Kaskaskia College, Centralia, Illinois
Build a program from the ground up. Kaskaskia College is launching a new Precision Agriculture major and looking for a founding faculty member to shape it. This is a rare opportunity to design the curriculum, choose the technology stack, set the program's direction, and establish partnerships with regional agribusiness and school districts, rather than stepping into an existing framework.
Centralia sits in the heart of Southern Illinois farm country, surrounded by row-crop, livestock, and specialty-crop operations, making it an ideal region to build a precision agriculture program with real industry demand and real student outcomes.
The Assistant Professor of Precision Agriculture will teach precision agriculture and related courses, develop pathways and curriculum, and work directly with industry to ensure the program reflects where the field is headed, not where it's been. This is a full-time, nine-month academic year faculty position in the Career and Technical Education division.
What you'll shape:
- Curriculum design and course development for a new program, including short-term certificates and competency-based education options
- Selection and integration of instructional technology, UAS operations, yield monitors, field mapping, remote sensing, and data platforms
- Partnerships with regional agriculture employers, K-12 districts, and community organizations
- Program identity and growth strategy from day one
Required qualifications:
- Certification and/or credential in precision agriculture
- Minimum of 2,000 hours of non-teaching, relevant work experience in precision agriculture
- FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate, or ability to obtain one by June 30, 2027
- Hands-on experience with precision agriculture technologies, including UAS, yield monitors, field mapping, remote sensing, and data collection
- Commitment to student-centered, technology-enabled instruction across face-to-face, online, hybrid, and blended formats
- Strong communication, organization, and presentation skills
- Ability to work independently and build collaborative relationships across the college
- Commitment to the community college mission
Preferred qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree or higher in precision agriculture or a closely related field
- Prior teaching experience
Compensation and benefits:
Salary range $51,818 to $117,210 annually.
Benefits include 10 days of sick leave and 3 days of personal leave per fiscal year, health insurance effective the first of the month after hire (medical, vision, and dental through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, employee-only rate $303/month), employer-provided life insurance equal to annual salary, flexible spending accounts, 403(b) plans, State Universities Retirement System participation, tuition waivers for staff and family, and a childcare discount.
Location: Centralia is about an hour from St. Louis, giving faculty easy access to a major metro area while living in a rural, affordable community.
Kaskaskia College is an AA/EEO employer and welcomes applications from individuals who would enhance the diversity of the college.