Instructional Support Specialist

Yosemite Community College District; Modesto (CA); On-site; USD 62,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Columbia College in Sonora, CA, seeks an Instructional Support Specialist - Chemistry to lead and support advanced chemistry laboratory activities, manage inventories, and assist instructors in preparing complex learning experiences. This role emphasizes safety, coordination of multiple units, and providing hands-on student support.

Under supervision, you will oversee specialized equipment, maintain chemical inventories, and ensure compliance with lab procedures while supporting the chemistry

Qualifications

• Operations, procedures, goals or objectives of the chemistry laboratory and program.
• Methods and techniques of student instruction and tutoring.
• Principles and practices of supervision and leadership.
• Specialized subject matter pertaining to chemistry.
• Modern office, classroom and laboratory procedures and equipment including computers.
• Basic mathematical principles and applications.
• Proper English usage, spelling, grammar and punctuation.
• Principles and practices of filing and record keeping.
• Principles of business writing and report preparation.
• Appropriate and effective communication and listening skills.
• Accurately prepare a variety of chemical solutions.
• Perform specialized technical chemistry laboratory duties.
• Provide hands-on academic support to students as a supplement to their classroom teaching.
• Prepare laboratories and lessons as requested by the instructor.
• Respond to a variety of requests for assistance from students and instructors.
• Listen effectively and appropriately assess student academic needs.
• Work with students from a wide range of cultural backgrounds, ages and academic abilities.
• Lead and direct the work of subordinate staff.
• Maintain accurate and complete records and files.
• Explain and ensure adherence to laboratory and program procedures, goals and objectives.
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Responsibilities

• Receives, inventories, and stores all scientific supplies and equipment required for the chemistry instructional program.
• Calculates necessary quantities and volumes; and prepares standard stock chemical reagent solutions, special chemical reagents, and dilute solutions.
• Assists faculty and other instructional staff by preparing and presenting complex technical materials designed to enhance students’ learning processes; participates in the planning and implementation of exercises and/or experiments; sets up and conducts complex instructional exercises as directed; may independently implement and coordinate instructional sessions and activities.
• Prepares complex and specialized equipment, materials and/or chemicals for exercises in support of the related programs; trains students in procedures for mixing, storing, dispensing and labeling laboratory work or supplies.
• Seeks out sources of demonstration materials and supplies.
• Sets up, disassembles, cleans or replaces apparatus and instructional materials used in activities and demonstrations.
• Ensures that assigned learning environments are maintained in a safe, clean and orderly condition; calibrates and performs minor repairs on equipment; monitors the cleaning and organizing of materials; monitors the safety and security of equipment; coordinates with vendors for repair and maintenance services as needed.
• Ensures that chemicals and equipment are stored appropriately and safely.
• Orders and purchases chemicals, laboratory supplies and equipment; contacts and negotiates with vendors to obtain supplies as needed.
• Oversees the disposal of materials, including but not limited to unsafe or hazardous materials, according to Federal, State, County, City, and YCCD regulations.
• Develops, explains and demonstrates specialized and complex learning exercises and instructional materials; monitors students in class work procedures; consults with faculty as needed to develop lesson plans.
• Maintains records of materials ordered, issued, used and returned and prepares related reports; maintains inventories to ensure that adequate quantities are available for timely instructional use; maintains student positive attendance records, ensuring that students sign in/sign out; tracks student costs for computer and/or equipment use; maintains student laboratory accounts and submits charges.
• Assists in the development of laboratory budgets.
• Instructs and/or tutors individual students and small groups to reinforce and follow up on classroom learning activities; monitors and assists students in drills, practices and study activities as a follow up what was presented during regular classes.
• Reports student progress toward the accomplishment of learning objectives.
• Maintains libraries and/or inventories of instructional resources and materials; maintains records of materials loaned to students for home study.
• Organizes and presents workshops related to the development of study skills, academic improvement, and other subjects relevant to learning science.
• Coordinates and performs administrative support duties that may require typing, proofreading, filing, checking and recording information.
• Posts information to a computerized and/or manual management information storage and retrieval systems; retrieves and compiles information and prepares complex clerical forms, reports and summaries.
• Operates a variety of computers and/or related equipment pertaining to the assigned academic area; assists students in utilizing specialized computer technology as part of the learning process.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Skills

Chemical inventory management

Lab safety oversight

Technical leadership

Student support

Education

Associate's degree in chemistry or related field

Bachelor's degree in chemistry or related field

Job description

Instructional Support Specialist - Chemistry - Arts, Science & Human Performances - Columbia College

APPLICATION CLOSE DATE: Monday, September 21st, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.

