Director of Library

CLASSIFICATION TITLE: Chief Library Officer

DEPARTMENT: Library, Institutional, Technologies and Communications (LITCOM)

POSITION LOCATION: Durham, NC

POSITION NUMBER: 65009736

POSTING DATE: Thursday, June 20, 2024

CLOSING DATE: Open until filled – priority consideration to applications received prior to Monday, July 15, 2024 5 p.m.

POSITION TYPE: 12 Month, EHRA Exempt Professional Staff (EPS), FLSA Exempt, 1.0 FTE

HIRING SALARY RANGE: Commensurate with Experience

NCSSM and the Academic Programs division foster an environment of collaboration across departments and divisions and support community-engaged service and research. NCSSM is proud of the diversity of its student body and we seek to attract an equally diverse application pool for this position. NCSSM is an equal-opportunity and affirmative-action employer, and we are strongly committed to increasing faculty and staff diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as an individual with a disability, or status as a protected veteran. If you are an individual with disabilities requiring accommodations in the application and interview process, please contact us at hr@ncssm.edu.

Description of Duties:

This position reports to the Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Programs. This position provides oversight and supervision to Durham’s LITCOM Department. The Director is responsible for the successful leadership and management of the NCSSM-Durham library.

The Director performs the following functions:

• Participate with the campus-level and library leadership team in developing a vision and strategic plan to guide the facility.


• Develop an operational plan which incorporates goals and objectives that work towards the strategic direction of the facility.


• Works collaboratively with an experienced team of Librarians in a unique Library environment that has characteristics of both a high school library and a college library.


• Consult with architects and facility personnel on the planning, designing and layout of the renovated NCSSM-Durham library to accommodate students, staff, faculty and library patrons. Recommend placement of essential library elements such as circulation area, shelving, workroom space, study and conference areas, furniture and adaptations for technological advances.


• Identify, assess, and inform the Associate Vice Chancellor of Academic Programs of internal and external issues that affect the library management and space planning.


• Oversee the efficient and effective day-to-day operation of the library. Encourage opportunities for collaboration by all library staff.


• Ensure that the programs and services offered by the library contribute to the school’s mission and strategic plan.


• Act as a professional advisor on all aspects of the library. Act as a spokesperson for the facility. Conduct official correspondence on behalf of the NCSSM-Durham Library.


• Collaborate with Library staff and all instructors to teach students, in a class, about research, research papers, library skills including study habits, independence in learning, research and techniques of inquiry and critical evaluation.


• Provide staff and faculty in-service training necessary for the effective use of media resources, technology, equipment and library services.


• Include themes in library program activities that will appeal to various groups.


• Utilize formal assessment methods, assess needs within the NCSSM distance and residential community; planning and designing new curricula and programs.


• Lead the campus in informational and digital media, provide custom information and reference services to the faculty-at-large and their students via print and electronic media.


• Manage and oversee collections, including classroom and other digital assets, and work with staff who develop content and collections to ensure integrity, usability, and appropriate access.


• Determine staffing requirements for library management and program delivery, assist in the development of job descriptions for the library staff, and participate in recruiting, interviewing, and selecting staff that have the technical and interpersonal skills to help further the library’s mission.


• Prepare a comprehensive budget for the facility.


• Approve expenditures and provide comprehensive, regular reports on library expenditures.


• Identify and evaluate the risks associated with the library and library finances.


• Participate in NCSSM weekend and evening events when departmental representation is needed. Some examples of evening and/or weekend programming include Open House, Family Day, Welcome Day, etc.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

The successful candidate will have a strong commitment to library service, a thorough knowledge of professional library principles, methods, practices, and programs. The Director will be responsible for overall management of the library including but not limited to budget development and financial management, overseeing library operations, managing and scheduling staff, developing and administering policies and procedures. A competent Director has significant experience with teaching others how to find information for academic purposes at the secondary school level using databases and eJournals. The Director functions with a high degree of independence and performs activities without close direction.

Minimum Education and Experience:

ALA Accredited Master’s degree in Library and Information Science, two years of experience in secondary school library media, experience delivering information literacy instruction, and familiarity with digital assets (including, but not limited to collection development of Library eResources, such as databases, eJournals, eBooks for academic use at the secondary school level) concepts and technical metadata, including schema development.

