Astrophysics Jobs in Colorado (NOW HIRING)

Title: Astronomy Instructor

Position Type: Instructor

College: Red Rocks Community College

Division: Academic Affairs

Department: RRCC Engineering

Campus: RRCC Lakewood Campus

Location: Lakewood

Salary Range: $1,213.06 to $1,881.40 per credit hour

Who We Are:

Red Rocks Community College exemplifies extraordinary. We are dedicated to our Vision and Mission, which promote student achievement, staff empowerment, and community engagement. We live our values: Learning, Collaboration, Community, Belonging, and Empowerment.
RRCC seeks applicants who understand and have first-hand experience working with diverse populations, which may include but are not limited to, historically marginalized populations such as people of color, LGBTQ+ community members, veterans, first generation graduates, and people with disabilities.

Job Summary:

Red Rocks Community College seeks dynamic, dedicated, and student-centered individuals to serve as Part-Time Astronomy Instructors. Reporting to the Physical Science and Engineering Department Chair, this role is responsible for delivering high-quality instruction in a variety of Astronomy courses, across multiple modalities—face-to-face, hybrid, and online. Teaching assignments may take place during daytime, evening, or weekend hours at either of the college’s campuses or online. The ideal candidate demonstrates a strong commitment to student learning, academic excellence, and equity, while fostering an inclusive classroom environment that supports the diverse needs of our student population.  Finalist must be willing to make Colorado their primary workplace, including online courses. This posting will be used to fill multiple vacancies.
The work schedule for this position is variable, based on course availability, at the Lakewood campus location. May require hours outside of normal work schedule.
This position may work up to 28 hours per week, depending on budget and need.

Compensation is based on credit hour/contact hour ratios and ranges from $1,213.06 to $1,881.40 per credit hour.

This posting will remain open on a continuous basis, and applicants will be selected as needed until the position is filled or the posting expires. Please note: 
• Only applicants selected for interviews will be contacted. 
• Completed applications will remain active for 12 months from the date of submission. 
• There is no need to reapply during this 12-month period unless there are updates to your application materials. 
• After the 12-month period, applicants are welcome to reapply if the position is still open. 

Competencies/KSAs:

• Strong communication, interpersonal, collaboration, and mentoring skills.
• Ability to work effectively with diverse student populations and foster an inclusive learning environment.
• Proficiency with instructional technology, learning management systems, and standard office software.
• Ability to follow approved curriculum, student learning outcomes, and college policies and procedures.
• Flexibility to teach daytime, evening, weekend, hybrid, laboratory, classroom, and off-site courses as assigned.
• Ability to adapt instruction to meet program needs, course objectives, and varying student learning needs.

Required Qualifications:

• A master’s degree in Astronomy, Physics, Geology, or a related field from an accredited institution.
Tested experience may be used in lieu of the degree requirement on a case-by-case basis. 

Physical & Cognitive Demands
The following are some of the physical and cognitive demands commonly associated with this position.
• Occasionally moves, positions, and transports files and office materials weighing up to 10 lbs.
• This is largely a sedentary role. This position operates in an office environment and constantly uses a computer, and routinely uses standard office equipment including phones, copiers, etc.
• The person in this position constantly communicates with internal and external constituents and students. Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations.
• Cognitive demands include comparing, copying, computing, compiling, analyzing, coordinating, synthesizing, negotiating, communicating, instructing, and interpersonal skills.

Selection Process:

Candidates will be evaluated based on their qualifications as related to the duties and responsibilities of the position. Candidates may redact any personally identifiable information on their materials including but are not limited to age, date of birth, and dates of attendance and date of graduation for educational institutions. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Application Instructions: 

Advertised Hourly Pay
The compensation for this position is $1,213.06 - $1,881.40 per credit hour, commensurate with education and experience. This is a part-time, FLSA exempt position and may work up to 28 hours per week, depending on budget and need. This position has been exempted from the State Classified System.

To Apply
All applicants must submit:
1. Resume
2. Detailed letter of interest (cover letter) addressing the job announcement.
3. Unofficial transcripts
Visit our Careers website to submit your application.
If you have questions regarding this position, please contact Shane Spivey, Physical Science and Engineering Chair at Shane.Spivey@rrcc.edu.

