Director, Early Childhood Initiatives

Apply now Job no:497268
Work type:Staff Full-Time
Location:Denver, CO
Categories:Business Operations / Services, Teacher (Early Childhood), Research
Division: Graduate School Of Social Work

Since 1994, the Butler Institute for Families is nationally recognized for our leadership and collaborative work at the national, state, and local level in evaluation, research, and technical assistance aimed at improving the quality of child-, youth-, and family-serving systems.

We bring together researchers, practitioners, public and private service system experts, and community members to: engage in program evaluation and research; examine outcomes; and provide technical assistance and training to program administrators, direct service providers, and community leaders. Benefits offered by the University of Denver (see here for more details: https://www.du.edu/jobs/), Butler stands in solidarity against the systemic oppression of persons of color and American Indian/Alaska Native tribes, communities, and individuals. Butler intentionally partners with family and child serving agencies to create healing, positive systemic change, and daily inclusive actions that reflect racial equity.

Position Summary

The Director of Early Childhood Initiatives position will lead the Early Childhood content area at Butler. The Director of Early Childhood Initiatives generates and leads sponsored research and evaluation projects related to early childhood systems and workforce development. The position involves: proficiency in statistical and/or qualitative analyses and interpretation; planning research and evaluation studies and framing research/evaluation questions; identifying appropriate instrumentation to address research questions; synthesizing information from diverse data sources; and report generation for projects within the early childhood content area. Responsibilities also include applying for and receiving external support for Butler’s early childhood research and evaluation work, collaborating to write research and evaluation grant proposals, and completing other project management tasks, such as budget projection and coordination of tasks with multiple stakeholders. The position is part of the Butler Institute leadership team and includes the opportunity to apply for a post-hire research faculty appointment. The position is expected to work collaboratively with other senior staff on tasks pertaining to the oversight and administration of the early childhood content area.

This position is grant-funded.

Essential Functions

Early Childhood Content Oversight, Business Development, and Communications

• Develop research partnerships with other early childhood researchers, community members, early childhood organizations, and stakeholders within Colorado and nationally
• Participate in strategic planning related to staffing, including managing cross-project workload needs, hiring and directly supervising staff and teams
• Communicate and coordinate with senior staff, other content leads, and executive leadership within Butler
• Seek funding opportunities and bring in new or expanded work in early childhood content area.
• Facilitate early childhood learning and professional development among project staff
• Generate, disseminate and promote uptake of early childhood research and evaluation findings

Research and Evaluation Project Leadership

• Serve as Principal Investigator (PI) on projects and coordinate with other Principal Investigators within the early childhood content area
• Lead the design and development of research or evaluation projects, including responding to requests for proposals and developing projects with agencies.
• Develop innovative qualitative and quantitative data collection protocols, tools and methodologies
• Verify the validity of data
• Identify qualitative and/or quantitative analysis techniques appropriate for answering research questions.
• Analyze complex qualitative or quantitative data
• Lead the writing of reports, publications, and dissemination materials.
• Utilize content expertise to make novel and/or impactful interpretations and conclusions of findings
• Develop and present results to key stakeholders, funders, and other identified audiences.
• Manage teams on projects
• Manage scope of work against available budgets and identify solutions/communicate changes with funders when appropriate
• Negotiate contract and sub-contract statements of work
• Maintain positive working relationships with clients, programs, and other key project stakeholders

Other Duties

• Participate in Butler Institute work groups and committees as identified and/or assigned including those related to Butler’s
• Implementation of Butler’s Strategic Plan implementation and DU’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Plan
• Attend and participate in DU and Butler-related meetings, trainings, and activities
• Other duties as assigned

Supervisory Duties

• Hiring and Supervision of staff using Butler’s supervisory model.
• Participate in supervisor learning sessions.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Advanced knowledge of the early care and education system
• Advanced knowledge of research and evaluation
• Excellent written and oral language skills
• Ability to communicate and collaborate effectively and diplomatically with a variety of stakeholders using various modes of communication
• Ability to work with members of diverse cultures and communities with respect and humility
• Ability to manage research and evaluation projects
• Ability to analyze and interpret quantitative and qualitative data
• Ability to utilize flexible evaluation approaches to meet changing project needs
• Strong organization and time management skills including ability to multi-task and prioritize competing deadlines and timelines
• Ability to prioritize competing timelines and project deliverables
• Advanced skills in Microsoft suite applications, virtual meeting platforms, project management software, and statistical software
• Ability to set and achieve high performance goals and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Strong attention to detail

Required Qualifications

• PhD in education, psychology, or related field
• 5-10 years of experience leading program evaluation or community-based research
• Demonstrated record of applying for and receiving research funding

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience managing large multi-year projects
• Experience working with grant funded environments in government, nonprofit, or university settings
• Experience managing foundation, state and/or federal grant projects
• Bilingual in English and Spanish

Working Environment

• Standard office environment

Physical Activities

• Ability to sit in front of a computer for an extended period
• Often required to move about the office/campus and transport objects up to 30 lbs.

Work Schedule
Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., evenings and weekends as required.  In accordance with the University’s flexible work policy, this position is eligible to be considered for remote work. Further details regarding this plan will be determined with the hiring manager and are dependent on the division and team specific needs.

Application Deadline
For consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) May 15, 2024.

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 14.

Salary Range:
The salary range for this position is $105,000-$120,000

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 candidate’s 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, ancestry, age, religion, creed, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, military enlistment, or veteran 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; the Americans with Disabilities Act; 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; Equal Pay Act; Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act; the Colorado Protecting Opportunities and Workers' Rights ("POWR") Act; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For more information, please see the University of Denver's Non‑Discrimination‑Statement .

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