Manager for Collection Development & Resource Strategy

About the role

The Manager for Collection Development & Resource Strategy oversees the implementation and stewardship of the Harvard Law School Library's collection development program. This position involves leading resource selection, fiscal oversight, licensing negotiation, policy implementation, and workflow design.

Responsibilities

• Manage the collections budget in alignment with strategic priorities established by the Director for Collections, establishing implementation plans, forecasting expenditures, and ensuring responsible and transparent allocation of resources.
• Conduct data-informed analysis to support renewal, cancellation, acquisition, and format decisions, providing recommendations to inform collections planning.
• Develop financial models and budget projections to support long-term collection sustainability and strategic decision-making.
• Select materials in U.S. law and other English and non-English speaking jurisdictions as required to support faculty research, curricular priorities, and emerging areas of scholarship.
• Lead ongoing assessment and analysis of print and digital collections to inform strategic planning and resource allocation.
• In partnership with the Director for Collections, develop, implement, and refine collection development policies, procedures, and workflows governing collection development activities to ensure consistent execution, transparency, knowledge-sharing, and continuity of practice.
• Serve as a liaison to Harvard Library central offices and collaborate with peer institutions to operationalize university-wide initiatives and advance collaborative collection development priorities in partnership with the Director for Collections.
• Supervise the Foreign, Comparative & International Collection Development Librarian and the Collection Development Coordinator.
• Negotiate license agreements and contracts for electronic resources in consultation with the Director for Collections, to secure favorable terms, support access needs, and mitigate institutional risk.
• Manage relationships with publishers, vendors, and consortia partners and Harvard Library stakeholders to support collection priorities and implement university-wide policies, systems, and resource initiatives within the Law Library.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Library/Information Science from an ALA-accredited institution or equivalent and 4+ years’ progressively responsible professional experience in an academic, research, or similarly complex, preferably law library, environment.
• Supervisory experience.
• Familiarity with Ex Libris Alma and Alma Analytics, a plus.
• Demonstrated experience with collection development activities, including selection, resource evaluation, and budget-related decision-making.
• Experience using data, assessment tools, or financial information to inform decision-making.
• Familiarity with legal electronic resource platforms, access models, and licensing concepts.
• Experience working with electronic resources, licensing, or vendor relations.
• Experience coordinating workflows or collaborating across departments or institutions.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
• Ability to build productive working relationships and navigate differing perspectives in a collaborative environment.
• Reading knowledge of one or more foreign languages relevant to legal or academic collections, a plus.