Department

BSD SUR - OHNS: Thirty Million Words

About the Department

The TMW Center develops, tests, and implements evidence-based interventions designed to promote very young children’s cognitive and social-emotional development, with a priority placed on that of children living in poverty. TMW Center interventions are designed to be overlaid onto existing health, education, and social service systems working at scale in a given community in order to meet families where they already are. The TMW Center has a robust research and development strategy that includes further development and testing of TMW interventions; harnessing technology to support behavior change, intervention engagement, and analysis; and furthering strategies to engage adult caregivers (parents, early educators and others) in the TMW Center’s interventions across the health, early learning, and social service sectors.

The TMW Center is partnering with the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood (OEC) to conduct multi-year field research in Connecticut infant and toddler child care settings. The research will use a novel technology to support teachers and demonstrate how teachers’ language inputs in birth-to-3 child care settings lead to positive child outcomes. Early pilots will generate learnings and inform a classroom implementation and professional development model. A subsequent randomized controlled trial will test whether the new professional development model positively impacts teacher knowledge and behavior, leads to more language interactions between teachers and children, improves job satisfaction and drives positive child outcomes.

Job Summary

This role will be based in Connecticut, with frequent travel throughout the state. The Lead Research Coordinator will report to the Senior Project Manager and shall provide on-the-ground management, implementation, and research support. The Lead Research Coordinator will work closely with Connecticut-based infant and toddler childcare providers and TMW Center research and curriculum staff. The Lead Research Coordinator will be responsible for managing the team of Research Coordinators, guiding the team on all aspects of the research project, including implementation and technical support for study participants, data collection (including administering assessments with children enrolled in the study), and operational and logistical coordination of various study activities. In addition to managing a team, the Lead Research Coordinator will also serve as primary point of contact for a set of childcare providers.

As a primary on-the-ground point of contacts for study participants, the Lead Research Coordinator will build positive relationships with childcare centers, classroom teachers, families and OEC staff to ensure strong communication and a successful research partnership with the TMW Center.

Significant in-state field work consisting primarily of regular site visits to child care providers and study participants will be required. Typically, other work will be completed from home. At times almost 90% of time may be spent working in the field. Site visits will be required at varying times across child care center operating hours, approximately 7:30am to 5:30pm. Additionally, some evening or weekend hours will be required to facilitate participant consent sessions or other activities. Sites will be located throughout the state.

Responsibilities

• Management of Team of Research Coordinators:

• Provides direct management to on-the-ground staff (Research Coordinators). Ensures Research Coordinators and other field staff are properly trained for study implementation and are conducting appropriate research activities, including data collection and assessments.

• Implements data collection and entry best practices, monitors for a high level of reliability, and ensures fidelity of implementation of assessments. Provides additional training and support as needed to maintain high level of quality.

• Ensures coverage across all child care centers to successfully implement study deliverables.

• Participant Outreach and Recruitment:

• Serves as a primary point of contact for current research study participants for a set of child care centers. Maintains regular contact with study participants, updating them on study progress and ensuring that their contact information is updated. Maintains records of all communication efforts.

• Partners with TMW Center staff members and other stakeholders in pursuing new participants to ensure study has adequate amount of participants.

• Obtains and maintains consents for program participants in accordance with IRB protocol and TMW research standards. Ensures ongoing and new research subjects are onboarded properly and promptly.

• Regularly reports updates on participant recruitment, study progress, and study completion to relevant parties.

• Supports other aspects of outreach, recruitment, consent, data collection and support as requested.

• Implementation and Participant Support:

• Provides implementation support, coaching, and training to study participants, ensuring that study activities are delivered with fidelity and that technical support is available promptly. ​

• Visits study sites across Connecticut for routine and as-needed in-person observation activities and support.

• Provides technical assistance, troubleshooting and on-call technical and implementation support to study participants, ensuring proper implementation and delivery of TMW program in accordance with study protocol.

• Tracks data related to these processes and other aspects of implementation.

• Supports TMW Manager of Training and other TMW staff by coordinating and/or facilitating training sessions and regular meetings for implementing staff.

• Research Support:

• Engages with study participants and other partners to collect data and gather user feedback to inform device optimization, program refinement, professional development model and implementation model.

• Implements data collection at the direction of TMW Center staff. Ensures quality of data collection and adherence to best practices. Facilitates and coordinates classroom-based research activities such as video recording.

• Issues payments and other incentives to study participants. Ensures all payments are issued correctly and tracked with fidelity. Ensures full compliance with all University and funder obligations related to human subject payments and recordkeeping.

• Distributes technology and assists with inventory management, coordination and delivery logistics for technological devices and other materials provided to study sites. Stores some materials at a secure home office location.

• Assessments:

• Conducts 1:1 in-person child assessments

• Administers cognitive and non-cognitive assessments

• Communicates with school partners to set up the assessment schedule and procedures with each classroom and teacher.

• Provides observations and assessment updates to the research team.

• Partnership Building:

• Builds and nurtures relationships with child care centers, classroom teachers, families, OEC staff and other stakeholders to ensure strong communication and ultimate success between the TMW Center and these individuals and groups.

• Serves as an ambassador of the TMW Center’s mission and resources to partners, families/caregivers, and the public.

• Project Support:

• Provides technical, administrative and logistical support to the Connecticut early childhood research project team.

• Participates in meetings and planning sessions to share implementation observations and provide updates to inform program and process improvement.

• Other:

• Applies research principles and relevant subject matter knowledge relevant to administer a research project. With a moderate level of direction, manages lab and/or research-related duties and tasks. Helps develop, design and conduct research projects according to plan.

• Supports data collection and analytical needs of research projects. Conducts literature reviews and helps write reports and manuscripts. Ensures project compliance with different policies, procedures, directives, and mandates.

• Takes responsibility for the following non-laboratory duties: transcribing and coding data; developing data collection instruments; presenting research; and recruiting and scheduling research subjects. Acquires higher-level skills and knowledge in the process.

• Takes responsibility for the following laboratory duties: recognizing abnormal results and varying conditions or procedures to correct problems; setting up and performing experiments. Analyze the meaning, significance, causes, and effects of the subject.

• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Experience:

• Experience working with Connecticut OEC State-funded programs.

• Prior teaching and/or administrative experience within early childhood classroom settings (e.g., an accredited childcare center, Head Start Center, Pre-K, etc.).

• Experience in early childhood research or early education.

• Experience in a research lab or setting.

Certifications:

• Valid driver's license.

Preferred Competencies

• Knowledge and skills developed through work experience or training in early education, early childhood systems, applied research, or related discipline.

• Ability to multi-task and manage multiple projects simultaneously.

• Firm understanding of current best-practice pedagogy related to language development instruction, as well as some familiarity with quality improvement strategies, professional learning practices and tools (such as Teaching Strategies Gold, CLASS, LENA etc.).

• Has general awareness in research techniques, survey research methods or methods and relevant scientific knowledge.

• Strong organizational and interpersonal skills.

• Ability to work collaboratively and respectfully with colleagues, especially those of differing backgrounds.

• Verbal and written ability to communicate in Spanish.

Working Conditions

• Significant in-state field work consisting of regular site visits to child care providers and study participants required. Up to 90% of time may be spent working in the field. Must have access to reliable transportation.

Application Documents

• Resume (required)

• Cover Letter (required)

Job Family

Research

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Pay Rate Type

Salary

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FLSA Status

Exempt

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Pay Range

$60,000.00 - $80,000.00

The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible

Yes

The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

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