Job Details

Counseling Instructor

Position Number: 7215033
Location: Bakersfield, CA
Position Type: Counseling

Counseling Instructor

Kern Community College District

Salary: $89,080.98 - $116,884.82 Annually

Job Type: Faculty

Job Number: FY25-2600427

Location: Bakersfield College -- Panorama Campus, CA

Department: Veteran Services

Below is our job description for this position. Please also review the Important Instructions & Additional Information section below, which contains valuable information about our application process.

Basic Function

Bakersfield College is seeking a full time, tenure-track faculty member for Veteran Services and Credit for Prior Learning (CPL). If you are highly motivated, eager to engage a diverse student body, and passionate about teaching and learning, we highly encourage you to submit an application.
Who We AreWe are a team of innovative, caring, and thoughtful faculty, staff and administrators who are passionate about contributing to the intellectual, cultural and economic vitality of our community. We embody six core values: Learning, Diversity, Integrity, Community, Wellness and Sustainability. These values frame our work as we provide opportunities for our students who come to us from diverse economic, cultural, geographical, and educational backgrounds.
We offer Associate and Baccalaureate degrees and certificates, workplace skills, and preparation for transfer. Our rigorous and supportive learning environment promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion and fosters students' abilities to think critically, communicate effectively, and demonstrate competencies and skills to become productive members of our community and world.
History of Bakersfield CollegeBakersfield College is located in Bakersfield, California, in the heart of the Central Valley. Established in 1913, Bakersfield College is one of the nation's oldest continually operating community colleges. The college serves 33,000 students annually on the 153-acre main campus in northeast Bakersfield, at the Delano Campus (35 miles north of Bakersfield), the Weill Institute (downtown Bakersfield), and BC South-West (southwest Bakersfield). We also offer classes at several alternative locations, including Shafter Learning Center, Arvin/Lamont, McFarland, Olive Drive Training Facility, Wasco and other regional community locations.
As a recognized and highly awarded Hispanic Serving Institution, Bakersfield College students are diverse and represent the communities we serve.
On Diversity, Equity and InclusionWe are sincere about building and sustaining an inclusive and equitable working and learning environment for all students, faculty, staff and administrators. We believe every member of our team enriches our diversity by exposing us to a broad range of ways to understand and engage with the world, identify challenges, and to discover, design and deliver solutions. Bakersfield College has sharpened its focus on removing institutional barriers in access, momentum, and completion.
We pledge to address systemic issues of environmental microaggressions, implicit bias, and racism through intentional learning. We commit to strengthening our campus culture so that students, faculty, and staff and our partners are aware of and equipped to change policies and practices that disproportionately affect marginalized students.
About the Bakersfield CommunitySituated in the south San Joaquin Valley, Bakersfield has a rapidly growing economy in a location that is central to some of California's best places to visit. Fresno, Los Angeles, the mountains and several great beaches are less than two hours away, and San Francisco is less than four hours away. Known for hot, dry summers and mild winters, Bakersfield has deep roots in the energy (oil, solar and wind), agriculture, and logistics industries. Despite its growth, Bakersfield has maintained the "small town feel" that residents here love. With a relatively low cost of living, plenty of community events, and availability of housing, the City of Bakersfield is a great place to live.
Who We Are Looking ForWe are recruiting faculty with demonstrated excellence in their field who embrace the instructional values of access, sound pedagogy, creativity, and innovation. We are known for our connectedness among students, faculty, staff and our diverse local population. We are looking for applicants with a continual drive to learn and improve teaching strategies and who embrace opportunities to be involved in inventive committees, engaging campus events and other collegiate endeavors. Diversity is a core value at Bakersfield College, and we encourage applicants who demonstrate an intellectual mindfulness to contribute to diversity, equity and inclusiveness. If you are interested in modeling academic excellence for your students and colleagues, we invite you to join a team that will challenge and inspire you.
About Veteran ServicesVeteran Services is dedicated to supporting veterans, active-duty service members, reservists, National Guard members, and eligible dependents as they pursue their educational and career goals. Through comprehensive academic support, educational benefits assistance, transition services, and community engagement opportunities, we foster a welcoming and student-centered environment that promotes success, persistence, and completion. We serve as a central hub where military-connected students can access resources, build connections, and navigate higher education with confidence.

Representative Duties

Provide comprehensive academic, career, transfer, and personal counseling services to veteran and military-connected students, including the development of individualized education plans that align with degree completion, transfer objectives, educational pathways, Department of Veteran Affairs requirements, and the effective application of military and prior learning experiences.

Serve as a campus leader in the implementation, training, and continuous improvement of Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) and Mapping Articulated Pathways (MAP) initiatives by ensuring alignment with California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office guidance, institutional policies, and statewide best practices.

Evaluate and interpret student veteran and military-connected student transcripts, including Joint Services Transcripts (JST), military training, workforce experience, industry certifications, and other forms of experiential learning to determine potential CPL opportunities and support equitable awarding of academic credit.

Collaborate with faculty, instructional departments, evaluators, articulation officer, counselors, the Admissions & Records department, and other administrators to develop, review, and maintain CPL and military course articulations at the college in support of student access, persistence, and completion.

Facilitate and support the creation, submission, and maintenance of CPL exhibits, MAP documentation, and related curriculum materials necessary for institutional compliance and statewide MAP initiatives.

