Senior Research Coordinator, California Project

Department BSD SUR - OHNS: Thirty Million Words - R&D About the Department The TMW Center for Early Learning + Public Health at the University of Chicago 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. Job Summary 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 a nonprofit child development agency to conduct field research and implementation in California infant/toddler child care and preschool settings. The project will use a novel technology and professional development model to support teachers and demonstrate how teachers’ language inputs in birth-to-3 child care settings lead to positive child outcomes. This work will generate learnings and inform a classroom implementation and professional development model. This role will be based in California, with travel throughout the San Francisco Bay Area (with most work in the first year in Palo Alto) and potential occasional travel to other states (Illinois and Connecticut). The Senior Research Coordinator will report to the Senior Project Manager and shall provide on-the-ground management, implementation, and research support. The Senior Research Coordinator will work closely with California-based infant/toddler childcare and preschool providers as well as TMW Center research and curriculum staff. The Senior Research Coordinator will be responsible for managing the on-the-ground activities, 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. As the primary on-the-ground point of contact for the partner organization, the Senior Research Coordinator will build positive relationships with childcare centers, classroom teachers, families and partner organization staff to ensure strong communication and a successful partnership with the TMW Center. Significant field work consisting primarily of regular site visits to child care centers 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 assessments, participant consent sessions, or other activities. This role may also support ongoing work on a related project in Connecticut, including potentially occasional travel to Connecticut to conduct child assessments. Responsibilities Partnership Building and Management of On-Site Activities: Builds and nurtures relationships with child care centers, classroom teachers, families, partner organization 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. Manages all on-site activities to successfully implement project deliverables. Ensures relevant partner organization staff members are properly trained for project implementation. Implement s data collection and entry best practices, monitor s for a high level of reliability, and ensure s fidelity of implementation of assessments. Participates in meetings and planning sessions to share implementation observations and provide updates to inform program and process improvement. Participant Outreach and Recruitment : Serve s as a primary point of contact for participants. Maintain s regular contact with participants, updating them on progress and ensuring that their contact information is updated. Maintain s records of all communication efforts. Support s consent process for program participants in accordance with IRB protocol and TMW research standards. Ensure s ongoing and new research subjects are onboarded properly and promptly. Regularly report s updates on participant recruitment and project progress t o relevant parties. Support s other aspects of outreach, recruitment, consent, data collection and support as requested. Implementation and Participant Support: Provide s implementation support, coaching, and training to participants, ensuring that activities are delivered with fidelity and that technical support is available promptly. ​ Visit s site s for routine and as-needed in-person observation activities and support. Provide s technical assistance , troubleshooting and on-call technical and implementation support to participants, ensuring proper implementation and delivery of TMW technology and program . Track s data related to these processes and other aspects of implementation. Support s TMW Curriculum and Training team by coordinating and/or facilitating training sessions and regular meetings for implementing staff. Research Support: Engage s with participants and other partners to collect data and gather user feedback to inform device optimization, program refinement, professional development model and implementation model. Implement s data collection at the direction of TMW Center staff. Ensure s quality of data collection and adherence to best practices. Facilitate s and coordinate s classroom-based research activities . Distribute s technology and assist s with inventory management, coordination and delivery logistics for technological devices and other materials provided to study site s . Store s some materials at a secure home office location. Issue s payments and other incentives to study participants across TMW Center projects . Ensure s all payments are issued correctly and tracked with fidelity. Ensure s full compliance with all University and funder obligations related to human subject payments and record-keeping. 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. Provides other support as needed to accomplish other related study goals . Algorithm Validation Support: Execute annotation and review workflows to support validation of data science algorithms. Support with reviewing agreement between annotators; resolve disagreements by making judgment calls or assigning a third annotator when needed. Other Responsibilities: 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. 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: --- Preferred Qualifications Experience: Experience in early childhood research or early education. 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 a research lab or setting. Licenses and 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 , and high attention to detail . Ability to work collaboratively and respectfully with colleagues, especially those of differing backgrounds. Verbal and written ability to communicate in Spanish. Previous work with children desirable . Ability and comfort level with establishing rapport with children in infant/toddler and preschool classes. Working Conditions Significant 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 ( preferred ) The University of Chicago uses AI-assisted tools to streamline and augment some recruitment processes; however, AI is not used to make hiring decisions. When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application. 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 ​ FLSA Status Exempt ​ 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. Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form. All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. 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