INTRODUCTION

The Department of Human Development and Family Sciences (HDFS) at the University of Connecticut invites applications for a non-tenure Executive Director and Instructor or Assistant Professor In-Residence of the Child Development Labs (CDL) at the Storrs campus. The responsibility of the individual hired will be to provide oversight of the CDL. This is a non-tenure-track, 11-month, end-dated position subject to annual renewal. 

The HDFS Department has 32 full-time faculty from diverse disciplinary backgrounds, staff, and over 40 graduate students, 500 undergraduate majors, and 150 undergraduate minors. The Child Development Labs, a NAEYC accredited early childhood education training facility that provides early care and education for UConn and the larger community, serving 64 children ages 6 weeks to five years, across five classrooms annually. 

Founded in 1881, UConn is a Land Grant and Sea Grant institution and member of the Space Grant Consortium. It is the state’s flagship institution of higher education and includes a main campus in Storrs, CT, four regional campuses throughout the state, and 13 Schools and Colleges, including a Law School in Hartford, and Medical and Dental Schools at the UConn Health campus in Farmington. The University has approximately 10,000 faculty and staff and 32,000 students, including nearly 24,000 undergraduates and over 8,000 graduate and professional students. UConn is a Carnegie Foundation R1 (highest research activity) institution, among the top 25 public universities in the nation. Through research, teaching, service, and outreach, UConn embraces diversity and cultivates leadership, integrity, and engaged citizenship in its students, faculty, staff, and alumni. UConn promotes the health and well-being of citizens by enhancing the social, economic, cultural, and natural environments of the state and beyond. The University serves as a beacon of academic and research excellence as well as a center for innovation and social service to communities. UConn is a leader in many scholarly, research, and innovation areas. Today, the path forward includes exciting opportunities and notable challenges. Record numbers of undergraduate applications and support for student success have enabled the University to become extraordinarily selective.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Hire, supervise, and support the professional development of the CDL teaching staff, including student employees.
• Oversee the development and implementation of play-based curriculum and assessment for young children.
• Supervise the day-to-day operation of the Center.
• Maintain state license and NAEYC accreditation.
• Manage budget and fiscal planning, including tuition, billing, and grants.
• Oversee waiting list and enrollment procedures.
• Communicate regularly with families, university, and the community at large.
• Collaborate with the faculty in Early Childhood Specializations to ensure integration of theory and practice for undergraduate students, including the possibility of teaching an undergraduate pedagogy course.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Consideration for appointment at the rank of Instructor: Master’s degree (or equivalent foreign degree) in early childhood education or related field;
• Consideration for appointment at the rank of Assistant Professor: Terminal degree (or equivalent foreign degree) in early childhood education or related field;
• Administrative experience in an early childhood program;
• Experience as an early childhood classroom teacher;
• Experience with direct supervision of professional staff;
• Experience with budgeting and enrollment;
• CT Director’s Credential by start date;
• Demonstrated experience with and commitment to emergent play-based curriculum;
• Demonstrated experience with and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion;
• Demonstrated proficiency in communicating with parents and teachers with a balance of empathy and assertiveness.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• 2 or more years of experience managing a NAEYC accredited early childhood center-based program;
• Current Connecticut Professional teaching certificate with the N-3 or Birth-Kindergarten endorsement;
• 3 or more years of experience as an early childhood classroom teacher;
• Experience with the NAEYC accreditation process;
• Experience in a university lab school;
• Experience working with college students;
• College-level teaching experience;
• Experience with School Readiness and Care4Kids requirements;
• Meet NAEYC Pedagogical and Operational Director Qualifications.

APPOINTMENT TERMS

This is a full-time, 11-month (August 1 to June 30), non-tenure-track position at the Storrs campus with an anticipated start date of August 1, 2022. In-residence positions are one-year appointments, but may be renewed annually, and can lead to multi-year contracts.  Salary and rank will be commensurate with background, qualifications, and experience.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT 

Employment of the successful candidate is contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment criminal background check.

TO APPLY

Please apply online to Academic Jobs Online https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/21679 and submit the following application materials:

• A cover letter that addresses your administrative experience, your commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, your approach to and experience working with pre-service students, and your philosophy of approach to early childhood
• Curriculum vitae
• Contact information for three (3) letters of reference. References will not be contacted without notification of the candidate.

Review of applications will begin on May 16, 2022, and continue until the position is filled. For more information please visit: Human Development and Family Sciences. For questions about this position, please contact the search committee chair, Rachel Cohen, rachel.c.cohen@uconn.edu.

At the University of Connecticut, our commitment to excellence is complemented by our commitment to building a culturally diverse community.

This position will be filled subject to budgetary approval.

All employees are subject to adherence to the State Code of Ethics, which may be found at http://www.ct.gov/ethics/site/default.asp.

The University of Connecticut is committed to building and supporting a multicultural and diverse community of students, faculty and staff. The diversity of students, faculty and staff continues to increase, as does the number of honors students, valedictorians and salutatorians who consistently make UConn their top choice. More than 100 research centers and institutes serve the University’s teaching, research, diversity, and outreach missions, leading to UConn’s ranking as one of the nation’s top research universities. UConn’s faculty and staff are the critical link to fostering and expanding our vibrant, multicultural and diverse University community. As an Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity employer, UConn encourages applications from women, veterans, people with disabilities and members of traditionally underrepresented populations.