Durable Skills Instructor

GENERAL DEFINITION

Under general direction of Workforce Training & Continuing Education leadership, the part-time Durable Skills Instructor develops and delivers employer-driven curriculum that helps adult learners build the workplace performance skills needed to get hired, succeed on the job, and advance in their careers. Instruction emphasizes realistic workplace situations, hands-on practice, coaching, reflection, and demonstrated performance rather than treating durable skills as a stand-alone, lecture-based “soft skills” course. The instructor will connect durable skills to employment outcomes and adapt instruction to the needs of workforce programs, employers, and industry sectors.

CHARACTERISTIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

· Develop, adapt, and deliver durable skills curriculum for adult workforce training programs and employer needs.

· Create engaging, scenario-based learning activities, role plays, workplace simulations, and other experiential learning opportunities that allow learners to practice, receive feedback, reflect, and improve.

· Teach professional communication skills, including giving updates, asking clarifying questions, receiving feedback, escalating problems appropriately, handling workplace errors or criticism, navigating conflict, and communicating effectively with supervisors, coworkers, and customers.

· Teach reliability, accountability, and workplace expectations, including attendance, communicating absences, schedules, meeting deadlines, follow-through, ownership, appropriate cell phone use, and professional conduct.

· Teach teamwork and collaboration skills that help learners work productively with different personalities, contribute under pressure, communicate across teams, and respond to changing priorities.

· Teach problem solving and critical thinking, including recognizing problems, gathering relevant information, identifying root causes, evaluating options, recommending solutions, and explaining or defending reasoning.

· Teach adaptability and professional judgment, including responding productively to changes in technology, processes, supervisors, schedules, priorities, requirements, or available resources.

· Teach professional presence, including self-awareness, emotional intelligence, emotional regulation, professional dress, workplace behavior, and sound decision-making.

· Provide digital literacy instruction, including professional phone and email communication, virtual communication, social media etiquette, and LinkedIn account setup and professional use.

· Teach responsible and effective use of AI as a workplace and career-development tool, including evaluating and verifying AI-generated information, recognizing inaccuracies or missing context, and determining when human judgment is required.

· Provide career navigation instruction, including resume development and ATS-friendly formatting, tailored cover letters, interview preparation using the STAR method, mock interviews, and evaluating employment opportunities based on wages, benefits, culture, schedules, growth opportunities, and long-term fit.

· Adapt curriculum, examples, and workplace scenarios for different industries and career pathways, including manufacturing, healthcare, transportation, technology, and other workforce sectors.

· Collaborate with Workforce Training & Continuing Education staff, job development staff, employers, and workforce partners to ensure instruction reflects current workplace expectations and regional workforce needs.

· Develop instructional materials, learner activities, facilitator resources, and performance-based assessment tools that can be used across workforce programs.

· Develop and facilitate an integrated workplace simulation or similar capstone experience in which learners demonstrate communication, reliability, teamwork, problem solving, adaptability, professional behavior, and judgment while responding to realistic workplace challenges.

· Assess learner progress primarily through observable workplace behaviors, demonstrations, simulations, coaching, and feedback rather than relying primarily on knowledge-based testing.

· Help learners understand how durable skills affect hiring, retention, safety, productivity, trust, promotion, and career advancement.

· Model professional decorum, mutual respect, and inclusive practices; comply with Spokane Colleges policies and applicable regulations; and perform other duties as assigned.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES (MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS)

· Experience teaching, training, coaching, facilitating, or developing curriculum for adult learners or employees.

· Demonstrated understanding of employer expectations and contemporary workplace practices.

· Ability to develop and deliver engaging, experiential, scenario-based instruction and performance-based learning activities.

· Knowledge of professional communication, reliability, teamwork, problem solving, adaptability, workplace behavior, digital literacy, and career navigation practices.

· Ability to use workplace technology, digital platforms, and AI-enabled tools appropriately and responsibly.

· Strong oral and written communication, facilitation, organization, collaboration, adaptability, and relationship-building skills.

· Ability to work effectively with learners from varied educational, employment, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

· Ability to organize multiple assignments, meet deadlines, and produce accurate, high-quality work.

· Demonstrated commitment to the mission, values, goals, and objectives of Spokane Colleges and to fostering an inclusive teaching, learning, and working environment.

PREFERRED COMPETENCIES (DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS)

· Experience in workforce development, career services, employer training, human resources, education, organizational development, or a related field.

· Experience developing curriculum, training materials, workplace simulations, project-based learning activities, or performance-based assessments.

· Experience working with adult or nontraditional learners, including individuals entering, re-entering, or transitioning within the workforce.

· Experience partnering with employers or industry representatives to align training with workplace needs.

· Experience adapting instruction for multiple industry sectors or occupational pathways.

· Experience facilitating career-readiness instruction, resume and interview preparation, or mock interviews.

· Comfort using current AI tools and teaching responsible use, verification, critical thinking, and human judgment.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

· Work is generally performed in classroom, training, office, employer, or community-based environments.

· Frequent oral and auditory communication with learners, colleagues, employers, and partners.

· Frequent use of computers, presentation technology, and digital platforms.

· Ability to facilitate interactive activities and workplace simulations.

· May require standing, moving throughout a classroom or training space, and transporting instructional materials.

· Reasonable accommodations will be provided in accordance with applicable law.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

· Part-time, variable schedule based on program and instructional needs.

· May require daytime, evening, weekend, virtual, or employer-site instruction.

· May require local or regional travel. If using a personal vehicle, proof of a valid driver’s license and automobile insurance may be required.

· Criminal background check may be required.

· Continued employment is contingent upon available funding, program need, and satisfactory performance.

· The selected candidate should be available to begin curriculum development and onboarding in August 2026, if feasible.

Pay: From $36.14 per hour

Expected hours: 10.0 – 20.0 per week

Benefits:

• Flexible schedule

Work Location: In person

Salary : $36