Thank you for your interest in applying for a position at Randall Library at the University of North Carolina Wilmington! Below are responses to some questions that commonly arise during the application and interview process. Please do not hesitate to reach out to Laura McBrayer (mcbrayerl [at] uncw.edu), Associate Dean of Randall Library, with any additional questions.  

Current Open Positions 

A list of our current open positions can be found on our Employment webpage. 

Compensation, Benefits, and Leave 

What is the starting salary? 

Salaries at UNCW are competitive and, for library faculty positions, are based on a combination of market rate, position requirements, and experience. Library faculty are on 11-month contracts, meaning that salaries are calculated on 11 rather than 12 months of work. Salary ranges for staff positions are set by the state and UNC system. The minimum starting salary for each individual position is included in the posting.  

What are the retirement benefits? 

All employees have the option of choosing between the Teachers’ and State Employees’ Retirement System (TSERS), a defined benefit plan, or the UNCW Optional Retirement Program (ORP), a defined contribution plan. For both plans, your automatic contribution rate is 6% of your eligible pay. UNCW contributes 6.84% to ORP participants, while the TSERS rate changes annually. For more information, see UNCW’s benefits page. 

What leave does this position accrue? 

SHRA staff positions accrue 9.33 hours per month of vacation leave (this amount increases based on years of state service) and 8 hours per month of sick leave.  EHRA faculty and EHRA non-faculty positions accrue 16 hours per month of vacation leave and 8 hours per month of sick leave. Other types of leave, such as community service and bonus leave, may be available. Employees also enjoy 12 paid holidays per year. 

Status, Evaluation, and Contracts 

Do librarians at UNCW have faculty status? 

Yes, librarians are non-tenure-track special faculty. Library faculty fully participate in UNCW faculty governance, including membership on Faculty Senate and on faculty committees. 

How do library faculty contracts work? 

Library faculty, with the exception of senior leadership, are on 11-month contracts, with the month of either June or July off-contract. Senior leadership (the associate directors) are on 12-month contracts. Library faculty are awarded one-year contracts for their first four years and then five-year contracts thereafter. Librarians are hired at the rank of Assistant Librarian; the first five year contract includes a promotion to Associate Librarian and the second five year contract includes a promotion to Librarian. Promotion in rank includes pay increases commensurate with teaching faculty promotional increases. Library faculty employment policy is available upon request. 

How are library faculty evaluated? 

Library faculty are evaluated annually via a peer-review self-evaluation process and by their immediate supervisors. Five-year contracts are awarded after a peer-review self-evaluation in addition to evaluation by the supervisor and Dean of the Library.  

What are the evaluation criteria? 

Criteria are established by an elected Library Faculty Welfare Committee and voted on by the library faculty body.  Performance criteria fall into two categories: 1) Competence and Performance in Librarianship, and 2) Scholarship, Service, and Professional Development. The suggested split in weighted workload is 70%/30% respectively. More detailed information about performance criteria is available upon request.  

How are library staff (SHRA and EHRA non-faculty) evaluated? 

Full Cycle Performance is the standard performance management program for all SHRA and EHRA non-faculty employees at UNCW and across the UNC System. It is based upon institutional goals as well as individual goals set annually by the employee and supervisor. More information can be found on the Full Cycle Performance website. 

Application and Interview Process 

What do I need to include in my application? 

The posting for each position should indicate what components are required in your application packet. We encourage you to contact Laura McBrayer (mcbrayerl [at] uncw.edu), Associate Dean of Randall Library if you have any questions about what should be included.  

How and when will I be notified about my application status? 

You will receive an email from the chair of the search committee if you are being invited for a preliminary interview. UNCW Human Resources will notify you if you are not moving to the interview stage. Please feel free to contact Laura McBrayer (mcbrayerl [at] uncw.edu), Associate Dean of Randall Library at any point during the process if you have questions about the status of your application. 

How long does the search process take?

The search committee begins its review of applicants after the job close date. A typical length of time between when the job closes and when an offer is made is about 3 months, but this varies for each search. You are welcome to contact the search committee chair at any point during the process if you have questions about the status of the search. 

What do interviews for library faculty positions look like? 

Preliminary or first-round interviews typically last between 20-40 minutes and take place over Zoom. Final interviews may be on campus or remote via Zoom. If the interview is on campus, Randall Library will pay for your transportation, lodging, and meals during your interview process.  

Final interviews are typically one full day, sometimes up to a day and a half. They include a presentation to the full library staff (and potentially some non-library UNCW faculty or staff who may work with the successful applicant), in addition to a variety of meetings that may include the search committee, potential supervisor, library administration, position’s department, library faculty writ large, and the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) committee. If the interview is on campus, it may also include a tour of the library, the campus, and Wilmington. We also build in time for breaks and meals.  

While the above components are standard, search committees also have some discretion as to the structure and content of the interview. All parts of the interview process are intended to provide you with as many opportunities as possible to assess Randall Library and UNCW, in addition to the library’s evaluation of candidates. 

What do interviews for library SHRA and EHRA non-faculty positions look like? 

Depending on the position, the interview may have both a preliminary or first round stage, as well as a final interview. Preliminary or first-round interviews typically last between 20-40 minutes and take place over Zoom. Final interviews may be on campus or remote via Zoom. The library does not pay travel expenses for staff position interviews. Final interviews typically include meetings with the search committee, potential supervisor, library administration, and position’s department. 

Professional Development and Research Support 

Do library employees receive support for professional development? 

All library permanent employees have an allocation of up to $1500 for faculty and $1000 for staff per year for professional development, including conference registration and travel, training, and webinars.  Allocations are reviewed annually and are dependent on the library and university budget. In addition, the Center for Faculty Leadership and/or Center for Teaching Excellence often provide grants for travel to conferences that support teaching and faculty development. The Center for Faculty Leadership facilitates an annual leadership development program, in addition to other leadership development opportunities provided by UNCW. The Office of Research and Innovation awards various grants for research.  

Are there tuition benefits? 

All UNCW employees can take three classes per academic year tuition-free at any UNC system institution. No dependent tuition benefits are available. Course enrollments must be approved by one’s supervisor to ensure that courses are completed outside of work time. 

Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility 

What inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility efforts are ongoing at Randall Library? 

Randall Library is committed to the values of inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDEA). We are committed to ensuring that our educational, social, and work environments are equitable, inclusive, supportive, accessible, and welcoming to all students, faculty, staff, and the broader University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) community.  Our mission, vision and goals can be found on our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion webpage and Randall Library’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Plan can be found here: Executive Summary (PDF).  

What inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility efforts are underway at UNCW? 

UNCW is actively engaged in diversity and inclusion initiatives and strategies through our Office of Diversity and Inclusion as well as widespread efforts across the campus. Learn more about programs, resources, initiatives, and leadership of efforts. 

Are there employee affinity groups currently active at UNCW? 

UNCW has an active Black Faculty and Staff Association, International Faculty and Staff Association, and Gender Studies & Research Center. There are also a number of active student-focused affinity groups, including the Upperman African American Cultural Center, the Centro Hispano, and the Mohin-Scholz LGBTQIA Resource Center.