Instructional Support Specialist – Sciences

Please see Special Instructions for more details.

The hiring committee will determine if interviews will be conducted in person at the College or via Zoom. Travel expenses are not reimbursed by the College. If a second\-level interview is required, second\-level travel reimbursement is only available for eligible candidates. HR will notify those who are eligible when second\-level interviews are scheduled.

Posting Details

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Position Information

Position Title Instructional Support Specialist – Sciences

Department Biology Department

Primary Location San Marcos Campus

Location Details

• Palomar College believes a healthy work\-life balance can improve the physical, emotional, and mental health of our employees. In support of this belief, the District offers the opportunity to work remotely for certain positions, depending on the operational needs of the District and the provisions of the Remote Work Policy. Probationary employees are not eligible to work remotely unless approved by the Assistant Superintendent/Vice President, Human Resource Services. No employee is guaranteed the right to work remotely. No employee shall be authorized to work remotely 100% of the time unless approved by the Assistant Superintendent/Vice President, Human Resource Services.
• Palomar has multiple campus locations (San Marcos, Escondido, Rancho Bernardo and Fallbrook); training may occur at any of these locations and the work location is subject to change depending on future department needs.
• Potential future vacancies may include other District departments, locations, and/or work schedules (i.e. days, evenings or nights).

Full or Part Time Full\-Time

Category Classified

Hours per week 40

Number of Months 12 month

Work Schedule

• Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• Occasional night and weekend hours may be required due to department needs.
• Schedule is subject to change depending on future department needs as course offerings, course assignments and class schedules/timing may shift each semester.

Grade 27

Salary/Wage

$5,871\.81 (negotiable)

Salary/Wage Frequency Monthly

Benefits

In addition to a competitive compensation structure, Palomar College also offers an extremely generous benefits package.

• Insurance fully paid for employees and their eligible dependents: four medical plans, dental HMO, and the vision plan (additional plans are available that require employee buy up/monthly contribution)
• Vacation, sick leave and 25 paid holidays
• $80,000 employee term life/accident insurance policy (additional buy up options available)
• Employee long\-term care insurance
• Employee Assistance Plan (EAP) – Confidential free counseling, financial, legal, personal and professional development resources for all members of your household
• Additional buy up options available for other voluntary insurance benefits
• Enrollment in CalPERS (California Public Employees Retirement System)

The estimated maximum value of this employer\-paid benefits package is approximately $31,245\.84 annually.

Primary Function

Provides instructional assistance to science faculty and students in a complex academic subject or in a highly technical instructional science laboratory environment; oversees day\-to\-day activities of assigned labs, ensuring the safe operation of equipment and work processes and the safe mixing, use, storage and disposal of hazardous chemicals and biohazardous materials; monitors the lab budget and requisitions chemicals, specimens, consumables and supplies to meet laboratory and instructional needs; provides lead oversight to short\-term and student employees assigned to the labs; independently performs complex technical duties; assists instructors in developing and implementing instructional programs; maintains a clean, safe and orderly learning environment.

Minimum Qualifications

To be eligible for this position, you must meet and provide evidence of the following minimum qualifications:

* Experience: One year of experience providing instructional or tutorial assistance to students in the assigned subject matter area, or one year of related work experience in the assigned subject area.

Note: For work experience, a “year” is defined as equivalent to 40 hours per week for 12 months.*

AND

* Education: Equivalent to a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.

Transcripts must be included to receive credit for education and/or to substitute education in lieu of experience (i.e. Bachelor’s degree \= 4 years of experience). Click here for Guidelines for Equivalency for Classified Positions.

Only coursework completed at, and degrees awarded by, accredited institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education will be considered as satisfying the minimum qualifications. Coursework and degrees that are completed outside of the United States are required to have transcripts evaluated (evaluation to U.S. equivalency and a course by course analysis) by an appropriate U.S. credentials evaluation service. For a list of credentials evaluation agencies accepted by Palomar College, visit the National Association of Credentials Evaluation Services (NACES) website at https://www.naces.org/index, or the Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (AICE) website at http://aice\-eval.org/.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility and Antiracism (DEIAA) Statement

Palomar College serves over 30,000 students from a variety of backgrounds and we are proud to be a Hispanic Serving Institution. Our student body is rich in its diversity. Click here to see a quick overview of our student demographics on our recent Student Fact Sheet.

Palomar College is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility and antiracism (DEIAA). We are dedicated to empowering students to succeed and are guided by our core values; some of which are the following:

• Access – We make education possible for everyone.
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion – We recognize and respect diversity, seek to foster a culture of inclusion and belonging, and strive to address inequities.

