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Instructional Assistant – Environmental and Natural Sciences
Sierra College has a strong commitment to the achievement of equity and inclusion among its faculty, staff, and students and values the rich, diverse backgrounds that make up the campus community. A strong candidate for this position must have the understanding and ability to successfully support individuals with varying backgrounds. This includes persons with disabilities, various gender identities, and sexual orientations, as well as individuals from historically underrepresented communities and other groups. Our District is committed to providing strategies for success and proactive student-centered practices and policies focused on eliminating equity gaps to ensure the District provides an inclusive educational and employment environment focused on strategies for success and equitable outcomes for all.
Under general supervision from assigned manager and in collaboration with instructional faculty, provides instructional support to the Environmental Sciences and Sustainability department and other natural science programs (i.e., agriculture, etc.), requiring in-depth knowledge of subject area, environmental sustainability standards and practices, and associated use of technology, computers, software, and equipment; provides technical and instructional assistance to support laboratory, field, and classroom activities; and provides purchasing, inventory, and maintenance duties for laboratory, field, and classroom supplies, materials, and equipment.
Examples Of Functions and Tasks
Representative Duties
The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.
- Provides instructional support primarily for the Environmental Sciences and Sustainability (ESS) department, and secondarily for other natural sciences programs, including providing technical and instructional assistance to students with special projects, field trips, homework, and classroom, laboratory, and field presentations, demonstrations, and other instructional activities; proctors exams and quizzes; collaborates with faculty to set up demonstrations; assists with curriculum planning and coordination; assists with layout and production of instructional materials, including graphics and presentation audio-visual aids; researches, learns, and shares information regarding new techniques and methods with District staff; assists with class projects; provides ongoing times and locations for formal tutoring sessions (online and/or on-site); hosts additional lab time and tutoring sessions for student projects, examinations, and study, as needed.
- Provides instructional support in online teaching environments, including Learning Management Systems (LMS), purchasing and assembling take home lab kits, and coordinating distribution activities.
- Prepares, monitors, and cleans-up materials and supplies for classroom, laboratory, and field activities; collects laboratory schedules from, interacts with, and coordinates laboratory, field, farm, and greenhouse preparation for activities with department faculty; cultivates and maintains specimens and cultures to meet classroom requirements; arranges for donations; prepares and disposes of chemical solutions, biological waste, and specialized materials; arranges preserved dissection materials or bio-technical microscopic materials for classroom, laboratory, and field use.
- Performs equipment maintenance and set-up; inspects, maintains, and performs minor repairs to equipment, including hydrologic flow meters, Global Positioning Systems (GPS), soil/air/water quality meters, aquaria, and greenhouse and farm apparatus; participates in processes to upgrade or replace equipment and resources; tests, calibrates, adjusts and provides technical support precision scientific instruments, tools, and laboratory equipment; arranges for servicing, packaging, shipping, and repair of equipment, as needed.
- Maintains, inventories, and organizes the department facilities, including stockroom, indoor and outdoor classroom spaces, and project areas; maintains, repairs, and manages inventory and distribution of department apparatus, equipment, and supplies; collects and curates biological collections and specimens; arranges for timely receipt of and maintains purchased living and perishable specimens for labs; inspects incoming shipments and distributes or stores in proper locations; designs, organizes, and maintains department storage facilities; prepares listings of unneeded hazardous materials and arranges for pickup and removal from District premises; updates Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and other safety-related documentation for hazardous materials.
- Provides initial computer technical assistance, training, and support to faculty, staff, and students; installs, removes, maintains, and assists with troubleshooting of department computer hardware and software; assists with set up of department computer systems; maintains department databases; requests or arranges for assistance, servicing, or repair of department computer equipment from District Information Technology Services (ITS) staff or other resources.
- Provides administrative support for department; responds to inquiries regarding departmental operations or refers inquiries to appropriate staff; assists in the maintenance of assigned natural area(s); monitors, coordinates, and facilitates use of department facilities, resources, and collections for access and security; prepares or assists with preparation of department reports and correspondence; maintains department records, including warranties, licenses, and operating information for equipment and software.
- Participates in the preparation and administration of assigned budget(s); researches and purchases assigned contracts, materials, and supplies and determines future needs; works with vendors to obtain quotes; requests purchase orders; inventories supplies and instructional materials, including biological specimens and chemical reagents; discusses new products or special needs with vendors and District staff; works with District staff to obtain laboratory, lecture, field, or other supplies; maintains expenditure records and prepares reports; advocates for the needs of the department; creates prioritized lists of needed equipment for administration; provides input regarding annual budget development.
- Curates teaching specimens and collaborates with Sierra College’s Natural History Museum and Museum Director and staff; performs duties related to natural science displays and specimen curation, including preparing, collecting, and maintaining specimen inventory and exhibits.
