University of Denver Hiring for Senior Research Associate I at USA, Denver, Colorado Full Time

The Marsico Institute for Early Learning is housed in the Morgridge College of Education (MCE) at the University of Denver. We have dedicated ourselves to improving learning environments and outcomes for children, birth to age 8 by identifying the best in early learning research, practice, and policy.

Position Summary

The Marsico Institute for Early Learning is seeking a Senior Research Associate to take the lead in managing several grants and contracts, with an emphasis on designing, implementing, and evaluating a comprehensive coaching program for early childhood education professionals. This role encompasses fostering a supportive learning environment and empowering other coaches to excel in their roles. The Senior Research Associate will be responsible for helping to set the vision, strategy, and execution of the coaching program.

In addition to this, the Senior Research Associate will oversee the implementation of various research studies, which includes training on and supervising classroom observations and child assessments; managing the process of data cleaning, entry, and coding; ensuring inter-rater reliability; conducting and supporting data analyses; and leading the creation of written works, presentations, and progress reports. Reporting directly to the Associate Director and Executive Director for each grant and contract they manage, the Senior Research Associate will be a key figure in advancing the institute’s research agenda.

Essential Functions

Research and Evaluation, Data Collection, and Statistical Analyses

• Oversee and assess the implementation of the Connect4Learning (C4L) curriculum, Learning Trajectories approach, and other programs at partner sites via in-person and virtual observations and regular meetings with teaching and coaching staff.
• Provide advanced coaching and technical assistance to coaches supporting teachers implementation of the C4L curriculum and Learning Trajectories mathematical approach (and others), including modeling activities and best practices.
• Oversee and support the completion of coaching logs and teacher debrief forms.
• Participate in data collection efforts for ongoing and future research and evaluation projects.

Content Creation and Professional Development

• Design, implement, and evaluate a comprehensive coaching program for early childhood educators as part of both EPIC and ULTIMATE projects (with applications to other programs and curricula), fostering a supportive learning environment and enabling other coaches to excel in their roles.
• Lead in the planning and conducting of in-person and virtual professional development workshops for early childhood educators and administrative staff.
• Lead in the utilization of video equipment and virtual collaboration software for hosting trainings and recording program implementation in line with virtual coaching practices.
• Support the continued refinement of the Research-based Mathematics Assessment (REMA), including mobile and website applications, professional development, and certification efforts.

Dissemination

• Lead the development of dissemination materials for varied audiences and stakeholders.
• Lead and participate in peer-reviewed publications based on project data.
• Present findings at professional conferences and other dissemination events.

Project Management

• Create protocols and manage data collection for ongoing and future research projects, including classroom observations, teacher surveys, coaching data, and child assessments in core early childhood domains.
• Support Research Assistants and other student workers to ensure that data is properly cleaned, entered, and coded for subsequent analysis.
• Lead project progress, management, and planning meetings.
• Manage tasks and deadlines for project support staff and consultants, providing necessary guidance and direction.

Other Functions

• Grant writing and business development.
• Other duties, as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Exceptional written and oral language skills required for generating professional reports, grant applications, and coordinating with multiple professional and lay stakeholders.
• Advanced statistical skills, including the ability to perform and interpret statistical analysis.
• Advanced knowledge in early childhood education.
• Ability to establish a strong rapport with young children and school personnel, essential for effective coaching and data collection in classroom environments.
• Demonstrated project management skills, particularly in environments with multiple stakeholders and complex task arrangements.
• Capable of working independently and leading a team effectively, ensuring that tasks are completed on time and objectives are met.
• Excellent time management and organizational skills, with the ability to balance multiple tasks and deadlines.
• Ability to work with members of diverse cultures and communities.
• Ability use an anti-racist lens in the design and development of research and professional development projects.
• Ability to use independent discretion and judgement beyond daily routine decisions including comparing and evaluating possible courses of conduct or decision making on matters of significance.
• Broad array of research and presentation skills, including proficiency with MS Office Suite/O365 programs, videotaping equipment, and advanced features of virtual collaboration software, necessary for data management and virtual communication.

Required Qualifications

• Doctorate in Education, Psychology, Research, Social Science, or related field.
• Extensive professional experience working with young children or in a classroom setting.
• English language proficiency.
• Spanish language proficiency.
• Experience working with Clements and Saramas Learning Trajectories approach.
• Experience with the Connect4Learning (C4L) curriculum.
• Experience conducting virtual coaching programs.
• Proven experience as an instructor, instructional coach, and/or classroom teacher.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in leading social science research.
• Experience in early childhood special education.
• Experience working with grant funding in government, non-profit, or university settings.

Work Schedule

Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Special Instructions
Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.

Application Deadline
For best consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) June 29, 2023. Applications will be reviewed until the position is filled.

Special Instructions
Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.

Salary Grade Number:
The salary grade for the position is 12.

Salary Range:
The salary range for this position is $72,000-$85,000

The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, but not based on a candidates sex or any other protected status.

Benefits:
The University of Denver offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO pass. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver.

Please include the following documents with your application:
1. Resume
2. Cover Letter

The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. The University of Denver prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age (40 years and over in the employment context), religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, marital status, veterans status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance in any of the university’s educational programs and activities, and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended in 2008; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For the university’s complete Non-Discrimination Statement, please see non‑discrimination‑statement.

All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history background check.