Exploring Career Opportunities at the University of North Carolina System

The University of North Carolina (UNC) System, encompassing multiple campuses across the state, offers a wide array of job opportunities, ranging from faculty positions to administrative roles and support staff. These positions contribute to the university's mission of education, research, and public service. This article will explore the different types of jobs available within the UNC system, drawing upon specific examples to illustrate the diverse career paths one can pursue.

Faculty Positions

UNC institutions frequently seek passionate educators and researchers to join their faculty. These positions typically involve teaching, research, and service responsibilities.

Tenure-Track Faculty

Tenure-track positions offer a path to long-term employment and academic freedom. They typically require a terminal degree in the relevant field and a strong record of scholarly activity.

Optometry Faculty: These positions involve teaching in classroom, laboratory, and possibly clinical settings, course development and assessment, and supervision and mentoring of optometry students.
Business Law and Finance Faculty: The University of North Carolina at Pembroke seeks full-time, tenure-track assistant professors in Business Law and Finance. These roles involve teaching three classes per semester, provided the candidate maintains AACSB scholarly academic (SA) status.
Social Work Faculty: The Department of Social Work and Gerontology Program at UNCG is seeking a full-time 9-month, professional-track (non-tenure) faculty member at the Assistant rank, with an August 1, 2026 start date.

Non-Tenure-Track Faculty

These positions offer opportunities to focus primarily on teaching or clinical practice.

Optometry Faculty: Similar to tenure-track positions, these roles involve teaching, course development, and student mentoring, but without the possibility of tenure.
Teaching Assistant Professor: The School of Data Science and Society (SDSS) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill invites applications for a Teaching Assistant Professor position to support its growing academic programs.

Research Positions

UNC is a major research university, offering numerous opportunities for researchers at all levels.

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Postdoctoral Research Associates

These positions provide early-career scientists with opportunities to conduct research under the guidance of experienced faculty members.

Lagrangian Geometry and Nonlinear Partial Differential Equations: The Department of Mathematics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill invites applications for a postdoctoral position in the Algebra-Geometry-Topology group, with a focus on Geometric Representation Theory and related areas.
Analysis: The Department of Mathematics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Associate positions in the field of Analysis, broadly interpreted and including harmonic analysis, the analysis of partial differential equations, dynamical systems, geometric analysis, etc.
Fluid Mechanics and Soft Matter Physics: This position will join a group working at the intersection of fluid mechanics and soft matter physics, with ongoing lines of investigation including pilot-wave hydrodynamics, vibrating bubbles, nonlinear waves, and active matter.
Ultrasound Imaging: A Postdoctoral position is currently open in the Dayton Lab within the Lampe Joint Biomedical Engineering Dept. Potential projects include super-resolution imaging, functional neurological imaging, molecular imaging, and super-harmonic imaging.
Social Network Mathematics: Dr. Alex McAvoy’s lab at UNC-Chapel Hill is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Fellow to work on projects related to the mathematics of how social behaviors spread in complex networks.
Food Allergy and Cardiovascular Disease: The laboratories of Timothy Moran, Brian Jensen, and Corinne Keet are seeking a highly motivated and independent Postdoctoral Research Associate to join a multidisciplinary research team investigating the mechanistic links between food allergy and cardiovascular disease.

Research Staff

These positions provide support for research activities, including data collection, analysis, and project management.

Associate Clinical Research Coordinator: This position will serve as an Associate Clinical Research Coordinator within the Dr. Joseph Muenzer MPS Research & Treatment Center (Muenzer MPS Center). The Muenzer MPS Center within the Pediatrics Division of Genetics and Metabolism is focused on improving the outcomes of individuals with mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) and their families and developing new treatments.
Director of Sponsored Research: Reporting to the Associate Vice Chancellor for Research and Sponsored Programs, the Director of Sponsored Research supervises the operations of the OSRP.
Sponsored Projects Specialist: The work performed by the Sponsored Projects Specialist (SPS) requires an understanding of the types of proposals and grant mechanisms used by funding agencies; the processes for application submission; and the terms and conditions of each request for proposal.
Contract Manager: The Contract Manager reviews all School of Medicine contractual agreements and other legal documents flowing through OPSCA. Reviews contracts for completeness and analyzes contract language to mitigate risk and ensure compliance with School of Medicine, University, state, and federal policies and regulations.

