Instructor – Funeral Services Education and Program Development Coordinator

This position may require teaching assignments during morning, afternoon, evening, and weekend hours, based on the needs of the college. Instruction may be delivered in both in-person and online formats.

Job Summary
Provides high quality instruction in funeral services so that each student may meet learning outcomes, and provides coordination for program development and implementation.  Works with the dean and colleagues to improve student learning experiences. Performs other instructional responsibilities as assigned and determined by the dean. 

Essential Duties

1. Helps advance the role and goals of a comprehensive community college. 
2. Teaches a range of community college courses, which may include developmental, transfer, or career-technical courses. Prepares clear learning outcomes for each course, and informs students of learning outcomes in a course syllabus. 
3. Creates a learning environment for students inclusive of diverse cultural, social, economic, and educational backgrounds. Develops instructional approaches and materials that equip students to serve families from a wide range of backgrounds with skill, sensitivity, and respect.
4. Collaborates with faculty and staff from other departments and divisions to promote communication, coordinate programs, and support student success. 
5. Participates in college service and activities outside direct instruction, such as registration, curriculum development, advising, strategic planning, and educational assessment. 
6. Supports student recruitment, placement, and retention with a focus on students from underrepresented, multilingual, and multicultural communities.
7. Posts and keeps office hours to be available to students for assistance outside the classroom. 
8. Keeps professionally current by participating in professional development and other activities; maintains current credentials or licensures as required by program or accreditation. 
9. Maintains active liaison with high schools, universities, business and industry, or external agencies, and assists the dean with program advisory committees as appropriate. 
10. Completes instructional duties, reports, and paper work assigned by the dean in a timely manner. 
11. Attends division, department, and committee meetings and in-service programs.
12. Maintains and emphasizes safe working conditions and practices, including proper handling of human remains and compliance with OSHA standards applicable to funeral service environments. Ensures the security of facilities, instructional materials, and mortuary supplies in compliance with applicable safety and regulatory standards.
13. Leads the design, development, and implementation of curriculum and/or credential programs in Natural Organic Reduction (NOR), positioning Mt. Hood Community College as a leader in this emerging field. Conducts landscape analyses of NOR practices, scientific literature, and evolving regulatory frameworks at state and national levels; engages with NOR facility operators, industry practitioners, environmental scientists, and relevant state agencies to ground curriculum in current and emerging best practice. Explores and develops articulation pathways between NOR credentials and existing funeral service programs, four-year institutions, and professional certifications.
14. Builds and maintains partnerships with providers, environmental and conservation organizations, and state regulatory agencies to ensure curriculum relevance and to secure practicum and field experience opportunities for students across a range of cultural, linguistic, and religious traditions.
15. Leads the design, development, and launch of an online Funeral Director Program that centers intercultural competency, social and emotional intelligence, and high-quality, person-centered service. Ensures the online program meets all ABFSE accreditation standards and Oregon Mortuary and Cemetery Board requirements; coordinates with relevant accreditation and regulatory bodies throughout development and launch. Develops engaging course content and mentors adjunct faculty to deliver the program.
16. Leads multi-stakeholder planning processes for strategic initiatives, engaging faculty, industry partners, community organizations, students, and college leadership to build shared vision and sustained momentum.
17. Represents the Funeral Services program and its strategic initiatives at professional associations, state and national conferences, community forums, and with media or public audiences as appropriate.

Additional Duties

1. Performs all other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master's degree from a regionally accredited college or university AND Associate’s degree from an ABFSE-accredited mortuary science program.
• Three (3) years of work experience in the funeral services industry.
• Education and/or training in intercultural communication, cross-cultural competency, or a closely related field.
• Knowledge of Natural Organic Reduction, including its scientific basis, regulatory context, and/or operational practice.

Preferred Qualifications

• Teaching experience, preferably at the community college level.
• Education, training, or demonstrated experience in online learning design and delivery (e.g., instructional design, Quality Matters, or equivalent).
• Experience directing or coordinating funeral services for families from diverse cultural, linguistic, religious, or ethnic backgrounds.
• Experience with natural organic reduction facilities, operations, or provider training programs.
• Bilingual skills with fluency in English and Spanish, Vietnamese, Russian, or other language that meets community needs.
• Experience building and sustaining partnerships with community organizations, funeral homes serving diverse populations, government agencies, or industry stakeholders.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to organize and explain materials in ways appropriate to students with different abilities, levels of preparation, and cultural experiences.
• Knowledge of and commitment to the role and purpose of community colleges in serving local and regional communities.
• Sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, ability, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students.
• Ability to use remote learning technologies.
• Ability to lead multi-stakeholder initiatives, build consensus, and develop shared vision across faculty, administrators, industry partners, and community organizations.
• Ability to implement and operationalize new educational pathways, from initial concept through launch, program review, and continuous improvement.
• Strong intercultural communication skills and commitment to culturally responsive pedagogy and practice in both in-person and online environments.
• Knowledge of the scientific, environmental, legal, and ethical dimensions of emerging disposition methods, including Natural Organic Reduction.
• Ability to navigate and apply regulatory and accreditation frameworks governing funeral services education in Oregon, including ABFSE standards and Oregon Mortuary and Cemetery Board requirements.
• Ability to design and deliver online instruction that is engaging, rigorous, and accessible to a diverse learner population.
• Ability to cultivate and sustain community and industry partnerships that enhance student learning and career readiness.
• Strong oral and written communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with grieving families, students, faculty, college leadership, and external stakeholders across cultural and linguistic differences.
• Ability to integrate equity, inclusion, and social justice in curriculum design, instructional practice, and program development.
• Ability to work independently on complex, long-horizon projects while maintaining accountability to institutional timelines and collaborative processes.

Working Conditions
Work is performed in a variety of settings, including classroom and lecture environments, embalming and preparation laboratories, and online/remote platforms. The position requires the ability to work with human remains and associated materials in compliance with applicable health, safety, and regulatory standards. Some travel to community partner sites, industry facilities, and professional conferences may be required.

Salary Placement
Initial salary placement will be based on applicable education and/or years of relevant full-time equivalent experience at the sole discretion of the College, per the guidelines in the Collective Bargaining Agreement and in accordance with all applicable state and federal laws. No initial salary placement will exceed Step 5. Please include all relevant education and full and part-time experience (including unpaid and volunteer experience) in your application that you want the College to review towards potential placement. Hired employees will not have an opportunity to update past education and/or experience or appeal initial placement after the time of hire.

Salary : $73,620 - $124,851