Martha P. Leape, the director of Harvard's Office of Career Services (OCS), has announced her retirement, according to OCS staff.

Marc Cosentino, assistant director of the Office of Career Services, said Leape first informed the staff late last year.

"She's hit retirement age," Cosentino said of Leape, who he said is in her sixties. "She wants to enjoy herself."

A search committee led by Dean of the College L. Fred Jewett '57 has begun a national search to replace Leape.

The committee placed an advertisement for the position in last Thursday's edition of the Harvard Gazette.

Leape will leave OCS at the end of the academic year. The search committee plans to name her successor by that time.

Cosentino said Leape, who spent a decade at OCS, was a positive leader and consensus-builder.

"Everyone was pretty happy with her," Cosentino said.

"Personally, I liked her a great deal," Cosentino added. "She had a great sense of humor. She was in touch with all the changes in careers. She was a good manager and a good friend."

Reached at home yesterday, Leape's husband said she was out-of-town and could not be reached for comment.

Jewett has encouraged OCS staff members to apply for the directorship, according to Cosentino.

None of the staff has officially announced an intention to apply yet, said Cosentino, who added that he is not a candidate for the position.

The OCS director, who oversees a staff of 27, is responsible for everything from career consulting to the administration of national and Harvard fellowship competitions for undergraduates.

The office's budget is more than $2 million.

The Gazette ad says the committee is seeking those candidates with eight to 10 years of administrative experience, familiarity in planning and implementing computer networks, and the "ability to work effectively with a diverse student population."

The application deadline is January 31, according to the ad.