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Tenure Track Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Taft College

Librarian (Tenure Track)

Taft, CA · On-site

$80K - $141K/yr

Librarian (Tenure-Track) Priority Application Date: May 8, 2026. Position will remain open until filled. Anticipated Start Date: July 1, 2026 Taft College is seeking a collaborative and student ...

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How much do tenure track jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 12, 2026, the average yearly pay for tenure track in California is $79,008.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $59,200.00 and $90,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a tenure track?

Tenure track positions are academic jobs at colleges or universities that lead to a permanent and secure faculty appointment, known as tenure. These positions are typically offered to assistant professors with the expectation that, after a probationary period (usually 5-7 years), they will be evaluated for tenure based on their teaching, research, and service. Earning tenure provides job security and academic freedom, as well as opportunities for promotion to higher ranks such as associate or full professor.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a tenure track professor, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Tenure Track Professor, you need an advanced degree (typically a PhD) in your field, a strong record of research, and demonstrated teaching ability. Familiarity with academic publishing platforms, learning management systems, and grant application processes is crucial. Outstanding communication, mentorship, and time management skills help you engage students, collaborate with colleagues, and balance research and teaching responsibilities. These skills and qualifications are vital for building a successful academic career, securing funding, and making impactful contributions to your institution and discipline.

What is the difference between Tenure Track vs Postdoctoral Researcher?

AspectTenure TrackPostdoctoral Researcher
Required CredentialsDoctoral degree, research experience, academic credentialsDoctoral degree, specialized research skills
Work EnvironmentAcademic institutions, research universitiesResearch labs, universities, research institutes
Employment StatusProbationary faculty position with potential for tenureTemporary, fixed-term research position
Career PathPath to professorship and academic tenurePostdoctoral training, research specialization

In summary, a Tenure Track position is a faculty role with the potential to achieve tenure and a permanent academic appointment, whereas a Postdoctoral Researcher is a temporary research-focused role aimed at gaining experience and specialization before pursuing faculty positions or other careers.

How hard is it to get a tenure track job?

Securing a tenure track position is competitive and typically requires a strong academic record, relevant research experience, and a doctoral degree in the field. Candidates often need to publish research, present at conferences, and demonstrate teaching ability to stand out in the hiring process.

What are tenure track jobs?

Tenure track jobs are academic positions, typically at universities or colleges, that lead to a permanent appointment called tenure. These roles usually involve a combination of teaching, research, and service, with candidates expected to demonstrate scholarly productivity over several years before achieving tenure approval.

What are some common challenges faced by new tenure track faculty during their first year?

New tenure track faculty often encounter challenges such as balancing teaching responsibilities with establishing a research agenda and publishing scholarly work. Adjusting to the expectations for service, such as committee work or student advising, can also be demanding. Navigating the academic culture, building professional networks, and managing time efficiently are crucial for long-term success. Proactively seeking mentorship and communicating regularly with department colleagues can help ease the transition.
What are popular job titles related to Tenure Track jobs in California? For Tenure Track jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Tenure Track jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Tenure Track jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Tenure Track jobs? Cities in California with the most Tenure Track job openings:
Tenure Track jobs near you
Infographic showing various Tenure Track job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 87% Full Time, 9% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $79,008 per year, or $38 per hour.

Librarian (Tenure Track)

