"Assistant Professor, Astronomy"

Job Description

Johnson County Community College
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.
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.
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.

All applications must be submitted through the JCCC jobs portal. Required application 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. ... [detailed teaching expectations summarized for brevity]

Member of the College Community - In addition to teaching, faculty members are expected to be an active member of the college community. ... [detailed community expectations summarized for brevity]

Duties and responsibilities, as required by business necessity, may be added, deleted or changed at any time at the discretion of management.

To be considered for this position we will require an application, resume, cover letter, unofficial transcripts, and one page teaching philosophy.

Benefits Category

For Full‑time Employees:

• Health insurance with some employer paid options.
• Life insurance & AD&D (employer provided)
• Retirement plans (403(b), 457(b), and KPERS)
• Employer paid 8% contribution into a 403(b) no match required
• Paid time off (vacation, sick, personal, and floating holidays)
• 14 days of paid holidays
• Full tuition reduction for JCCC credit courses (for employee and eligible dependents)
• Tuition reimbursement / assistance for non‑JCCC courses for employee
• And many more!

Additional Incentives:

• Free access to the Gym on campus for all employees and dependents
• Discount to the Hiersteiner Child Development Center
• Snow days
• Professional development funding and training opportunities
• Mentorship program
• Recognition and awards programs
• Employee wellness programs

About JCCC:

Established in 1969, Johnson County Community College is dedicated to transforming lives and strengthening communities through learning. Located in Overland Park, Kansas, JCCC has enjoyed a national reputation for educational excellence and student success for more than 50 years.

Mission: JCCC inspires learning to transform lives and strengthen communities.
Vision: JCCC will be an innovative leader in equitable student access, learning and success