Additional Information/Benefits:

Reasonable Accommodation Statement
Red Rocks Community College provides reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities on a case-by-case basis. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process and/or during the course of employment, please contact Jennifer Matthews, Executive Director of Human Resources, at (303) 914-6298 or Jennifer.Matthews@rrcc.edu

Medical insurance is offered to instructors and other variable hour employees who have worked, on average, at least 30 hours per week in a 12-month period. RRCC/CCCS uses an initial 12-month measurement period to determine medical benefit eligibility, and a 12-month standard measurement period. Student employees are limited to working no more than 20 hours a week when classes are in session, and may work up to 28 hours a week, during academic breaks or breaks between terms at the discretion of the college, and non-classified hourly and temporary staff are limited to 28 hours in a workweek, depending on budget and need. Additional information about medical insurance, and Life and Disability benefit information can be found at the CCCS Employee Benefits site under “Instructor & Variable Hour Employee Benefit Information.”
Sick leave is granted in accordance with SB20-205, Sick Leave for Employees, accrued at one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked, up to a maximum of 48 hours per year.
Instructors and non-student hourly are required to contribute to Colorado PERA at a fixed percentage of their salary and do not contribute to Social Security. RRCC/CCCS student employees are not eligible to participate in PERA. RRCC/CCCS offers three tax-deferred investment plans, including 401(k), 403(b) and 457. Employee assistance services such as counseling, professional coaching, financial planning, and more, are available to you and members of your household at no cost through the Colorado State Employee Assistance Program (C-SEAP). State employees are eligible to participate in BenefitHub which offers discounts for retailers and services and other benefits resources. Employees may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Additional information about this program can be found on the Colorado Division of Human Resources website.

• Final candidate will be subject to successful completion of a background check, and, if applicable, a motor vehicle record review.
• Former employees of the Colorado Community College System, or one of its 13 colleges, who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination, must disclose this information in their application material.
• Final candidate is required to submit official transcripts to Human Resources within thirty (30) days of hire.
• Direct deposit of payroll is a condition of employment.
• Red Rocks Community College participates in E-Verify.
• Red Rocks Community College is a tobacco and smoke-free campus.
• All RRCC employees, except student employees, contribute to Colorado PERA at a fixed percentage of their earnings and do not contribute to Social Security.
• Finalist must be willing to make Colorado their primary workplace.
• Employees may not have a combination of overtime exempt and non-exempt positions within the System at the same time. Employees in overtime exempt positions may be eligible for additional assignments, such as teaching or other non-instructional academic work, outside of their regular position duties. Payment for additional assignments shall be in accordance with the College’s or System Office’s applicable pay schedule for similarly situated positions where the work is being performed. Work on additional assignments must be completed when the employee is not receiving regular pay for another position and are subject to all applicable workload limits.

RRCC/CCCS is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Red Rocks Community College and Colorado Community College System believes when all human qualities are regarded with dignity and respect and when everyone has access to the individualized support they need, all will have the opportunity to thrive. In all aspects of the employment process, decisions are made based on merit, competence, performance and business need without regard to sex, gender, race, color, age, creed, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, familial status, veteran or military status, pregnancy status, marital status, religion, genetic information, gender expression, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law. Our Accommodations and Non-Discrimination policies, plus other helpful information, can be found publicly at https://www.rrcc.edu/about-us/disclaimers-and-legal-notices.

We also believe in going further. At RRCC we have a focus on equity and belonging. We strive to create a community in which everyone feels respected and valued for their unique talents and contributions, and where people from all backgrounds are able to achieve their goals. Red Rocks Community College acknowledges that inclusion and equity are multifaceted and complex concepts, and that our efforts in these areas will require innovation, intention, and an institutional commitment to these principles, across our entire college community.

Red Rocks Community College is an emerging Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). As we move toward full HSI status, we are focused on servingness and are committed to creating a learning environment where equity is expected and our Latinx students thrive.

For information regarding Red Rocks Community College Security, including Clery Act/Crime Statistics for the campuses and surrounding area, please see the https://www.rrcc.edu/about-us/disclaimers-and-legal-notices.