Job Information
University Of Denver Director, Early Childhood Initiatives in Denver, Colorado
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 rac
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 posit ion 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 a d 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