Administrative and Staff Positions

UNC institutions rely on a dedicated staff to support their operations. These positions cover a wide range of areas, from student services to finance and facilities management.

Student Services

These positions focus on supporting students' academic and personal success.

Retention Specialist: The Retention Specialist is responsible for leading the retention and degree completion efforts of TRIO SSS STEM.
Counselor: The counselor will be responsible for counseling students about the amount of financial aid that they can receive, including eligibility for federal, state and institutional grants and loans.
Associate Director for Residential Experiences: The Associate Director for Residential Experiences provides leadership for Residence Life with a strong emphasis on student development, belonging, and success.
Assistant Director, Fitness: The Assistant Director, Fitness is responsible for the strategic planning, development, coordination, and administration of fitness and wellness programs for students, faculty, staff, and the UNC Greensboro community.
Coordinator for the University Proctoring Lab: The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) seeks a dedicated coordinator for the University Proctoring Lab, an integral component of the Division of Student Success.
Assistant Director (with a focus on written communication): The Assistant Director (with a focus on written communication) will support the Director in enhancing students’ writing skills across disciplines, focusing on one-on-one consultations and active learning strategies.
Employer Relations Specialist: The Employer Relations Specialist is a full-time position that supports the Bryan School of Business and Economics’ mission to connect students with meaningful professional opportunities by cultivating, maintaining, and expanding relationships with employers, alumni, and community partners.

Administrative Support

These positions provide essential support to academic and administrative units.

Administrative Assistant: The Administrative Assistant serves as the first contact point for the Chavis Student Center, providing information and creating an inviting atmosphere.
Administrative Support Associate: The Administrative Support Associate for Housing and Residence Life will provide administrative and clerical support for the Office of Housing and Residence Life.
Executive Assistant to the Chair of Epidemiology: This position primarily functions as the Executive Assistant to the Chair of Epidemiology and reports directly to the Chair.
Terra Dotta Support Administrator: The Terra Dotta Support Administrator will support the day-to-day operations of the Study Abroad Office’s application and data management platform, Terra Dotta (TDS).

Finance and Budget

These positions manage the financial resources of the university.

Foundation Finance Accountant: The Foundation Finance Accountant is responsible for providing accounting, endowment administration, and investment reporting support for the affiliated organizations of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
Planner/Scheduler: In general, the Planner/Scheduler is responsible for overseeing and enhancing the University’s preventive maintenance program.

Facilities and Operations

These positions maintain the physical infrastructure of the university.

HVAC Technician: The HVAC Technician is responsible for the daily operation and maintenance of all HVAC & Refrigeration equipment in a designated area or section of the campus.
Crew Leader: This Crew Leader position is primarily responsible for primarily maintaining the Alumni House.
Maintenance Technician: This position is responsible for providing preventive maintenance and repairs to grounds equipment, such as mowers, skid steers, backhoes, forklifts, two-cycle equipment, and utility carts, both gas and electric.
Housekeeper: The position is responsible for general and detailed cleaning in academic, administrative, and performance buildings on campus.

Other Positions

Director of Athletics: The director of athletics serves as the university’s chief athletics administrator, providing strategic leadership and oversight for all aspects of the intercollegiate athletics program.
Lieutenant (Senior Police Supervisor): The Lieutenant (Senior Police Supervisor) reports to the Assistant Chief of Police (Police Commander). This position provides daily mid-level management and supervisory oversight to one of the department’s functional divisions.
Special Collections and Archives Librarian: The Special Collections and Archives Librarian role will focus on the management and preservation of the university’s Special Collections and University Archives, while also driving financial and material support.
Assessment Director: The Assessment Director leads the University’s administrative and academic assessment initiatives that support its mission and strategic goals.
Project Manager: This Project Manager position is responsible for comprehensive and simultaneous Project Management of multiple UNCG projects of various sizes.

Important Considerations

When applying for positions within the UNC system, it's essential to consider the following:

Equal Opportunity Employer: The University of North Carolina at Charlotte is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against employees or applicants for employment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, veteran status, or any other protected status.
Background Checks: Final candidates are subject to criminal background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks.
E-Verify: UNCW uses E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility of all newly hired employees.
Salary Ranges: Some job postings include salary ranges. For example, a specific position lists a salary range of $66,040 - $80,000 ($31.75/hr - $38.46/hr).

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