Head of Technical Services & Metadata Innovation

Harvard University; Cambridge (MA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous paid time off

Health, dental, vision coverage

Retirement plans

Wellbeing resources

Tuition assistance

Job summary

Harvard University’s Radcliffe Institute seeks a visionary Head of Technical Services to lead archival processing, cataloging, acquisitions, and metadata across formats. The role shapes a reimagined unit, introducing sustainable workflows and innovative tools for enhanced discovery and access.

Reporting to the Executive Director, you will set strategic direction, champion adaptive practices, and guide a diverse team of archivists and librarians.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in library/information science (ALA-accredited).
• Minimum six years in a large academic/special collections library with supervisory experience.
• Expertise in metadata standards (MARC, DACS, EAD, Dublin Core, PBCore, VRA Core).
• Experience with ArchivesSpace; strong project and change management skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for archival processing, cataloging, acquisitions, and metadata across formats.
• Develop an integrated end-to-end technical services approach to reduce silos.
• Set priorities, workflows, and access aligned with best practices.
• Create policies for technical services, including metadata and processing standards.
• Refine organizational structure to optimize workflows and roles.
• Champion experimentation and adoption of new tools and methods.
• Lead metadata program coordination across archival and bibliographic collections.
• Manage complex cross-department projects with planning and resource allocation.
• Use data to evaluate activities, inform decisions, and demonstrate impact.
• Collaborate with curatorial, research services, and digital collections teams.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Project management

Change management

Collaboration

Communication

Mentoring

Data analysis

Education

MLS / MS in Library Science (ALA-accredited)

Tools

ArchivesSpace

Aeon

Alma

JSTOR Forum

Connex ion

FileMaker

Job description

Harvard University’s Radcliffe Institute seeks a visionary Head of Technical Services to lead archival processing, cataloging, acquisitions, and metadata across formats. The role shapes a reimagined unit, introducing sustainable workflows and innovative tools for enhanced discovery and access.

Reporting to the Executive Director, you will set strategic direction, champion adaptive practices, and guide a diverse team of archivists and librarians.