Job Title

Job Title Instructional Support Specialist - Chemistry - Arts, Science & Human Performances - Columbia College

Site:

Site: Columbia College

Salary Range / Other

Range 36 – $5,576 – $7,124 (2025-2026 Classified Salary Schedule)Appointments are hired at the first step of the range. The second step is paid after the first year of satisfactory service with subsequent steps annually thereafter to a maximum sixth step.
Workplace: Columbia College – Sonora, CA
40 hours per week, 12 months per year.
8 hours per day, 5 days per week
Monday through Friday: 8:00am – 4:30pm
(May include evenings & weekends)

The District currently pays for a health options for the employee and dependents. Employees may elect to pay a premium for a higher health option. Vision care and dental insurance premiums for the employee and dependents is District paid. Income protection and life insurance premiums for the employee are also District paid. The estimated cost of District provided benefits (health, dental, vision, and life) is $24,408 annually.

Position Summary Information

Job Description

DEFINITION
Under direction, leads and performs highly advanced and technical support duties in a specialized chemistry laboratory environment; assists instructors in preparing for complex learning experiences; serves as a lead worker over technical staff; coordinates the functions of several units; operates and maintains specialized equipment related to the assigned instructional areas; monitors and ensures the safety of student activities that may involve the use of hazardous equipment, chemicals, or other materials; performs complex technical administrative support tasks for faculty and other instructional staff; and performs related work as assigned.
This position manages and maintains the chemical inventory for the science programs.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
This is the advanced and lead technical level class in the Instructional Support Series within the Yosemite Community College District ( YCCD ). Incumbents in this class provide advanced instructional and administrative support in technically complex laboratory settings and frequently serve as lead workers over multiple complex areas in such settings. Incumbents must possess and utilize highly technical and specialized knowledge of a particular instructional or academic area in order to perform duties and help ensure the safety of students.
This class may be distinguished from the lower-level class of Instructional Support Technician because incumbents in that class perform a wide range of complex technical instructional and administrative support duties in science, vocational, engineering, electronics, photography, physical education, or other specialized and technical laboratory environments, but do not typically serve as lead workers in those types of specialized settings.
This position is further characterized by supporting the chemistry instructional programs and maintaining chemical inventory for science programs.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED
Incumbents in this class work under the direction of a manager or senior manager, receiving occasional supervision while working toward a definite objective that requires use of a wide range of procedures. Incumbents plan and/or determine specific procedures or equipment required to meet assigned objectives and solve non-routine problems, referring only unusual matters to a supervisor.
An incumbent in this class does not directly supervise other full-time employees, but may serve as a lead worker by assigning, directing and/or monitoring the work of subordinate full-time employees on a regular basis.

Minimum Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The knowledge and ability requirements are representative of essential duties. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position

• Operations, procedures, goals or objectives of the chemistry laboratory and program.
• Methods and techniques of student instruction and tutoring.
• Principles and practices of supervision and leadership.
• Specialized subject matter pertaining to chemistry.
• Modern office, classroom and laboratory procedures and equipment including computers.
• Basic mathematical principles and applications.
• Proper English usage, spelling, grammar and punctuation.
• Principles and practices of filing and record keeping.
• Principles of business writing and report preparation.
• Appropriate and effective communication and listening skills.

• Accurately prepare a variety of chemical solutions.
• Perform specialized technical chemistry laboratory duties.
• Provide hands-on academic support to students as a supplement to their classroom teaching.
• Prepare laboratories and lessons as requested by the instructor.
• Respond to a variety of requests for assistance from students and instructors.
• Listen effectively and appropriately assess student academic needs.
• Work with students from a wide range of cultural backgrounds, ages and academic abilities.
• Lead and direct the work of subordinate staff.
• Maintain accurate and complete records and files.
• Explain and ensure adherence to laboratory and program procedures, goals and objectives.
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Education and Experience

Education and Experience:
Any combination of education, experience and/or training that would likely provide the above‑required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying.
Typical background patterns that would provide the knowledge, skills and abilities are:

