Biology Jobs in Washington

General Summary

Open until filled. Priority consideration for applications received by July 1, 2026.

Founded in 1961, Highline College was the first community college to be established in King County and is one of 34 community and technical colleges. More than 350,000 alumni have graduated from Highline over the years. Nestled between Seattle and Tacoma, we are located on the traditional village sites of the Muckleshoot, Puyallup and many other Coast Salish tribes.

HC welcomes faculty with a commitment to excellence in teaching and the success of all students. HC faculty value self-reflective practice and continued professional growth. We strive to cultivate a welcoming and supportive learning environment for all our students.

Highline prioritizes access for all students, staff, and faculty, which is evident in our Mission, Vision, and Values. We are proud Highline strives to improve access to Education for our student community. Those who come to our college bring unique personal experiences, beliefs, and perspectives and make us better. We strive to provide and highlight resources to support our students, staff, and faculty by fostering an equal opportunity focused workplace that reflects the communities we serve. Highline offers a unique variety of affinity groups for which all faculty are welcome to join.

We honor and value the dignity of all individuals and encourage all qualified individuals of all cultural backgrounds to apply.

Highline College offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes excellent medical, dental, life, and long-term disability insurance through the Public Employee Benefits Board (PEBB), along with retirement benefits through TIAA and the Department of Retirement Systems. Additionally, we offer ample paid time off, as well as hybrid work and we value work-life balance.

Highline College is a comprehensive community college providing certificates, associate’s and bachelor’s degrees in high-quality academic transfer pathways, workforce training, and Adult Basic Education.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Highline College (HC) is seeking qualified applicants for a full-time Lecturer faculty position in Biology.

This position is also eligible for a legislature funded High-Demand stipend issued on a quarterly basis. Currently, the stipend amount is approximately $2,700.

The Life, Ocean and General Sciences Department works as a team to empower our diverse student community to achieve their educational goals through innovative instruction, curriculum, placement, and support. For more information on the position, department or college, contact the Division Chair for Pure and Applied Sciences, Cait Cramer at ccramer@highline.edu or (206) 592-4132.

This position is expected to begin in Fall Quarter, September 2026.

Essential Tasks

Professional Responsibilities

Please address the following responsibilities in your cover letter. If you don’t have experience in an academic setting, please address them within the context of your professional experience:

• Teaching: Create a welcoming and supportive learning environment and use evidence-based practices to improve the success of diverse students; in collaboration with colleagues, identify and implement strategies designed to close equity gaps experienced by students from historically minoritized groups. Engage in self-reflective practice. Lecturers teach the equivalent of 40 credits per academic year, typically 8 sections over Fall, Winter, and Spring quarters, including day/evenings/weekend, online, hybrid, and off-campus sections;
• Advising/ Coaching/ Mentoring: Work with students outside of class to help them choose courses and get connected with campus and community resources. Participate in professional learning opportunities focused on student centered advising and establishing relationships with students;
• Collaborate with colleagues/participate in shared governance: In collaboration with colleagues, engage in continuous improvement through college-wide assessment processes. Participate in department, division, and other College activities, including College governance. Establish and maintain respectful, ethical, and professional relationships with students and colleagues;
• Professional development/ ongoing professional learning: Engage in ongoing professional learning. This includes remaining current in your discipline and evidence-based practices for non-discriminatory pedagogies.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master’s degree (or higher) in biology, medicine, or closely related field from an institution with regional accreditation or its international equivalent;
• Pending degrees must be completed by September 2026 and verified by a letter from the granting institution.

Desired Qualifications: We desire a candidate with one or more of the following qualifications. We expect the successful candidate to have only some of these qualifications.

If these are not evident in your resume, be sure to discuss them in your cover letter:

• Experience teaching the following subjects at the college level. Subjects are ranked below by need:
• Microbiology
• Cell Biology (pre-Allied Health preferred)
• Anatomy and Physiology
• Significant experience collaborating effectively with colleagues;
• Significant experience working in multicultural/diverse environments;
• Experience working with multilingual learners.

Supplemental Information

ABOUT THE PHYSICAL SCIENCES DEPARTMENT:

The Life, Oceans and General Sciences Department comprises seven full-time faculty plus several adjunct faculty. Key academic programs include preparation for biology majors, health professionals, and general science students. Highline is also home to the Marine Science and Technology center (MaST), a waterfront marine lab and aquarium that supports a strong marine science program. For more information on the position, department or college, contact the Division Chair for Pure and Applied Sciences, Eric Baer at ebaer@highline.edu or (206) 592-3513.

