Senior Early Childhood Policy Research Fellow

University of Denver; Denver (CO); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 124,000; Part time

Job summary

The Colorado Evaluation and Action Lab at the University of Denver seeks a part‑time Senior Early Childhood Policy Research Fellow based in Denver, CO. The role focuses on connecting national best practices to Colorado's early childhood policy agenda and advancing evidence‑based decision making.

Hours are contingent on funding; this is a non‑benefited, part‑time position with an hourly rate of $85.18. Schedule is Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m., with a mix of virtual and in‑person work in the

Qualifications

• PhD in early childhood or public policy with a concentration in early childhood.
• At least ten years leading research projects and supervising staff.
• Experience working with government agencies and philanthropic funders.
• Experience translating research, evaluations, and policy analyses into actionable recommendations.
• Demonstrated ability to secure research funding from governmental or philanthropic sources.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a senior subject matter expert on early childhood policy and research.
• Translate evidence into action by developing policy briefs, issue papers, executive summaries, and other decision‑support products.
• Build and sustain collaborative partnerships with executive leadership, policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders.
• Lead and manage complex policy research involving multiple organizations and projects.
• Cultivate partnerships and identify funding opportunities for growth and sustainability.
• Lead development of contracts and grant proposals, including scopes of work and budgets.
• Mentor and provide guidance to research and policy staff to promote high‑quality analytical work.

Skills

Early childhood policy

Written communication

Strategic thinking

Policy leadership

Project management

Grant planning

Mentoring

Education

PhD in early childhood or public policy with concentration in early childhood

Job description

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.

This is a non-benefited, part-time position not to exceed 1,000 hours in a calendar year.

Position Summary

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.

Essential Functions

• 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 evidence in decision making.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Expert knowledge of early childhood policy, public systems, and evidence‑based policymaking.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to develop high‑quality policy briefs, presentations, executive memoranda, reports, and public‑facing materials, and to present complex information effectively.
• Strong strategic thinking, analytical, and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to assess policy options, anticipate implementation challenges, and develop practical, evidence‑informed solutions.
• Ability to build and sustain trusted relationships with senior government officials, legislators, researchers, philanthropic organizations and community partners.
• Demonstrated project leadership and organizational skills, including the ability to manage multiple complex initiatives simultaneously, prioritize competing demands, and meet deadlines in a fast‑paced environment.
• Knowledge of research and evaluation methods, data interpretation, and evidence standards, with the ability to critically assess the quality and applicability of research to inform policy decisions.
• Adept at navigating sensitive policy and evidence‑building issues with discretion, confidentiality, and confidence.
• Track record of successfully obtaining funding for research from government and philanthropic sources.

Required Qualifications

• PhD in early childhood or public policy field with a concentration in early childhood.
• Ten years of experience leading research projects (e.g., principal investigator or co‑principal investigator), including successful supervision of less‑experienced researchers in completing routine tasks and growing their skills over time.
• Demonstrated expertise in early childhood policy and related systems, including child and family well‑being, education, health, workforce, or economic mobility.
• Experience working with government agencies on evidence‑building and/or the policy‑making process.
• Experience synthesizing and translating research, evaluation findings, and policy analyses into actionable recommendations for executive leaders, policymakers, and other decision‑makers.
• Experience securing philanthropic or government funding to maintain financial coverage of self and portion of research support staff or students.

Work Schedule

Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Must be based in the Denver region with a balance of virtual and in‑person work.

Hourly Rate

The hourly rate for this position is $85.18.

The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, but not based on a candidate's sex or any other protected status.

Benefits

The University of Denver offers some benefits for non‑benefited employees. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver.

Application Deadline

For consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. September 4, 2026.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital, family, or parental status, pregnancy or related conditions, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. The University of Denver does not discriminate and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, creed, disability, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital family, and parental status, pregnancy, genetic information, military enlistment, or veteran status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance in any of the University's educational programs and activities, and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; the Americans with Disabilities Act; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; the Equal Pay Act; the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act; the Colorado Protecting Opportunities and Worker's Rights ("POWR") Act; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For more information, please see the University of Denver's Non‑Discrimination‑Statement.

All offers of employment are based upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history and National Sex Offender Registry background check.