Assistant Professor, Chemistry (TENURE TRACK)

Contra-Costa-Community-College-District; Martinez (CA); On-site; USD 68,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Contra Costa College in Martinez, CA seeks a Tenure-Track Assistant Professor of Chemistry to begin August 2027. The successful candidate will teach transfer-level chemistry across formats and foster an inclusive learning environment that supports all students.

The role emphasizes equity, collaboration, and ongoing improvement of instruction, with responsibilities including curriculum development, program assessment, and active participation in college governance.

Qualifications

• Degrees must be from an accredited college/university.
• Transcripts must show degree(s) conferred.
• Commitment to equity-minded pedagogy and diversified teaching formats.

Responsibilities

• Teach transfer-level chemistry in multiple modalities.
• Engage in department, division and college committees.
• Maintain office hours and provide equitable student support.
• Contribute to curriculum development and program assessment.

Skills

Equity-minded pedagogy

Teaching in all formats

Collaboration

Student-centered

Education

Master’s in chemistry

Bachelor’s in chemistry or biochemistry + Master’s in related field

Equivalent

Job description

Assistant Professor, Chemistry (TENURE TRACK)

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Position Title

Assistant Professor, Chemistry (TENURE TRACK)

Description of Position

The Chemistry Department at Contra Costa Community College is accepting applications for a Tenure-Track Faculty (full time). This assignment begins in August 2027.

The successful applicant will be well qualified to teach all transfer-level chemistry courses in a variety of teaching modalities. The applicant’s teaching approach will provide an inclusive learning environment that promotes the success of all students and will be dedicated to the functioning and improvement of the department and college. The ideal candidate will be passionate about teaching, actively engaged in adapting teaching style to enhancing student learning, and committed to working collaboratively within the department and across the college to shape the future direction of education in our community.

The student population of Contra Costa College ( CCC ) reflects its surrounding diverse communities. CCC is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution ( HSI ) and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution ( AANAPISI ) and serves predominantly historically disadvantaged and under-represented student groups including African American, Asian/Pacific Islander, and Latinx students. CCC is situated in a socioeconomically diverse, resilient, and culturally vibrant community. We seek candidates who embrace our community, our student population, and our central work: strengthening West County by meeting our students where they are and helping them get to where they want to be.

We seek candidates who operate with a growth mindset, a strength-based approach centered on students, and a commitment to equity, especially concerning the elimination of barriers to college access, success, and completion. The ideal candidate will be eager to help construct and maintain a culture of continuous improvement in instructional effectiveness.

Initial salary placement for full-time, tenure track positions is based on academic degree(s), upper/graduate level units earned, teaching experience and/or qualifying related professional occupation experience which ranges from $68,136 to $119,640 per year (Up to $132k).

Position Status

EEO Job Category

Faculty & Other Instructional Staff

Employee Group

Full-Time Faculty

Duties and Responsibilities

In addition to contractual duties, all full-time faculty are expected to participate actively in their disciplines, department activities, and the general intellectual life and governance of the college. Part of the teaching assignment may be in the evening and/or online. Duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• advancing equitable student learning through dedicated, exemplary instruction in accordance with established course outlines;
• participating in the assessment of student learning outcomes for courses and programs; developing and implementing student learning outcomes assessment processes for courses and programs;
• collaborating in the development and revision of curriculum and in program review;
• engaging in department program improvement initiatives;
• participating in department, division, and college committees;
• participating in professional development activities, both departmental and college-wide;
• maintaining current knowledge in the subject matter area and effective teaching/ learning strategies;
• maintaining appropriate standards of professional conduct and ethics;
• informing students of course requirements, evaluation procedures and attendance requirements;
• preparing and grading class assignments and examinations and informing students of their academic progress;
• maintaining attendance, scholastic, and personnel records and submitting them according to published deadlines;
• posting and holding sufficient and regular office hours in accordance with prevailing policy;
• participating in College’s shared governance processes.

Understanding of and sensitivity to the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, sexual orientation and ethnic backgrounds of community college students, staff and faculty.

Education

Note: Degrees must be from an accredited college/university. Transcripts must show degree(s) conferred.

• Master’s in chemistry
• OR
• Bachelor’s in chemistry or biochemistry AND Master’s in biochemistry, chemical engineering, chemical physics, physics, molecular biology or geochemistry OR the equivalent
• OR
• The equivalent

Equivalency

If you are applying for equivalency, please attach the Master’s Degree Discipline Equivalency form contained in the application packet and explain how your background is the equivalent.

