Position Overview
The Center for Early Education and Development (CEED) within the Institute of Child Development is seeking an Observation Manager with extensive experience working in childcare programming, data collection, and child and program assessment tools. This individual will serve as the CEED Observation Manager for an observation project in early childcare settings across Minnesota. This person will work closely with the CEED Associate Director and others designing, implementing, and analyzing the observation work on this project. This position requires travel using your own transportation.

The individual in this position works under an annual renewable contract contingent upon performance and available funding. 

The University of Minnesota is a national leader in research, education, and outreach. This position would add to that mission by being a part of the research-to-practice arm of the number one developmental psychology program in the nation. The individual in this role will join a vibrant team working in a number of exciting research-to-practice opportunities. This role is classified under Professional and Administrative at the UMN, which provides excellent benefits and opportunities to partner with internal and external early childhood faculty, researchers, and organizations.

This position is based on campus. Travel is required. Per UMN policy, work may be done remotely when appropriate and approved by your manager.  

Job Responsibilities

Reliability management (65%)

• Serve as the CEED Observation Manager for a statewide observation project in early childcare programs across Minnesota
• Lead the CEED Observation team in completing all observations in a timely manner and with high quality
• Lead the day-to-day operations and collaborate with the CEED associate director to implement observation project deliverables including dual coding, calibration, observer drift, observer reliability, and quarterly scoring events following all observation and reliability protocols
• Monitor observer team and individual observer reliability and implement professional development opportunities when needed
• Collaborate with CEED associate director to collect, analyze, and report program data including observer reliability
• Review and revise all feedback reports for data entry accuracy, overall consistency, and grammar
• Monitor Develop, or other data systems where observation data is entered, to ensure timeliness, accuracy, and thoroughness
• Develop and implement project-specific protocols for observations and update and revise these protocols on a biannual basis
• Develop and implement strategies to ensure or improve reliability such as additional field work or manual review 

Observation (20%)

• Conduct on-site observations in various early care and education programs based on the observational visit protocol, as needed
• Maintain reliability in early childhood observation and assessment tools, as needed
• Write feedback reports and complete data entry following the project protocols
• Complete observations, feedback, and data entry in a timely manner and following project protocols 

Teaming and Collaboration (10%)

• Contribute to the mission of professional advocacy, implementing best practices, and outreach activities that support CEEDâ™s mission
• Participate in meetings to generate new ideas to develop and meet future project goals
• Provide ideas and support to the Online Learning Community facilitators
• Attend professional conferences, colloquia, and symposia
• Attend meetings as requested and lead meetings for the observation team
• Actively participate in CEEDâ™s strategic planning and vision
• Collaborate with the Associate Director to solicit and execute external sales projects
• Complete other tasks as assigned

Training and Mentoring (5%)

• Provide training for CEED staff
• Provide mentoring to the observation team
• Conduct training for early care and education community

Required Qualifications

• A masterâ™s degree in early childhood development, child psychology, early childhood education, early childhood special education, social work, human development, psychology or closely related field, and a minimum of four years leading data collection projects or observing early childhood settings using early childhood assessment tools, or a BA/BS with at least six years of relevant post degree experience.
• Experience collecting data with early childhood assessment tools and observing in early childhood education settings.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain reliability on at least one assessment tool through recertification.
• Be a member of DEVELOP and a DEVELOP-approved trainer
• Experience developing and disseminating online and in-person coursework and with leading online learning communities.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with people from a variety of communities, backgrounds, and identities.
• Evidence of success in leading a team of people to meet project objectives and deliverables and a strong administrative background.
• Ability to travel across Minnesota frequently and attend conferences across United States of America.
• Experience maintaining confidentiality and professional standards.

About University of Minnesota Twin Cities

The University of Minnesota, founded in the belief that all people are enriched by understanding, is dedicated to the advancement of learning and the search for truth; to the sharing of this knowledge through education for a diverse community; and to the application of this knowledge to benefit the people of the state, the nation, and the world.

Connections working at University of Minnesota Twin Cities