HIGHLINE COLLEGE OFFERS:

• Robust support for innovative teaching, learning, and scholarship;
• A friendly, supportive, and highly engaged work environment;
• Excellent benefits including competitive leave packages and an array of health, dental, vision, and retirement plans to meet your current and future needs. Additional information on benefits can be found at https://fortress.wa.gov/hca/pebbhealthplan/compare.aspx;
• Support for continued professional growth, including conference funding, internal curriculum development grants, annual professional development events, and established community partnerships.

All Highline College faculty have the opportunity to engage labor issues and collectively bargain through the Highline College Education Association, a faculty union affiliated with the Washington Education Association.

We welcome applications from outside of Washington State. Applicants invited to an on-campus interview may be eligible for a stipend to help offset the cost of travel.

Application Process

To be considered for this position, applicants must include the following items in their application package:

• Cover Letter: Letter of formal application that addresses how your experience and education qualify you to perform the professional responsibilities listed above
• Supplemental Question: Highline College is committed to improving the success of all students and closing gaps. We believe that critical self-reflection is a key element in this process. Please attach a statement (approximately 500 to 700 words) describing how you have integrated elements of evidence-based teaching methods to support equitable and inclusive classrooms. Effective responses will demonstrate awareness of your positionality as an instructor, knowledge of students or others with whom you've worked, and examples of strategies you have used.
• Curriculum Vitae: Detailed curriculum vitae (resume) of all relevant educational and professional experience, including a listing of courses taught. Be sure your resume demonstrates that you meet the minimum qualifications.
• Transcripts: Unofficial copies of all college and university transcripts that include degree received and confer date. International transcripts MUST include a foreign transcript evaluation by an approved credential evaluation service: https://www.naces.org/members. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable for your application;
• References: A list of four current professional references with name, relationship to candidate, address, email address, and telephone number. Letters of recommendation will not be accepted in lieu of a list of professional references. References should not include immediate family members.

All correspondence regarding your application status will be sent to the email address associated with your NeoGov account. Please make sure to check your spam folder periodically, in the case of an incorrect delivery.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

A standard 170-day contract is written annually for the period of September to June. This position is exempt from the overtime pay requirements of The Fair Labor Standards Act.

This is a union-represented position subject to a Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Prior to employment, the candidate must complete a sexual misconduct declaration form, and pass a sexual misconduct check.

If hired you will be required to provide proof that you are either 1) a U.S. citizen, or 2) a resident whose status permits you to lawfully work in this country. Completion of academic degree(s) will be verified through receipt of official transcripts at the time of hire.

Please be aware that the College hiring authorities reserve the right to hire one or more candidates, and may exercise the option to make a hiring decision prior to the conclusion of the recruitment process.

APPLICATIONS MUST BE FILED ONLINE AT: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/highline

NEED APPLICATION HELP?

Should you have any difficulties uploading your documents or navigating the application process, please contact NEOGOV Technical Support at 1-855-524-5627, Monday - Friday 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM Pacific Time.

HIGHLINE COLLEGE IS AN EQUAL-OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Highline College is an equal-opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects all cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientations, and gender identities. We strongly encourage applicants to apply without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS

The College complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Applicants needing accommodations in the application process in an alternative format may contact the Human Resources office at (206) 592-3812. Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing may dial 711 to place a call through Washington Relay, the state's free telecommunication access service.

NON-DISCRIMINATION STATEMENT

The college provides equal opportunity in education and employment and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, creed, religion, or status as a veteran of war. Prohibited sex discrimination includes sexual harassment (unwelcome sexual conduct of various types).

The Title IX Coordinator, Danielle Slota, can be reached at (206) 592-3600 or DSlota@Highline.edu. 2400 S. 240th St. Des Moines, WA 98198. Building 12, President’s Office

For accessibility needs, Melanie Lawson, can be reached at (206) 592-3320 or MLawson@Highline.edu. 2400 S. 240th St. Des Moines, WA 98198. Building 12, Human Resources.

The Vice President of Human Resources, Melanie Lawson, can be reached at (206) 592-3320 or MLawson@Highline.edu. 2400 S. 240th St. Des Moines, WA 98198. Building 12, Human Resources.

You can receive this information in an alternate format by contacting hrstaff@highline.edu.