Confer with students, faculty, staff, and external stakeholders regarding CPL and MAP processes, including responding to inquiries submitted by veteran and military-connected students through the MAP CPL Search Portal, providing guidance on eligibility and procedures, and assisting students in navigating the credit evaluation and petition process.

Integrate CPL awareness and screening into counseling and educational planning practices by collaborating with the Dean of Counseling, or designee, counseling faculty, and student services professionals to ensure that veterans and general students are informed of opportunities to maximize prior learning and reduce unnecessary unit accumulation.

Support the CPL Coordinator through ongoing communication and collaborative engagement with campus governance and operational groups, including but not limited to Academic Senate, Guided Pathways, Curriculum Committee, Student Services, instructional departments, counseling, evaluators, and articulation personnel to assist in promoting awareness, transparency, and the continued advancement of CPL and veteran student initiatives.

Provide counseling and support services in Veteran Services to active-duty service members, veterans, reservists, National Guard members, and military-connected students by assisting with academic planning, transition support, educational benefit awareness, referrals, and connections to campus and community resources.

Participate in ongoing professional development and training related to CPL, MAP processes, counseling practices, and emerging state and federal guidance in order to maintain current knowledge of best practices and assist in supporting campus awareness and training efforts related to CPL and veteran student services.

Participate in outreach, training, workshops, campus initiatives, and professional development activities related to veteran student success, counseling services, CPL, MAP, and evolving state and federal regulations. Evening and weekend assignments may be required in support of college programs and student needs.

Demonstrate knowledge of veteran and military-connected student populations, including an understanding of military culture, transition-related challenges, Veteran Affairs educational benefits, California veteran education programs, and applicable federal and state regulations in order to provide informed, student-centered counseling, referrals, advocacy, and support services.

Minimum Qualifications

Master's in counseling, rehabilitation counseling, clinical psychology, counseling psychology, guidance counseling, educational counseling, social work, career development, marriage and family therapy or marriage, family and child counseling, OR the equivalent. (Note: A bachelor's degree in one of the listed degrees and a license as a Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) is an alternative qualification for this discipline.)
Candidates must also demonstrate sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students.

Knowledge & Abilities

The successful applicant will be able to demonstrate that they are broadly prepared and have a depth of knowledge in the discipline.

In addition, the successful applicant will be able to demonstrate the following knowledge and abilities.

Ability to work effectively and harmoniously with colleagues in an environment that promotes innovation, teaching, learning, and service to diverse student populations
Ability to effectively work with students with a wide range of skills, motivations, academic goals, vocational goals
Ability to develop curriculum, including curriculum delivered via different modalities
Ability to participate in recruitment and articulation activities with local schools, colleges, and universities
Ability to communicate effectively, both oral and written
Ability to maintain subject matter currency
Ability to assess student, program, and institutional learning outcomes
Knowledge of computers and willingness to adopt new technologies that support student success
Knowledge of and commitment to the Kern Community College District mission, the Bakersfield College mission, and the California Community College Chancellor's Office mission

Important Instructions & Additional Information

Complete applications received by the "assured consideration date" above are guaranteed to be reviewed by Human Resources. If you apply after this date, there is no guarantee that your application will be reviewed. However, we still recommend that you apply because recruitments remain open until filled. The District and/or College reserves the right to extend time limits and/or repost or restart recruitments at any point.

Completed applications must include the following.

Completed online application for employment
Current resume
Letter of interest (cover letter)
List of 5 (five) professional references (entered in online application)
Copy of legible transcripts (if required for the position)

It is your responsibility to redact or remove any personally identifiable information from all documents prior to uploading, including Social Security numbers, date of birth, photos, etc.

Equivalency for Minimum Qualifications

Applicants for faculty and educational administrator positions in California Community Colleges are required to meet certain minimum qualifications as provided by the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office and detailed in the Minimum Qualifications for Faculty and Administrators in California Community Colleges handbook. If you do not meet these minimum qualifications, you may still be eligible by completing the KernCCD Application for Equivalence process. Please see our Faculty Equivalency Process website for more information.

International or Foreign Degrees

Applicants with international or foreign degrees from colleges or universities outside of the United States must have their coursework evaluated by a professional association that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or Academic Credentials Evaluation Institute, INC. (ACEI). A copy of the evaluation must be submitted with your online application.

Accommodations

Applicants who require reasonable accommodation to participate in the selection process should contact Human Resources to make the necessary arrangements. (For more information, see our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Equal Employment Opportunities website.)

Discrimination Free Work Environment

Discrimination based on race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation of any person, military and veteran status, or the perception that a person has one or more of these characteristics is illegal and violates Kern Community College District policy.

The Kern CCD Equal Employment Opportunity Plan guides the development, implementation, and monitoring of the District's efforts to foster equal employment opportunities and workplace diversity.

See our Discrimination-Free Work Environment webpage for more information.

Work Authorization

Kern Community College District does not provide sponsorship for authorization to work in the United States. Work authorization should be established at the time of application submission.

E-Verify

The Kern Community College District participates in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's E-Verify program to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, please visit e-verify.gov.

Helpful Links

Kern Community College District

Salary Schedules

Job Descriptions

Benefits

Faculty Minimum Qualifications/Equivalency Process

All applicants must apply online at https://www.schooljobs.com/careers/kccd/jobs/5366937/counseling-instructor. Emails will not be accepted.

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