Adjunct Instructor job description.
An adjunct instructor teaches individual courses at a college, university, or training institution on a part-time, contract basis. They deliver instruction, evaluate student progress, and maintain course materials in their subject area, working alongside full-time faculty while typically covering a lighter course load.
The Adjunct Instructor job description · $29
The full editable .docx — role summary, 8 worked responsibilities, qualifications, and skills, formatted for your letterhead. Delivered to your inbox within 24 hours — usually instantly.
Role: Adjunct Instructor Reports to: Department Chair
An adjunct instructor teaches individual courses at a college, university, or training institution on a part-time, contract basis. They deliver instruction, evaluate student progress, and maintain course materials in their subject area, working alongside full-time faculty while typically covering a lighter course load.
- Deliver lectures, workshops, or lab instruction according to the course syllabus
- Design assignments, quizzes, and exams that assess learning objectives
- Evaluate and grade student coursework in a timely manner
What's inside the document.
One-paragraph plain-English explanation of the role's outcome and scope.
8 responsibilities phrased the way the work is actually done.
5 qualifications a candidate must have to perform on day 30.
2 qualifications that would make a candidate excellent in year two.
5 skill chips you can copy directly into your ATS.
Department Chair
A complete document set.
- Word document (.docx) — fully editable
- PDF — signature-ready
- Google Docs — one-click copy to your Drive
- 12 months of updates to this document
- Commercial-use licence for internal and client work
The work, not the title.
- Deliver lectures, workshops, or lab instruction according to the course syllabus
- Design assignments, quizzes, and exams that assess learning objectives
- Evaluate and grade student coursework in a timely manner
- Provide feedback and academic support during office hours or by appointment
- Update course materials to reflect current content and best practices
- Track and report student attendance and grades using institutional systems
- Coordinate with program coordinators on scheduling and course logistics
- Comply with institutional policies on academic conduct and grading standards
Required — and what would make a candidate excellent.
- Relevant degree or equivalent professional experience in the subject taught
- Prior instructional or training experience
- Solid working knowledge of the course subject matter
- Clear communication skills for lecture and written feedback
- Flexibility to teach assigned class times, which may include evenings
- Advanced degree in the subject area
- Experience with online or hybrid course delivery
Eight steps from download to publish.
- 01Open the Adjunct Instructor job description in Word or your one-click Google Docs copy.
- 02Replace placeholders for company name, reporting line, and location with your specifics.
- 03Tighten the summary to one paragraph that names the team's outcome, not just the role.
- 04Edit the responsibilities to match the actual scope of the seat — aim for 6 to 8 items, not 12.
- 05Separate required qualifications from preferred. Required is what a candidate must have to do the work on day 30; preferred is what would make them excellent in year two.
- 06Add salary range guidance using BLS, Payscale, or your own band data — do not copy generic figures.
- 07Have the hiring manager and one peer read it. Cut anything that wouldn't survive a candidate question.
- 08Publish to your ATS, intranet, and external careers page.
The right document at the right moment.
Use this Adjunct Instructor job description any time you are opening or reopening a seat at this level. The mid band sets the calibration — copy the document, tighten it to your specific scope, and circulate to the hiring panel before the first interview.
The reporting line (Department Chair) and skills list are starting points. Override either if your org structure or stack differs from the norm — the template is a draft, not a contract.
Honest answers before you download.
- How does an adjunct instructor differ from adjunct faculty?
- The terms are largely used interchangeably across institutions; both describe part-time, course-based teaching roles, though exact titling conventions vary by school.
- Do adjunct instructors need a teaching certification?
- K-12 style teaching certification is generally not required for postsecondary adjunct roles; subject-matter credentials and relevant experience matter more.
Other documents in this neighbourhood.
Teacher
A Teacher plans, delivers, and assesses learning for students across one or more subject areas.
Tutor
A Tutor provides individualized or small-group academic instruction to help students understand course material, build study skills, and improve performance.
Substitute Teacher
A Substitute Teacher delivers instruction and manages classroom activities in the temporary absence of the regular teacher.
This Adjunct Instructor job description is a professionally drafted starting point for your hiring process and is not legal advice. Hiring practice varies by jurisdiction (e.g. pay-transparency laws differ across US states and AU jurisdictions). Adapt this document for your specific location and have employment counsel review any clauses you add before publishing. Salary varies by region, employer type, and experience. Reference BLS or current industry surveys for ranges. Full disclaimer.