Reports To:    Dean, School of Science and Health Science

Job Summary

Want to make impact in the field of healthcare? Ready to share your expertise with students eager to enter the dental profession?  Hawkeye Community College has a great opportunity for you. The School of Science and Health Sciences is seeking a full-time faculty member to provide high-quality Dental Hygiene/Dental Assisting instruction.

We are interested in finding a knowledgeable, positive professional role model to lead our students. The college provides a two-year faculty induction & mentoring program to support our newest faculty members. The public wants training opportunities and the industry needs trained professionals – it is a great time for our Liberal Arts program and Career and Technical programs to address both.

Our full-time, nine-month faculty position, provides instruction in the Dental Hygiene/Dental Assisting program, specifically didactic and clinical.  Full-time teaching assignments of 15-credit hours may include days, evenings, face-to-face, online, or hybrid instruction. 

Today’s employers are looking for well-rounded individuals that have a variety of skills to meet the demands and expectations of today’s global marketplace. The Dental Hygiene and Dental Assisting program helps students build a strong foundation of skills and competencies needed to be successful in today’s fast-paced environment. Students are guided with support from faculty which possess both the necessary academic credentials and industry experience within their respective disciplines. Program faculty also work with area business leaders to keep current with the needs of local employers and incorporate these skills and competencies into program coursework.

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 empowering students, strengthening businesses and enriching communities with a vision to improve the quality of life in the communities we serve. 

Essential Job Functions

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

• Provides high-quality instruction and leadership to students within the School of Science and Health Sciences.
• 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.
• Maintains cooperative relationships with the Dean, supervisors, other faculty, the program’s Advisory Committee, all divisions of the College, prospective employers, students, and the community.
• Interacts daily with students, faculty, and staff are essential, occurring in person, via telephone, email, and other digital communication platforms.
• Participates in campus committees as assigned.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Unless otherwise approved, regular on campus and/or onsite attendance is considered an essential function of the position. 

Working Conditions

Teaching assignments may include days, evenings, face-to-face, online, clinical, simulation, lab or hybrid instruction.

Work is performed either in or a combination of an office, classroom or clinical setting using technology. Requires good hand-eye coordination including visual acuity to use a keyboard and read technical information; arm, hand and finger dexterity, including ability to grasp. Sit, stand, bend, lift and move frequently during working hours. During the course of the day, interact with students, faculty, staff and organizations in person, by telephone and computers.

Employment Status

Full-time, 9-month contractual position with comprehensive or competitive benefits program including health, dental, vision, life, and LTD insurance, a Section 125 plan for medical and dependent care expenses; holiday, personal, sick leave; tuition reimbursement/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 2026/2027 Academic Year 9-month faculty pay structure consists of 20 steps with Step 1 as $52,017 through Step 20 as $68,754.

Application Procedure

• Complete an online application at hawkeyecollege.edu/employment
• Submit/upload a cover letter addressing the following:
• What is your teaching philosophy?
• As dental hygiene/dental assisting instructor in a community college setting, what are ways you could collaborate with other Hawkeye Community College Health Science programs?
• Share ideas you have for innovation in the classroom.
• Submit/upload a resume.
• Submit/upload 3 professional references with a minimum of 1 being from a current/past supervisor.
• Application deadline: Wednesday, May 13, 2026
• Priority screening begins: Thursday, May 14, 2026
• Completed applications, along with the required materials, received after the priority screening date will be considered at the discretion of the college.
• Official transcripts will be required if hired.

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 equity-titleIX@hawkeyecollege.edu, 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: OCR.Chicago@ed.gov. 

If any applicant is in need of a reasonable accommodation in completing the application process, please notify a member of Human Resource Services.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree, or an Associate’s degree contingent upon a formal agreement to complete a Bachelor’s degree program within a defined time period.
• Licensed Dental Hygienist or a dentist and have graduated from a CODA accredited program.
• 3 years of recent full-time dental experience.
• Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) or willing to obtain the certification within the first three months of hire.
• Demonstrated current knowledge of the specific subject(s).
• Demonstrated ability to learn and apply new and current technical skills and ideas.
• Demonstrated strong organizational 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.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree or higher.
• Community college experience.
• Post-secondary teaching experience.
• Documented background in current educational methodology concepts consistent with teaching assignments.

About Hawkeye Community College

Hawkeye Community College is focused on meeting the needs of the community by providing quality, affordable learning experiences for a diverse student body through our Adult Learning Center, Business & Community Education Department as well as through more than 50 career & technical programs & liberal arts transfer programs. Hawkeye's mission is about empowering students, strengthening businesses & enriching communities with a vision to improve the quality of life in the communities we serve.

Connections working at Hawkeye Community College