- Prepares, loads, and transports department materials between campuses, specialized study sites, or off-site locations; may be required to operate District vehicle for transport.
- Arranges student transportation to and from field trips, including completing and submitting vehicle reservation requests, confirming vehicle reservations, and coordinating with Facilities staff.
- May perform basic first aid, as needed.
- Provides onboarding support, general work training, guidance, supervision assistance, and directs activities of students, temporary employees, or District staff.
- Performs related duties that support the overall objective of the position.
Minimum Qualifications
Education and Experience Guidelines
Any combination of education and experience that demonstrates the required above knowledge and abilities is qualifying. Examples of ways to obtain the above knowledge and abilities could include, but are not limited to, the following:
Education/Training
- Two years of college with major coursework in the environmental sciences, natural sciences, or related scientific fields.
Experience
- Two years of increasingly responsible experience in environmental sciences, natural sciences, or related scientific fields.
License/Certificate - Possession of, or ability to obtain within a reasonable timeframe, each of the following:
- Valid California Driver’s License.
- First Aid Certificate.
- Hazardous Materials Awareness Certificate.
QUALIFICATIONS
The following generally describes the knowledge and ability required to enter the job and/or be learned within a short period of time in order to successfully perform the assigned duties.
Knowledge of:
- Theories, concepts, principles, techniques, protocols, and applications of environmental sciences, ecology, agriculture, and other related natural science disciplines such as aquatic ecotoxicology, fluvial geomorphology, soil science, environmental horticulture, and green chemistry.
- Laboratory procedures, equipment, tests, research techniques, and experiments in environmental and natural sciences.
- Operational characteristics of laboratory apparatus, equipment, and materials.
- Principles and techniques used in the repair and calibration of scientific instruments.
- Federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations regarding specimen collection and storage, instruction, and support of students, including, but not limited to, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and Fish & Game Code (FGC) sections 1002, 1002.5, and 1003.
- Basic inventory, bookkeeping, and purchasing processes and procedures.
- English usage, spelling, grammar, punctuation, and vocabulary.
Ability to:
- Perform general technical and operational duties in support of the Environmental Sciences and Sustainability department and other related natural science programs, including, but not limited to, operating and maintaining laboratory and field equipment, computers, and tools; maintaining and organizing supply inventory and storage facilities; adhering to environmental sustainability standards; proctoring tests; and supporting classroom, field, and lab activities.
- Maintain and care for living specimens, including, but not limited to, aquatic invertebrates (i.e., freshwater zooplankton and brine shrimp), fish (i.e., salmonids), diverse algal cultures, a variety of plants, and small farm animals (i.e., chickens).
- Properly mix, utilize, store, and dispose of chemical reagents and materials.
- Read and interpret diagrams, schematics, and technical manuals.
- Apply scientific principles to practical applications; analyze data and solve problems.
- Adapt to changing technologies and learn the functionality of new equipment and systems.
- Practice safety precautions, techniques, and procedures, including safe lifting techniques, laboratory and field protocols, and safe handling, storage, and disposal of hazardous materials.
- Plan and organize work to meet schedules and changing deadlines.
- Perform record keeping functions, including project documentation with progress and outcome updates and/or reports to stakeholders.
- Utilize office procedures, methods, and equipment effectively, including computers, technology, and applicable software applications sufficiently to perform the duties of the classification, including those used in the fields of Environmental Sustainability and other related natural sciences, and Learning Management Systems (LMS).
- Maintain confidentiality of information.
- Make arithmetic calculations of average to above average difficulty.
- Follow oral and written directions.
- Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
- Provide onboarding support, general work training, guidance, supervision assistance, and direct activities of students, temporary employees, or District staff.
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
- Work independently and collaboratively.
- Apply District policies and procedures.
Physical Demands and Working Environment
The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.
Environment: Work is performed indoors in an education center/classroom/laboratory setting and outdoors in the field; exposure to dusts, mists, fumes, noxious odors, wet/damp surfaces, extreme heat or cold, moderately high levels of noise, chemicals and caustics, and allergenic plants and materials; risk of insect and animal stings and bites; risk of exposure to blood borne and/or other pathogens; work with laboratory equipment and apparatus. Moderate exposure to risks controlled by safety precautions.
Physical: Primary functions require sufficient physical ability and mobility to work in an office and/or indoor/outdoor education center/classroom/laboratory setting; to stand or sit for prolonged periods of time; to walk, stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and twist; to lift, carry, push, and/or pull light to moderate amounts of weight; to operate laboratory and office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination, including use of a computer keyboard and mouse; to verbally communicate to exchange information; and requires the wearing of personal protective equipment, including safety glasses or goggles, lab coats, rubber or plastic gloves, respirators, or face shields.
Vision: See in the normal visual range with or without correction; vision sufficient to read computer screens and printed documents; and to operate assigned equipment.
Hearing: Hear in the normal audio range with or without correction.