Project Director Position @ University of Connecticut, CT

The CT Early Years: A Whole Family Approach to Child Care intervention, funded by the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood and directed by Principal Investigators Rachel Chazan Cohen and Caitlin Lombardi at the University of Connecticut, invites applications for a Project Director (Research Assistant 2) position beginning in the Summer of 2024. This is a full-time, annually renewable position for an expected duration of two years.

CT Early Years is an innovative initiative that will bring comprehensive two-generation services to community-based childcare settings serving families with infants and toddlers. CT Early Years builds upon the knowledge base and infrastructure existing within Connecticut, bringing together childcare and home visiting resources to better support the “whole child/whole family” and maximize outcomes for children and families. 

We are hiring a Project Director with experience in early childhood programs and development. Ideal candidates will also have experience in project management and applied research or intervention evaluation. The candidate will supervise graduate students and project staff and collaborate with community partners to coordinate the intervention and data collection.

The work location for this position is at the Storrs campus of the University of Connecticut under the direct supervision of Drs. Chazan Cohen and Lombardi in the Human Development and Family Sciences Department (HDFS).

The HDFS Department has 37 full-time faculty from diverse disciplinary backgrounds. Faculty are located across the state at four campuses where the Department offers the HDFS major. The Department includes staff and about 40 graduate students, 500 undergraduate majors, and 150 undergraduate minors.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide project direction including overseeing and contributing to data collection.
• Perform data management.
• Write and create reports.
• Participate in weekly team meetings with the research team, representatives of the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood, and project advisory board meetings.
• Assist with grant administration and management, including participating in community meetings; supervising staff and students; and assuring compliance with IRB human subjects requirements. 

 MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS 

• Bachelor's degree in HDFS, psychology, social work, sociology, public health, or a related field.
• At least 2 years of experience in project management or research.
• Knowledge of early childhood development.
• Experience with early childhood programs and policies.
• Experience interacting with diverse children and families.
• Excellent verbal and written abilities.
• Effective interpersonal communication skills, especially with practitioners and families in communities.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and participate in a team.
• Strong organizational skills.
• An ability to effectively manage multiple priorities.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Graduate study in HDFS, psychology, social work, sociology, public health, or a related field.
• Experience with interventions in community settings.
• Experience with applied developmental research.

APPOINTMENT TERMS

This is a full-time, annually renewable position for an expected duration of two years.

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