All positions require cultural competency which includes the sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students, faculty, and staff.

Preferred Qualifications

Related coursework or degree from an accredited college or university.

Licenses and/or Certificates

N/A

Supervision Received and Exercised

Supervision Received From: An Assigned Administrator or Supervisor

Supervision Given: Direction and Guidance

Duties and Responsibilities

Essential Functions: Essential responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Oversees day\-to\-day activities in an assigned science laboratory; trains students in the setup, operation, use and maintenance of lab equipment, materials and resources; responds to student questions regarding laboratory procedures and requirements; ensures labs are open and ready for use during scheduled hours and that equipment is in sound working order; ensures lab closing procedures are followed; maintains a clean, safe and orderly learning environment, including cleaning counters and hoods and washing, storing and restocking laboratory glassware and other lab supplies; cleans, washes and stores laboratory equipment.
• May participate in selecting, scheduling, training and overseeing the work of student employees assigned to the lab; leads, assigns work; ensures completeness, accuracy and conformance with District/department/lab standards; provides training on work processes and technical laboratory procedures; prepares timesheets for supervisor to sign; assists in maintaining a fair and open work environment in accordance with the District’s commitment to teamwork, mutual trust and respect.
• Maintains the safety of the laboratory environment; provides instructional support and demonstrates safety procedures to lab assistants and students; monitors activities in the laboratory to ensure safety procedures are followed; inspects and maintains laboratory safety equipment and safety kits such as eye washer, shower, fire extinguisher, respirator and safety kits; immediately reports any safety concerns and/or needed repairs to the supervisor and Environmental Health and Safety (EH\&S); provides and documents annual safety training for staff, faculty and lab assistants; in coordination with EH\&S, creates and updates safety manuals and handouts; serves as liaison for the annual safety inspection and takes action to correct any deficiencies identified; maintains and updates Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) notebooks as required by law.
• Assists instructors in developing new laboratory exercises; investigates equipment and supplies needed to conduct experiments; prepares cost estimates and recommends alternative methods if needed; participates on committees to evaluate the feasibility of implementing new curriculum and department priorities; develops, explains and demonstrates instructional materials and techniques applicable to an assigned laboratory.
• Sets up various experiments and classroom demonstrations planned or requested by instructors; calculates, mixes, prepares, labels and stores a variety of chemical solutions, reagents, media, compounds, bacterial cultures and samples; labels, safely stores and periodically arranges with the District’s Environmental Health and Safety department for the disposal of expired chemicals, chemical solutions and biohazardous materials generated during daily laboratory use.
• Operates, maintains, calibrates and arranges for major repairs of complex instrumentation in an assigned laboratory.
• Monitors the laboratory budget; maintains and prepares requisitions to replenish an inventory of chemicals, including toxic, carcinogenic and radioactive chemicals, bacterial stocks and other consumables and supplies to meet laboratory needs; prepares work orders for facilities repairs and upgrades and for the replacement and purchase of equipment.
• Provides tutoring assistance to students in assigned subject matter; provides clear and concise explanations and demonstrations to facilitate student understanding and reinforce instructors’ teaching; interprets and guides students through course and laboratory assignments; provides guidance to students on study skills; monitors and reviews student work and assignments and discusses student progress with instructors.

Marginal Functions:

• Sets up and prepares materials and demonstrations for geology, oceanography and physics labs as applicable to assigned area of responsibility.
• Purchases and maintains live animals and plants for laboratory use; oversees routine care and maintenance of botanical, zoological and anatomy specimens and department cadavers as applicable to assigned area of responsibility.
• Operates, cleans, fabricates parts, repairs, enhances and maintains a solar telescope and weather station as applicable to assigned area of responsibility.
• Performs related duties and responsibilities as required.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

Knowledge of:

• Science subject matter areas at the undergraduate level in the area of assignment including, where applicable, theory, concepts, scientific fundamentals, methods and processes, tools, equipment and instrumentation used in the scientific discipline.
• Formulas, equations, solutions, substances, weights and measures, reactions and symbols used in the assigned area of science discipline.
• Advanced methods and practices of student instructional support and tutoring.
• Use and operation of computers with standard business and specialized software applicable to assigned areas of responsibility.
• Methods and procedures for diagnosing and resolving minor computer hardware and software problems in a classroom or laboratory environment.
• Principles and practices of sound business communication; correct English usage, including spelling, grammar and punctuation.
• District policies and procedures regarding budgeting and purchasing.
• Office practices and procedures, including recordkeeping.
• Sources of instructional support materials and aids to meet the needs of students and faculty in a science laboratory.
• State and federal regulations and laboratory standards, practices and procedures applicable to laboratory safety.
• District environmental safety policies and procedures and safety methods and practices applicable to the assigned laboratory including the safe mixing, storage and disposal of hazardous chemicals and biohazards in accordance with state and federal requirements and lifting of heavy instruments, materials and study specimens.