Desirable Qualifications

Ideal candidates will possess extraordinary interpersonal skills, leadership qualities, a passion for teaching, and the ability to effectively communicate with students to help them achieve their educational goals.

• Commitment to the development and practice of equity-minded pedagogy to promote the learning, retention, and success of students in a diverse community college learning environment
• Experience and willingness to teach chemistry courses offered in all formats: in-person, hybrid, and/or online.
• Demonstrated commitment to professional growth and development, to innovation and improvement of teaching, as evidenced by activities in curriculum development, chemical education or chemistry, and/or recent scholarly publications
• Interest in and commitment to being a collaborative member of the chemistry department, participating on faculty committees, and engaging in campus activities
• Ability to teach all lower division courses in chemistry with a focus on introductory chemistry
• Effective written and oral communication skills

Job Open Date

10/30/2026

Job Close Date

02/01/2027

Open Until Filled

No

Employment Begins

August 2027

# of Months

10

Employee Benefits

• Membership in State Teachers Retirement System (STRS)
• District-paid benefits (employee contributes 6%) for employee and dependents/domestic partners include:
• Medical (Anthem Blue Cross or Kaiser) insurance including chiropractic services
• Dental and vision
• Flexible spending (125) plan
• Life and long-term disability insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Deferred compensation (403b and 457)
• Sabbatical Leave
• Additional Benefits: The District also offers eligible faculty employees, travel assistance plan, retiree benefits, and employee discounts on health memberships.
• Newly hired employees may notify the respective union (Local 1 or United Faculty) if they opt to join and/or authorize payment to the union. If the newly hired employee authorizes payment to the union then the following fees apply: Local 1 has a one-time initiation fee of $45.00 and monthly contribution of 1% of gross pay +$1. United Faculty has an agency fee of .55% of gross pay plus $2.50.

Request For Reasonable Accommodation

Medical Verification

Candidates with legally defined disabilities may request reasonable accommodations by notifying the Human Resources Department by the deadline date. Candidates will be required to supply documentation supporting the need for the accommodation when the request is made. Please complete the forms provided in the links above and email to [e-mail]

It is the District’s policy to ensure that all qualified applicants for employment and employees have full and equal access to employment opportunity, and are not subjected to discrimination in any program or activity of the District on the basis of ethnic group identity, race, color, ancestry, religion, marital status, sex, national origin, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, veteran status, parental status, citizenship or because an individual is perceived to have one or more of these characteristics or based on association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics.

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• * Tell us how you meet the minimum job qualifications: a) Master’s degree in any chemistry science OR b) Bachelor’s degree in any chemistry or biochemistry AND master’s degree in biochemistry, chemical engineering, chemical physics, physics, molecular biology or geochemistry OR c) The equivalent. (If you do not possess the required degree, you can submit a master's degree equivalency form to explain how you have the equivalent background. You can find and submit the form in the attachment section of the application.) (Open Ended Question)
• * Contra Costa College serves a student population that is diverse in racial, ethnic, cultural, and religious backgrounds, gender, sexual orientation, age, academic background and learning styles. Describe a classroom activity that illustrates how you would effectively teach an introductory chemistry class in this setting. Include the primary learning outcome of the activity and any relevant assessments that would be used to verify student understanding. (Open Ended Question)
• * Contra Costa College is committed to supporting a wide population of student learners including offering a hybrid option for our Introductory Chemistry course where students would have asynchronous content online and in-person laboratory sessions. Discuss your experience with distance education and describe how you would structure the course to support student success across both modalities of the course. (Open Ended Question)
• * Contra Costa College is committed to innovative instruction and support practices so that every student can achieve their educational and career goals. How do you envision your role within the chemistry department and as a member of the campus community? What qualities or specific experiences do you have that demonstrate your ability to engage with faculty, staff, and administrators? (Open Ended Question)

Required Documents

• Unofficial Transcript (must show degree(s) conferred)
• Resume/CV
• Letter of Application

Optional Documents

• Application for Equivalency
• Foreign Degree Evaluation Form (NACES Approved Agency)
• Unofficial Transcript 2
• Unofficial Transcript 3
• Unofficial Transcript 4

Contra Costa Community College District
District Office
500 Court Street
Martinez, CA 94553

Candidate Employment Notice: The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, Public Law 99-603, requires that employers obtain documentation from every new employee which authorizes that individual to accept employment in this country.