Team NCSSM Benefits:

Vacation: Varied based on classification. For SHRA and Faculty, earn from 14 days to 26 days per year based on years of state service. EHRA SAAO employees receive 26 days per year and EHRA EPS (Exempt Professional Staff) employees receive 24 days per year. Leave accruals for part-time and less than 12 month employees are pro-rated. Leave is earned monthly.

Sick Leave: 12 days per year. Leave accruals for part-time and less than 12 month employees are pro-rated.

Additional Leave: Family Medical Leave (FMLA), Paid Parental Leave (PPL), Civil Leave, Extended Illness, Short/Long Term Disability, Family Illness Leave, Military Leave, Community Service Leave, Voluntary Shared Leave and Leave Without Pay.

Holidays: 12 days per year

Benefits: The University System offers eligible employees a flexible and comprehensive benefits package, including but not limited to University-provided group life insurance, various retirement savings options, group health plan coverage, dental, vision, critical illness, cancer, flexible spending accounts, accident, disability coverage, educational assistance, and more. These programs can help employees achieve retirement savings and career goals, as well as assistance with meeting everyday health and educational needs. The benefits programs are designed for employees to tailor a benefits package that best meets their needs.

Retirement: Required participation for all employees working 3/4 time or more. Option (1) Teachers’ and State Employees’ Retirement System (TSERS) requires 6% of gross salary. Employees are vested for retirement after 5 years. Option (2) The Optional Retirement Program (ORP) requires 6% of gross salary. Employees in ORP are vested after 5 years of participating in ORP. As a participant in either retirement program, you are automatically covered for short-term disability (eligible after 1 year of service/no cost), long term disability (eligible after 5 years of service/no cost). Death benefit of minimum $25,000/maximum $50,000 based on previous 12 month salary (eligible after 1 year of service/no cost).

Supplemental Retirement Plans: Supplemental retirement plans provide an additional opportunity to help you reach your retirement goals. Supplemental Plan offerings such as a 401(k), 403(b), or 457(b) on a Roth (after-tax) or pre-tax contributions from several different vendors.

Voluntary Group Term Life Insurance: Securian (This is an after-tax plan and is portable)

Tuition Waiver: Three courses per academic year tuition free (at any of UNC’s 17 campuses that offer courses) for permanent full-time employees.

State Employees Credit Union: Membership welcomed. Contact the SECU Credit Union for information.

Community Service: 24 hours leave credited each calendar year (prorated for part-time) unless you choose the Mentoring/ tutoring option – 1 hour each week up to a max of 36 hours that schools are in session as documented by the elected board of the local education agency or the governing authority of any non-public school.

Facilities: Library & Gymnasium – other athletic facilities available at no cost to employees. Cafeteria on site.

Free On-campus Parking

About NCSSM:

North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (NCSSM) is a world-class public high school with statewide reach empowering academically talented students from diverse backgrounds from every corner of the state to design their own future. We offer residential high school programs in Durham and Morganton for juniors and seniors or virtual high school courses and programs that students can take alongside their local curriculum, all tuition free. Our wide array of summer offerings for rising 5th- through 12th-graders includes free opportunities for in-state students alongside paid options for students from anywhere in the world. NCSSM Extended Learning partners with communities and regions to advance student learning and outcomes.

Specializing in science, technology, engineering, and math, and embracing the fine arts and Engineering & Computer Science, NCSSM has become the model for 18 such specialized schools around the globe since its founding in 1980 and is a full constituent of the University of North Carolina System. NCSSM’s Ignite Transform comprehensive campaign seeks to raise $50 million in private support for our mission.

The new NCSSM-Morganton campus opened in 2022 for summer programs and its first fall academic term. NCSSM-Morganton focuses on the booming fields of data science and artificial intelligence, preparing the leaders of tomorrow to navigate a future driven by data and machine learning, with emphasis on the humanistic implications and ethical use of these tools.

Nearly two-thirds of NCSSM graduates earn a bachelor’s degree in a STEM field — over three times the national average, including 58 percent of our underrepresented minority graduates, which is nearly four times the national average. Nearly three-quarters have earned or are seeking a graduate degree. A 2020 economic impact study found that 54 percent of our alumni continue to live and work in North Carolina, catalyzing nearly $1.3 billion in annual economic activity. NCSSM values the diversity in our student body, and all members of the NCSSM community are expected to foster a safe environment of respect and inclusion for all faculty, staff, and students.

For more information, please read the NCSSM strategic plan and visit ncssm.edu.