Senior Early Childhood Policy Research Fellow

Senior Early Childhood Policy Research Fellow

Job No: 499017

Work Type:
Staff Part-Time

Location:

Denver, CO

Categories:
Research

The Colorado Evaluation and Action Lab at the University of Denver (DU) was created under the leadership of the Governor's Office to unlock data-informed solutions to our most pressing social problems. Working together with a broad range of government and community partners, we conduct research with rigor to obtain the best available evidence to inform policies, programs, and investments. Our goal is to leverage data to inform policy and practice, achieve and sustain change, and position our partners to pursue additional, meaningful change for the communities they serve with the guidance of eight essential elements.

The Colorado Lab team currently consists of a three-person management team, a 10-person research team, as well as staff in operations and for the Linked Information Network of Colorado. The Colorado Lab also works closely with a network of affiliated researchers throughout the state. Colorado Lab research staff are required to possess a solid understanding of rigorous research methods and why they work, strong written and oral communication skills for explaining technical topics to non-experts, and coding skills necessary to manage and analyze longitudinal data efficiently.

Staff members are expected to engage in a collaborative learning environment where employees are highly responsive to each other as well as to government and research partners. Staff hold themselves and each other responsible for completing high quality, well-documented work in a timely fashion.

The Colorado Lab seeks to hire a part‑time Senior Early Childhood Policy Research Fellow. This position will report to the Executive Director. A primary function will be to connect national best practices to Colorado's early childhood policy agenda. The Colorado Lab is well positioned to host this role, combining local knowledge with top national research to support a data‑informed policy agenda.

The amount of hours available for this part‑time position is contingent on funding secured by the incumbent Senior Early Childhood Policy Research Fellow. This is a non-benefited position.

• Serve as a senior subject matter expert on early childhood policy and research by identifying emerging issues, monitoring national and state policy developments, and synthesizing research, evaluations, and promising practices to inform Colorado's policy agenda and strategic priorities.
• Translate evidence into action by conducting policy analyses and developing policy briefs, issue papers, executive summaries, presentations, strategic memoranda, and other decision‑support products that communicate complex research and policy options to policymakers, executive leaders, and diverse stakeholders.
• Build and sustain collaborative partnerships with executive leadership, policymakers, philanthropic partners, researchers, and other stakeholders by advancing evidence‑based decision making and assessing opportunities to adapt national best practices to Colorado's unique context while elevating Colorado innovations nationally.
• Lead and manage complex policy research involving multiple organizations, competing priorities, and evolving timelines while independently managing multiple concurrent projects and representing the Colorado Lab in meetings, advisory groups, conferences, and other public forums.
• Contribute to the Colorado Lab's strategic growth and sustainability by cultivating partnerships, identifying funding opportunities, and contributing to grant development and other resource development activities.
• Lead the development of contract and grant proposals, including scopes of work, and associated budgets; initiate contract development with external partners/funders and provide content to the Lab's operational liaison with DU.
• Strengthen organizational capacity by mentoring and providing technical guidance to research and policy staff, fostering high‑quality analytical work, and promoting the effective use of…