research and data methods, resources, and strategies.
• Build relationships and collaborate across the university as appropriate to advocate for the needs of HKS students, faculty and fellows and inform the strategic development of services, resources, and policies that support research and library services across the University.
• Engage in professional networks, contributing to shared initiatives and advancing best practices in academic librarianship.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications:

• ALA-accredited MLS degree or equivalent professional experience required.
• At least 8 years of experience in a library management role.
• Demonstrated success in leading a highly matrixed, decentralized environment.

Additional Qualifications and Skills:

• Successful managerial experience in a library focused on research, teaching, and learning.
• Demonstrated leadership and expertise leading teams to deliver collections and services for modern-day social science research, with a sophisticated understanding of data services.
• Demonstrated record of collaboration leadership and management style at intra- and inter-institutional levels.
• Demonstrated success leading change, particularly with leading organizational transformation to align with service delivery objectives.
• Flexible, nimble, adaptive, and responsive.
• Successful administrative experience, including responsibility for budgeting and human resource management.
• Demonstrated success with staff mentorship, development, and advocacy essential.
• Exceptional listening, communication, and interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to work effectively with faculty, students, and staff in a diverse community.
• Ability to provide creative leadership within a collegial administrative environment.
• Knowledge of higher education institutions and ability to respond to faculty and student expectations. Understanding of evolving issues in higher education and scholarly communication.
• Experience in developing external funding sources to enhance libraries and research.

Additional Information

Although the position will remain posted until filled, applicants are strongly encouraged to apply by the end of the day on Friday, September 18, 2026.

Referrals, nominations, and recommendations may be directed to ExecutiveSearches@Harvard.edu. Please note that this email address is not intended for application submission.

• Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position
• Pre-Employment Screening: Identity, Education
• Other Information: This position is based on campus in Cambridge, MA and required to work in person a minimum of 3 days/week.

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 060. 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.