Vacancy Notice: Monday, July 27, 2026
Application Deadline: Open Until Filled
Position Type: Faculty
Hours: Full Time / 12 month
Reports To: Dean, School of Applied Technologies
Hawkeye Community College's Welding program has a long and proud history of preparing students for careers in fabrication, manufacturing, and construction trades. We are seeking a student-focused instructor with work experience to teach courses within our Welding program, and to help lead the program's transition to a 100% competency-based education (CBE) model. Are you ready to help build a program where students master welding skills at their own pace, grounded in real industry standards? If so, we invite you to apply for this exciting opportunity to join our amazing faculty team and help shape the future of welding education!
At Hawkeye Community College, we understand that great instructors make all the difference. We believe students learn best from those who have real-world experience and firsthand knowledge of what it takes to excel in the field. As we build out our competency-based model, we are working to align it with American Welding Society (AWS) standards and codes, so that the credentials students earn reflect verifiable competency that employers recognize. This is a ground-floor opportunity to help shape a program built on real industry standards, working alongside employers who seek versatile, skilled individuals who can adapt to the evolving demands of the workforce.
Our full-time, 12-month faculty position involves teaching courses within the Welding program, with primary instructional assignments focused on:
Residential and industrial welding processes, including GMAW (steel, stainless steel, and aluminum), SMAW (all positions, pipe), FCAW (carbon steel, all positions), and GTAW (steel, stainless steel, and aluminum).
Oxy-fuel cutting, brazing, and welding.
Plasma cutting and arc-air gouging.
Blueprint interpretation and welding symbol reading.
Competency-based instruction and assessment, working toward alignment with AWS welding standards and codes.
Industry-standard shop and lab safety practices.
Key responsibilities include planning and guiding the learning process to achieve curriculum goals while establishing clear objectives for lessons, units, and projects. Your role also involves active participation as a department member with a strong focus on student learning, facilitating discipline-related activities, assessing student achievement, providing program advising, and contributing to departmental committee work.
Teaching assignments may occur during both day and evening hours across various formats, including face-to-face, hybrid, and online. A typical full-time teaching load is 15 credit hours per term. The instructor is expected to maintain collaborative relationships with the Dean, fellow faculty, college divisions, prospective employers, and the community. Additional duties may be assigned as needed. We are interested in finding a knowledgeable, positive professional role model to inspire our students and work with a strong faculty team. The college provides a two-year faculty induction & mentoring program to support our newest faculty members and help them to be successful.
Hawkeye Community College is a comprehensive community college focused on meeting the needs of the community by providing quality, affordable learning experiences for a wide array of students through our Adult Learning Center, Business and Community Education Department as well as through more than 50 career and technical programs and liberal arts transfer programs. Hawkeye Community College's mission is about empowering students, strengthening businesses and enriching communities with a vision to improve the quality of life in the communities we serve.
Important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
Provides high-quality instruction and leadership to the students in the Welding program.
Prepares daily instructional plans and materials.
Uses various instructional modalities as needed.
Employs various instructional methods and materials that are appropriate for meeting stated objectives, assessing accomplishments of students on a regular basis, and providing progress reports as requested and required.
Formulates and maintains curriculum for assigned courses, working toward alignment with AWS welding standards and codes.
Helps design and build out competency-based curriculum and assessments that allow students to demonstrate mastery of each skill and progress at an individualized pace.
Maintains cooperative relationships with the Dean, supervisors, other faculty, the program's Advisory Committee, all divisions of the College, prospective employers, and the community.
Participates in campus committees as assigned.
Offers a safe and supportive learning environment while encouraging hands-on learning and problem solving.
Establishes partnerships with industry stakeholders to enhance learning opportunities, strengthen employment pathways for students, stay updated on technology advancements in the industry, and align the program with workforce needs.
Maintains and supervises the use of lab equipment, welding booths, and training materials.
Maintains partnerships with our partners in other educational institutions to facilitate seamless transfer or continuing education for students.
Assists with student recruitment and retention initiatives.
Mentors students on welding projects and hands-on tasks to enhance their learning experience.
Interacts daily with students, faculty, and staff in person, via telephone, email, and other digital communication platforms.
Maintains a safe working environment and adheres to industry-standard safety protocols during all classroom and lab activities.
Performs other duties as assigned.
Unless otherwise approved, regular on-campus and/or onsite attendance is considered an essential function of the position.
Candidates must meet one of the following criteria:
Option 1: Bachelor's degree or higher in Welding Technology, Welding Engineering Technology, Metallurgical Engineering, or a closely related field. Or a bachelor's degree in any area of study with at least 18 completed credit hours in welding, metallurgy, or manufacturing technology coursework.