Skill in:

• Providing effective tutoring, instructional support and guidance to students in the science discipline applicable to area of assignment; accurately, thoroughly and clearly answering students’ subject matter, equipment use and technology questions.
• Providing day\-to\-day administrative support and technical support to instructors in carrying out their responsibilities.
• Organizing, setting priorities and exercising sound independent judgment within areas of responsibility.
• Assigning and inspecting the work of student workers and lower\-level staff.
• Training, demonstrating, inspecting, enforcing and monitoring safe work practices and safety compliance by instructors, staff, student employees and students in a science laboratory environment with hazardous chemicals, biohazards and other hazards.
• Providing day\-to\-day technical support for computer hardware, peripherals and software in assigned laboratories/ centers.
• Providing guidance to students in the use and operation of specialized laboratory instrumentation, equipment, tools, hardware and software.
• Analyzing, interpreting, explaining and applying relevant laws, regulations, ordinances and policies.
• Operating a computer and other standard business and instructional equipment and using enterprise software and standard business software.
• Organizing and maintaining a variety of records and files.
• Maintaining sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, age, cultural, physical or mental disability, medical condition, gender, gender expression, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, nationality, race, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students, faculty, and staff.
• Communicating clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Maintaining the confidentiality of student records and information.
• Using tact, discretion, courtesy and patience in dealing with sensitive and difficult students and situations.
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with others encountered in the course of work.

Working Conditions

Environmental Conditions: The employee typically works in a classroom and laboratory environment and may be regularly exposed to hazardous chemicals, chemical fumes, biological hazards and other potentially harmful materials; periodically works outdoors with exposure to weather conditions; extensive contact with students and faculty.

Physical Conditions: Essential and marginal functions may require physical fitness requirements necessary to perform the job functions with or without accommodation, such as the ability to walk and stand for prolonged periods; lift or move up to 50 pounds or more; smell and distinguish color; and near visual acuity to operate instruments and read computer screens.

Terms of Employment

• The person selected for hire will be required to complete the following pre\-employment requirements: live scan/fingerprinting, official transcript(s), and TB risk assessment. Other pre\-employment requirements may be required depending on the position (i.e. certifications or licenses; see applicable job posting section for details). Successful completion of all pre\-employment requirements is mandatory to be eligible for employment. These requirements are in accordance with the following Administrative Procedures and Board Policies:
AP 7120, AP 7125, AP 7126, AP 7127, AP 7330, BP 7330, AP 7336, AP 7337, and BP 7335.
• Full\-time, 40 hours per week, 12 months per year.
• Please note, due to the working and physical conditions listed on this job posting, the person selected for hire will be required to complete a pre\-employment physical, which includes a drug test. If selected, successful completion of all components of the physical is required to be eligible for employment.
• This position also carries a probationary period of six months from the date of hire.

Posting Detail Information

Open Date 03/09/2026

Close Date 03/30/2026

Open Until Filled No

Posting Number P1033P

Additional Application Information

The hiring committee will determine if interviews will be conducted in person at the College or via Zoom. Travel expenses are not reimbursed by the College. If a second\-level interview is required, second\-level travel reimbursement is only available for eligible candidates. HR will notify those who are eligible when second\-level interviews are scheduled.

Supplemental Questions

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Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (\*).

\ Palomar College is committed to antiracism. If you are hired for this position, how will you act on this commitment to antiracism in your new assignment?

(Open Ended Question)

\ How did you hear about this employment opportunity?

+ ACCCA.org

+ CalJOBS

+ CCC Registry

+ ChronicleVitae.com (Chronicle of Higher Education)

+ Colleague/Friend/Relative

+ CraigsList

+ DSPSjobs.com

+ EdJoin

+ Handshake

+ HigherEdJobs.com

+ Human Resources at Palomar College

+ Indeed.com

+ indian\-affairs.org

+ Job Fair

+ MilitaryJob.com

+ Other Source

+ Palomar College website

+ San Diego LGBT Job Board (http://www.gsdba.org/pages/Jobs)

+ SDBCjobs.com

+ Vista Chamber

• If other source, please specify.

(Open Ended Question)

Applicant Documents

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Required Documents

• Cover Letter
• Resume/CV

Optional Documents

• Supplemental Materials
• Supplemental Materials 2
• Supplemental Materials 3
• Transcript 1
• Transcript 2
• Transcript 3