Head of Technical Services

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The Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University, known colloquially as Harvard Radcliffe Institute, is one of the world’s leading centers for interdisciplinary exploration. We bring together students, scholars, artists, and practitioners to pursue curiosity-driven research, expand human understanding, and grapple with questions that demand insight from across disciplines.

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The Institute’s work is shaped by its history as the former Radcliffe College—a school founded to ensure that the standard of education embodied in Harvard was accessible to women, who were then excluded from the University. But the legacy of Radcliffe College is not simply coeducation at Harvard; it is the recognition that universities will always be greater when they draw wisdom and talent from the widest possible pool.

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The Schlesinger Library invites applications and nominations for an innovative, collaborative, and visionary Head of Technical Services. As part of a strategic reorganization, this newly created leadership role presents an opportunity to build upon an established foundation and shape the department for the future. The Head will lead a reimagined unit that brings together archival technical services with books and published materials, creating a cohesive, integrated program for processing, cataloging, acquisitions, and metadata management across all formats.

Collections under the department’s stewardship encompass manuscripts and archives, published works, photographs, audiovisual materials, and born-digital content.

Reporting to the Library’s Executive Director, the Head of Technical Services will set and guide the department’s strategic direction, advancing effective, forward-looking approaches to technical services that enhance discovery and ensure timely, user-centered access to the Library’s holdings. This role requires broad experience across technical services, with a strong understanding of metadata standards and management for diverse formats. The successful candidate will champion adaptive practices, thoughtfully evaluate and implement new tools, systems, and technologies, and lead the department in developing streamlined, sustainable workflows that support both current needs and future growth.

Equally important, the Head will cultivate a collaborative, curiosity-driven culture in which staff are empowered to experiment, share ideas, and work together to refine processes, expand access, and advance shared goals. This is a compelling opportunity to lead a dynamic team, shape a newly configured department, and play a leading role in defining the future of technical services at the Schlesinger Library.

• Provide strategic leadership and…