Landscape Design And Horticulture Instructor Tenured Track - Merritt

College Information

Peralta/College Information

Merritt College

Merritt College is a public, comprehensive, two-year college, maintained by the Peralta Community College District in Alameda County. With a comprehensive day and evening program of transfer, technical, occupational and basic skills education, the College is committed to meeting the educational needs of the diverse student population it serves.

Located on a 125-acre site in the hills of East Oakland, Merritt College combines modern, spacious facilities with a spectacular view of the entire Bay Area. An integral part of a large, busy urban community, the location provides a sense of tranquility and peace.

Position Information

Job Title
Landscape Design And Horticulture Instructor Tenured Track - Merritt

Time Base
Full Time, 1.0 FTE

Compensation
$72,148 - $97,444/Year Initial salary placement is commensurate with experience and educational background.

Position Type
Academic

Department
Dean of Math, Science, & Technology (652)

City
Oakland

State
CA

Job Description Summary

Instructors are expected to use and keep abreast of advanced teaching methods, including the use of current and future technologies to support student learning and career objectives. Teaching schedule may include evening or weekend hours as part of contract assignment.

Duties & Responsibilities

Any one position may not include all the duties listed nor do listed examples include all tasks which may be found in positions of this class. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty of the position satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions required for the position.

Teach in the Landscape Horticulture Department drawing from a combination of the following subject areas:

• Introduction to horticulture
• Plant materials: Trees, shrubs, groundcovers, natives, Mediterranean and herbaceous plants
• Plant identification
• Arboriculture
• Soil and plant nutrition
• Insect, disease, and weed identification control
• Plant propagation and nursery management
• Permaculture
• Edible landscaping
• Provide class instruction in accordance with established course outlines.
• Inform students via syllabi concerning course requirements, evaluation procedures, and attendance requirements.
• Maintain necessary attendance, scholastic and personnel records, and submit them according to published deadlines.
• Prepare and grade class assignments and examinations; promptly return them to students.
• Post and maintain required office hours in accordance with the prevailing policy.
• Participate in faculty discussions on curriculum, teaching-learning techniques and teaching materials.
• Participate on departmental, divisional, and campus committees. Develop and revise courses in the discipline.

The Instructor is also responsible for providing a full professional service week that may include, but is not limited to:

• Teaching, teaching preparation, maintenance of office hours and student advising, maintenance of student rosters, class records and grade completion in accordance with District policies and procedures.
• Build and maintain relationships with industry partners (e.g. Association of Professional Landscape Designers, California Landscape Contractors Association, California Native Plant Society, etc.) to further the educational goals of the horticulture department.
• Participate in community outreach/marketing activities by attending conferences and events, speaking at workshops/meetings, and assisting in the coordination of college-sponsored non-credit workshops and short courses.
• Contribute to the long-term goals of the Landscape Horticulture department, through activities such as:
  • Curriculum development
  • Development of department facilities
  • Participate in the Horticulture Advisory Committee
  • Assist with bi-annual plant sale
  • Participate in college-wide committees
  • Assist with faculty peer evaluations
  • Participate in regular staff meetings
  • Participate in the governance structure of the College and District
• Perform departmental duties such as program and curriculum development, evaluation and revision, selection of appropriate instructional materials, and work with administrators and other faculty to develop a comprehensive pre-collegiate program.
• Participate in professional activities such as departmental and campus committee work, faculty peer evaluations, staff meetings, and governance structure of the College and District.
• Pursue professional growth activities to remain current in discipline and teaching methodology.
• Perform professional outreach activities (e.g., work with administrators and other faculty, as part of course development and based on need, participate in an industry advisory committee for a program, work with inter-segmental education partners such as high school, adult school and other colleges and industry partners to design and implement effective basic skills curricula and career pathways in the discipline, etc.).
• Perform other related duties as assigned by the College.

Minimum Qualifications

1. Possession of any bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and four (4) years of experience in Landscape Horticulture
2. OR Possession of any associate’s degree from an accredited college or university and six (6) years of experience in Landscape Horticulture;
3. OR May submit a fully-satisfied lifetime California Community College Instructor Credential authorizing service to teach courses in Landscape Horticulture. This credential will not satisfy the requirements for tenure (Credentials were no longer issued after July 1, 1990).
4. OR The equivalent qualifications. (Candidates who claim equivalency must provide conclusive evidence, as clear and reliable as college transcripts, as required on the District Equivalency Application Form. Refer to the Equivalency Procedures. This is not a process to waive the minimum qualifications.
5. Demonstrated cultural competency, sensitivity to, and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, and ethnic backgrounds of community college staff, faculty, and students.

Desirable Qualifications

1. Master’s degree in Horticulture or a related discipline.
2. At least two (2) years of recent teaching experience in landscape design and/or landscape horticulture in an urban community college setting or university level.
3. Exceptional organizational skills with the ability to manage high teaching loads (often 4-5 classes per semester) and administrative duties.
4. Enthusiasm for participating in a range of departmental responsibilities, such as working with industry groups, job placement of students, development of department facilities and resources, and working to ensure the long-term success of the Landscape Horticulture Department and its mission.
5. Ability to work collaboratively with other department and college personnel.
6. Recent experience developing community college curriculum and instructional materials development. Familiarity with student learning outcomes, program outcomes and institutional outcomes pedagogy.
7. Recent experience with current and emergent instructional delivery technologies and demonstrated experience and commitment to integrating new technologies into the learning process.
8. Strong job-related background and field experience in the candidate’s area of expertise and strong knowledge of emerging trends and technologies in landscape design and horticulture. This qualification is a critical part of the Career/Technical (“Vocational”) mission of the Landscape Horticulture Department.
9. Ability and desire to work collaboratively in a classroom and administrative setting, plan curriculum, schedule classes, help develop and carry out departmental policies, participate in meetings, and be active in departmental events and college-wide shared governance.

Application Deadline Date
April 17, 2026

Open Date
03/18/2026