Option 2: Associate degree in Welding Technology or a closely related field plus 3,000 hours (2 years) of recent and relevant work experience.
Option 3: Specialized training and at least 6,000 hours (3 years) of recent and relevant work experience. Note: For licensed educators with a CTE endorsement under Iowa Code chapter 256, relevant work experience may include secondary CTE classroom instruction.
Demonstrated ability to learn and apply new and current technical skills, ideas, and welding technologies.
Demonstrated strong organizational skills and problem-solving skills.
Demonstrated excellent written and verbal communication skills to positively interact with students, faculty, and staff.
Demonstrated motivation to serve students from all backgrounds and educational experiences.
Demonstrated ability to work with a wide array of faculty, staff, students, and the general public in a professional and personable manner.
Community college experience.
Post-secondary teaching experience.
Professional/technical certifications and credentials related to welding, such as AWS Certified Welding Educator (CWE), AWS Certified Welding Inspector (CWI), or equivalent.
Bachelor's degree in Welding Technology, Welding Engineering Technology, or a related field with 3–5 years of recent, relevant industry experience.
Familiarity with curriculum development and the ability to integrate emerging industry trends into coursework.
Welding instructors are expected to teach approximately five days per week (usually Monday–Friday), with assignments that may include day, evening, or weekend courses delivered in face-to-face, online, or hybrid formats. Work is performed in a combination of an office, an inside laboratory, and a classroom setting using technology.
The position requires good hand-eye coordination including visual acuity to use a keyboard and read technical information; arm, hand, and finger dexterity, including the ability to grasp. Sit, stand, bend, lift, and move frequently during working hours. During the course of the day, interact with students, faculty, and staff in person, by telephone, and via computers. Instruction takes place in welding laboratory settings where exposure to noise, fumes, arc flash, heat, and mechanical equipment is common; use of appropriate personal protective equipment is required.
Full-time, twelve-month contractual position with a comprehensive and competitive benefits program including health, dental, vision, life, and LTD insurance; a Section 125 plan for medical and dependent care expenses; holiday, personal, and sick leave; tuition reimbursement/tuition remission; and a choice of retirement programs—IPERS (defined benefit) or TIAA (defined contribution).
Beginning salaries are determined by education and experience based on the Hawkeye Professional Educators' Association Master Agreement.
The 12-month faculty pay structure consists of 20 steps with Step 1 starting at $65,021 through Step 20 at $85,943.
Complete an online application at www.hawkeyecollege.edu/employment
This position is open until filled. Completed applications, along with the required materials will be reviews upon submission.
Hawkeye Community College is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer, committed to equity and diversity in its educational services and employment practices: https://www.hawkeyecollege.edu/about/diversity-inclusion/equal-opportunity. The College does not discriminate on the basis of sex; race; age; color; creed; national origin; religion; disability; sexual orientation; gender identity; genetic information; or actual or potential parental, family, or marital status in its programs, activities, or employment practices. Veteran status is also included to the extent covered by law. Any person alleging a violation of equity regulations shall have the right to file a formal complaint. Inquiries concerning application of this statement should be addressed to: Equity Coordinator and Title IX Coordinator for employees, 319-296-4405; or Title IX Coordinator for students, 319-296-4448; Hawkeye Community College, 1501 East Orange Road, P.O. Box 8015, Waterloo, Iowa 50704-8015; or email [email protected],or the Director of the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, Citigroup Center, 500 W. Madison, Suite 1475, Chicago, IL 60661, phone number 312-730-1560, fax 312-730-1576, email: [email protected].
If any applicant is in need of a reasonable accommodation in completing the application process, please notify a member of Human Resource Services.
Hawkeye Community College is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer, committed to equity and diversity in its educational services and employment practices. It is the policy of Hawkeye Community College not to discriminate in its programs, activities, or employment on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, creed, religion, and actual or potential family, parental or marital status. If you have questions or complaints related to compliance with this policy, please contact the Equity and Title IX Coordinator, Hawkeye Community College, 1501 East Orange Road, P.O. Box 8015, Waterloo, Iowa 50704-8015, 319-296-4405, email [email protected] or the Director of the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, Cesar E. Chavez Memorial Building, 1244 Speer Boulevard, Suite 310, Denver, CO 80204-3582, Telephone: 303-844-5695 FAX: 303-844-4303, TDD 800-877-8339, email [email protected].
If any applicant is in need of a reasonable accommodation in completing the application process, please notify a member of Human Resource Services.