• Pattern I
  • Experience: Two years equivalent to an Instructional Support Technician at YCCD , performing duties that provided familiarity with chemistry laboratories and chemistry inventories.
• Pattern II
  • Education: Possession of an associate's degree from an accredited college or university, with course work including inorganic and organic chemistry. Preferred Education: Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, chemical engineering or biochemistry OR bachelor’s degree in physics, biology or geology with coursework in both inorganic and organic chemistry.
  • Experience: Four years performing technical duties that provided familiarity with chemistry

Example of Duties

• Receives, inventories, and stores all scientific supplies and equipment required for the chemistry instructional program.
• Calculates necessary quantities and volumes; and prepares standard stock chemical reagent solutions, special chemical reagents, and dilute solutions.
• Assists faculty and other instructional staff by preparing and presenting complex technical materials designed to enhance students’ learning processes; participates in the planning and implementation of exercises and/or experiments; sets up and conducts complex instructional exercises as directed; may independently implement and coordinate instructional sessions and activities.
• Prepares complex and specialized equipment, materials and/or chemicals for exercises in support of the related programs; trains students in procedures for mixing, storing, dispensing and labeling laboratory work or supplies.
• Seeks out sources of demonstration materials and supplies.
• Sets up, disassembles, cleans or replaces apparatus and instructional materials used in activities and demonstrations.
• Ensures that assigned learning environments are maintained in a safe, clean and orderly condition; calibrates and performs minor repairs on equipment; monitors the cleaning and organizing of materials; monitors the safety and security of equipment; coordinates with vendors for repair and maintenance services as needed.
• Ensures that chemicals and equipment are stored appropriately and safely.
• Orders and purchases chemicals, laboratory supplies and equipment; contacts and negotiates with vendors to obtain supplies as needed.
• Oversees the disposal of materials, including but not limited to unsafe or hazardous materials, according to Federal, State, County, City, and YCCD regulations.
• Develops, explains and demonstrates specialized and complex learning exercises and instructional materials; monitors students in class work procedures; consults with faculty as needed to develop lesson plans.
• Maintains records of materials ordered, issued, used and returned and prepares related reports; maintains inventories to ensure that adequate quantities are available for timely instructional use; maintains student positive attendance records, ensuring that students sign in/sign out; tracks student costs for computer and/or equipment use; maintains student laboratory accounts and submits charges.
• Assists in the development of laboratory budgets.
• Instructs and/or tutors individual students and small groups to reinforce and follow up on classroom learning activities; monitors and assists students in drills, practices and study activities as a follow up what was presented during regular classes.
• Reports student progress toward the accomplishment of learning objectives.
• Maintains libraries and/or inventories of instructional resources and materials; maintains records of materials loaned to students for home study.
• Organizes and presents workshops related to the development of study skills, academic improvement, and other subjects relevant to learning science.
• Coordinates and performs administrative support duties that may require typing, proofreading, filing, checking and recording information.
• Posts information to a computerized and/or manual management information storage and retrieval systems; retrieves and compiles information and prepares complex clerical forms, reports and summaries.
• Operates a variety of computers and/or related equipment pertaining to the assigned academic area; assists students in utilizing specialized computer technology as part of the learning process.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Licenses and Certificates

Licenses and Certificates:

• Depending upon assignment, a valid license to drive in California may be required.

Physical and Mental Standards

Physical and Mental Standards:

• Mobility: ability to sit, walk or stand for extended periods.
• Dexterity: fine manipulation sufficient to operate a computer keyboard, handle individual papers, write and take notes, and/or prepare laboratory materials/equipment; must have a full range of motion in the upper extremities.
• Lifting: frequently lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects up to 25 pounds.
• Visual Requirements: close vision sufficient to read files, documents, and computer screens and do close-up work; ability to adjust focus frequently.
• Hearing/Talking: ability to hear normal speech, speak and hear on the telephone, and speak in person.
• Emotional/Psychological Factors: ability to make decisions and concentrate; frequent contact with students, teachers and others, including the public.
• Other Factors: moderate risk of exposure to hazardous chemicals, biological materials, flammable gases and electric shock; moderate use of equipment with moving and/or sharp parts.

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

TYPICAL WORKING CONDITIONS

Work is generally performed in a laboratory or other highly technical setting.

Additional Applicant Information

Classified: This is a classified bargaining unit position.

Open Date

Open Date 08/13/2026

Close Date

Close Date 09/21/2026

Open Until Filled No

Open Until Filled No