Assistant Professor, Astronomy

Position: Assistant Professor, Astronomy

Department: Academic Affairs

Type of Position: Full-time Faculty

Exemption Status: Exempt

Work Schedule, Hours per week: Varies depending on department needs

Opportunity for hybrid schedule: No

Starting Salary Range: $54,122.00-$91,437.00 and determined based on relevant years of work experience provided on application and resume.

Position Summary: Johnson County Community College (JCCC) invites applications from a diverse pool of candidates for a full-time faculty position in the Astronomy Department, beginning Fall 2026. The successful candidate will teach astronomy lecture and laboratory courses and will be prepared to deliver instruction in a variety of formats, including face-to-face, hybrid, and online modalities. As a full-time faculty member at JCCC, responsibilities include maintaining regular office hours;

serving on department, division, and college-wide committees; developing and revising curriculum; designing and implementing assessments of student learning outcomes; participating in professional development; and collaborating with faculty, staff, and stakeholders across the College and the broader community. Additional duties may be assigned as needed.

Additional opportunities: While not required, faculty members are encouraged to pursue professional opportunities such as national and international travel for conferences and workshops, grant writing and publishing, and participation in independent or course-based undergraduate research with students.

Location: JCCC is located in Overland Park, Kansas, part of the greater Kansas City metropolitan area. The community is known for its museums, restaurants, and vibrant music and arts scene. JCCC is committed to fostering a rich cultural environment and is home to an award-winning contemporary art museum and a nationally recognized center for the performing arts.

Application materials: All applications must be submitted through the JCCC jobs portal. Required materials include:

• Cover letter
• Curriculum vitae (resume)
• Unofficial transcripts
• One-page teaching philosophy

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree with a minimum of 18 graduate credit hours in Astronomy and/or Physics.
• At least one year of college-level teaching experience in astronomy lecture and laboratory courses.
• Demonstrated computer literacy, including the ability to communicate electronically, develop instructional materials, and enter grades using learning management and institutional systems.
• Demonstrated proficiency with appropriate instructional and discipline-specific software.
• Demonstrated fluency in both written and oral communication.
• Demonstrated experience with the use, care, and maintenance of telescopes and related equipment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Doctoral degree in Astronomy or Physics, including a minimum of 18 graduate credit hours in astronomy and/or physics.
• Three years of community college teaching experience in astronomy lecture and laboratory courses.
• Experience mentoring undergraduate students in research, including independent projects or course-based research experiences.

Position Details:
Job duties include but are not limited to: Teaching – Faculty members are expected to be effective teachers and excel in course instruction. Listed below are the minimum expectations of faculty who teach at JCCC.

• Effective teaching requires content expertise:
  Faculty must demonstrate deep subject knowledge, including key concepts, current and relevant research, methodologies, tools and techniques, and meaningful applications. Consequently, faculty members are expected to do the following:
• Possess thorough and accurate knowledge of his or her specific field/discipline including the ability to evaluate and apply content.
• Be committed to professional development by keeping current in their respective discipline.
• Maintain faculty credentials as required by the college’s accrediting agencies.

• Effective teaching reflects sound instructional methods drawn from the scholarship of teaching and learning, and cultivates a supportive learning environment that allows students to think critically and experiment with material. Therefore, faculty members are…