Taft College

Taft, CA • On-site

$80K - $141K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement

Re-posted 5 days ago

Job description

Librarian (Tenure-Track)
Priority Application Date: May 8, 2026. Position will remain open until filled.
Anticipated Start Date: July 1, 2026
Taft College is seeking a collaborative and student-centered Librarian to join our team. This tenure-track faculty position provides information literacy instruction, research support, and outreach to support student learning both in the classroom and online. The librarian will develop instructional resources, collaborate with faculty, and contribute to the growth and innovation of library services that support student success and community engagement.
About us
Located in Taft, California, Taft College offers a wide range of degree and certificate programs designed to fuel student success and keep education affordable. We’re all about helping students achieve their dreams through hands-on learning, career training, and transfer
opportunities.
General Responsibilities Duties
  • Support the Mission, Vision, Goals and Values of Taft College.
  • Provide reference assistance to students, faculty, and staff.
  • Promote library resources and services to faculty, students, and campus groups.
  • Create inclusive environments that value diverse perspectives and support all learners.
  • Design and deliver information competency courses face-to-face, offline, and/or online.
  • Promote library in-house and outreach services to on-campus and distant library users.
  • Develop liaison relationships with feeder high schools and institutions of higher education.
  • Design and produce research guides, information literacy tutorials, program reports, and other resources in print, web-based and multimedia formats.
  • Plan and implement library-oriented programming, such as displays, library events, tours, etc.
  • Collaborate with faculty with regard to student assignments, collection needs, and integration of information literacy into college curriculum.
  • Plan and coordinate collection development activities, including analysis, acquisition, selection, deselection, vendor interactor, and budget allocation to ensure the subject collection meets curriculum needs. Maintain the Collection Development Guidelines, including procedures for circulating the general collection, reserve and periodicals collection, and utilization of the special/archive collection and the reference collection.
  • Evaluate the collection and coordinate activities related to removing books from the collection with input from faculty; evaluate the usefulness of donated materials.
  • Participate in the development and implementation of library policies and procedures; participate in the program review process.
  • Attend departmental meetings, faculty and committee meetings and staff development workshops.
  • Maintain attendance and participation in professional organizations and online discussion groups and other activities.
  • Coordinate community engagement activities.
  • Coordinate the preparation and administration of annual budgets for assigned programs and services, reviewing and recommending expenditures according to established District policies and procedures.
  • Coordinate data collection protocols, ensuring consistent, relevant, timely, and accurate collection and reporting program data.
  • Demonstrate breadth, depth, and currency of knowledge in the discipline through ongoing professional development.
  • Provide work direction to student workers and/or classified staff as appropriate.
  • Supervise the care and maintenance of equipment provided for student use.
  • Assume responsibility for the college library’s Integrated Library System Platform (LSP), including any necessary updates, migrations, and daily operation.
  • Monitor the day-to-day operations of the library’s electronic information environment.
  • Perform jobs related to technical services, including cataloging and classifying library materials.
  • Maintain an accurate, up-to-date database of both print and electronic library holdings in accordance with the current Library of Congress (LOC).
  • Responsible for ongoing technical services and ILS training for staff and students.
  • Promote curriculum-based Open Educational Resources (OER).
  • Coordinate workflow and schedules of library staff.
  • Provide input on staff evaluations to the appropriate administrator.
  • Coordinate the services of the circulation desk, including interlibrary loan and course reserves.
  • Assist in the creation and/or updating of the library web pages.
  • Comply with institutional policies, accreditation standards, and FERPA requirements.
  • Participate in faculty evaluation and/or peer evaluation processes.
  • Proficient with instructional technology, learning management systems, student information systems, early alert tools, and other relevant software.
  • Other duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
An applicant may meet minimum qualifications in one of the ways listed below:
  1. Master’s in library science, library and information science OR
  2. An Equivalency Determination may be submitted along with all application materials to be considered for this position if you do not meet the stated minimum qualifications. The Equivalency Determination document may be found on the Taft College website here: Request for Equivalency.
  3. Sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability and ethnic backgrounds of community college students.
NOTE: Applicants who claim equivalent qualifications shall provide conclusive evidence that they possess qualifications that are at least equivalent to those required by the minimum qualifications of the area for which they are applying. It is the responsibility of the applicant to supply all evidence and documentation for the claim of equivalency at the time of the application.

Desirable Qualification
Experience utilizing technology in a library/research setting to support academic disciplines. Maintaining appropriate research materials for a college-level library. Ability to work with non-supervised employees (i.e. classified staff) and/or direct supervised employees (i.e. student workers). Experience maintaining a budget from several funding sources, including tracking of funds received and dispersed. Experience in the design and delivery of information literacy instruction and in the development of instructional modules, tutorials and guides to library resources and services.

Hours and Compensation
This is a full-time, 12-month per year position at 35 hours per week. The anticipated starting salary range is $80,251 - $141,563 per year. The successful applicant will be offered a starting salary within this range commensurate with qualifications and experience. An annual doctoral stipend of $5,040.31 is included in addition to ­the salary when appropriate.
Benefits
This is a full-time position with fantastic benefits! At the West Kern Community College District, you’ll enjoy a comprehensive fringe benefits package, including District-paid medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your dependents. In addition, you’ll be eligible to participate in the CalPERS or CalSTRS retirement systems, with the option to enhance your retirement savings through 457b and 403b optional retirement plans. This is an incredible opportunity to secure both your present and future while working with a dynamic team!
Ready to jump in? Follow these simple steps to submit your application:
  • Complete your online application through the Taft College Human Resources website.
  • Attach the following documents
  • Resume and Cover Letter
  • Transcripts for all degrees listed, Unofficial are acceptable at this time.
    • Foreign transcripts issued outside the United States of America require a course-by-course analysis with an equivalency statement from a certified transcript evaluation service verifying the degree equivalency to that of an accredited institution within the USA. For information on transcript evaluation services, please visit: http://www.ctc.ca.gov/credentials/leaflets/cl635.pdf
  • Provide contact information for three professional references, including your most recent supervisor. Unfortunately, we are not able to accept letters of reference.
Next Steps
Thank you for your interest in joining our team! After the closing date, all applications will be carefully reviewed and evaluated based on minimum qualifications and relevant experience. Qualified candidates will be contacted directly for an interview. We look forward to learning more about how you can contribute to our mission and make an impact at Taft College!
Equal Employment Opportunity
The West Kern Community College District is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity . The District is dedicated to a policy of nondiscrimination and, as such, is an equal opportunity employer. Veterans, women, minorities and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. This employer participates in E-Verify.

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