Building Trades Instructor

Looking for a career change and love construction and building trades? Ivy Tech is currently accepting applications for a Building Trades Instructor located at the Plainfield Correctional Facility in Plainfield, IN. Come join our team!

General Purpose and Scope of the Position:

This is a full-time, year-round teaching position located at the Plainfield Correctional Facility. Monday - Friday work schedule.

The CTE Instructor provides high-quality, hands-on technical training to incarcerated adult learners. The instructor delivers curriculum-aligned lessons, maintains required documentation, engages industry partners, supports credential attainment, and collaborates with Ivy Tech and IDOC to promote re-entry success.

Carpenters make up the largest building trades occupation in the industry and those with all-around skills are in high demand. This four-level curriculum covers content such as Building Materials, Cabinet Fabrication, and Advanced Wall Systems. This program offers students the skills for entry-level carpentry positions on almost any worksite. This includes onsite safety skills and certification. The certifications students complete the class with also assist students who want to branch out into craft-specific trades.

Major Responsibilities:
Instructional Delivery
• Provide high-quality, standards-aligned instruction.
• Teach hands-on lab skills supporting industry certification and workplace readiness.
• Begin and end class on time per DOC, facility, and Ivy Tech schedules.
• Use instructional strategies that build technical and employability skills.
• Present material clearly and accurately.
• Encourage active participation and collaborative work.
• Differentiate instruction for learners with diverse readiness levels.
• Support students requiring documented accommodations.
• Use of different modalities to increase learning opportunities.

Career & Employability Skill Development
• Integrate employability and soft skills into instruction.
• Collaborate with HIRE and HIRE Academy coordinators.
• Engage trade professionals and employers for presentations and demonstrations.

Student Progress & Assessment
• Monitor and document student progress toward learning outcomes.
• Assess skills using performance, project-based, and written assessments.
• Provide timely and unbiased feedback.
• Administer TABE and other exams as needed.
• Track completions, credentials, and exit status.
• Review student progress at least monthly.

Documentation, Reporting & CQI
• Maintain records as required by Ivy Tech, IDOC, and facility.
• Submit weekly attendance and student progress updates.
• Complete CQI CTE report each month.
• Maintain student files per compliance guidelines.
• Submit enrollment/removal forms to central office.
• Develop monthly lesson plans.
• Track capacity, start/end dates, and projected program outcomes.

Safety, Inventory & Equipment Management
• Maintain safe classroom and lab spaces.
• Complete and maintain tool, chemical, and equipment inventories.
• Ensure secure storage and compliance with IDOC security.
• Identify supply/equipment needs and submit purchase requests.
• Maintain equipment in working order; report issues promptly.

Program Operations & Communication
• Collaborate with site and program leadership.
• Participate in meetings and professional development.
• Coordinate testing and certification scheduling.
• Communicate student status changes, removals, and completions.
• Support program marketing and student recruitment.
• Communicate with HIRE Coordinators on dates for Academies needed.

Classroom Culture & Student Support
• Create a positive learning environment.
• Encourage professionalism, safety, and work ethic.
• Advise students on academic and workplace readiness.
• Build professional rapport with students.

Minimum Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s degree or specialized training/experience in trade area.
• Valid Indiana teaching license or Workplace Specialist license, or willingness to obtain.
• Commitment to supporting a diverse student population.

Preferred Qualifications:
• Master’s degree.
• Industry certifications in related trade.
• Experience working with adult or justice-involved learners.

Ivy Tech is committed to supporting the well-being, growth, and financial security of our full-time faculty and staff. Our comprehensive benefits package includes:

Health & Wellness

• Multiple medical plan options paired with a Health Savings Account with a generous employer contribution

• Dental plan with no-cost preventive services and coverage for orthodontia

• Vision plan with low-cost exams and allowances for glasses or contact lenses

• Employee Assistance Program offering no-cost confidential counseling sessions, legal consultations, financial planning consultations, and other resources

• Wellness program with opportunities to earn $250 in Wellness Rewards

• Flexible Spending Accounts for healthcare (limited purpose) and dependent care

Retirement & Financial Security

• 10% employer retirement contribution, fully vested after two years

• Basic life insurance equal to annual salary paid by the College, with optional supplemental coverage

• Short-term and long-term disability benefits

Educational Benefits

• Fee remission for employees, spouses, and dependent children

• Tuition assistance for undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs

• Paid professional development opportunities

Work‑Life Balance

• Generous paid time off, including vacation, sick leave, holidays, and winter recess

• Flexible work arrangements where available

• Paid childbirth recovery leave (8 weeks)

• Paid parental leave (4 weeks)

Additional Perks

• Eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness

• Additional discounts on gym memberships, transportation, and various retail services

Ivy Tech is proud to offer benefits that support your health, your family, and your future—because when our employees thrive, our students and communities thrive too. For more information on Ivy Tech Benefits, visit https://careers.ivytech.edu/benefits.

Note: Employees who re-hire with the College within 180 days of leaving a full-time position with the College may be eligible for additional benefits depending on their bridged seniority date.

Ivy Tech Community College is an accredited, equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, marital status, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age or veteran status. As required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Ivy Tech Community College does not discriminate on the basis of sex, including sexual harassment in its educational programs and activities, including employment and admissions. Questions specific to Title IX may be referred to the College’s Title IX Coordinator or to the US Department of Education Office of Civil Rights.