The Research Assistant will support the Center’s Simple Interactions initiatives, which affirm the importance of human interactions in children’s lives.

The primary function is to understand and extend the legacy of Fred Rogers in serving children in childcare, schools, and community. Through these Simple Interactions initiatives across multiple contexts, including early childhood, K-12 educational settings, residential care, and children’s hospitals, we capture and build on what professionals already do well as the basis for their learning and growing.

Fred Rogers Center at Saint Vincent College has a full-time opening for a Research Associate.  This position will report to the Project Director.  The primary function is to understand and extend the legacy of Fred Rogers in serving children in childcare, schools, and community. The Research Assistant will support the Center’s Simple Interactions initiatives, which affirm the importance of human interactions in children’s lives. Through these initiatives across multiple contexts, including early childhood, K-12 educational settings, residential care, and children’s hospitals, we capture and build on what professionals already do well as the basis for their learning and growing.

Required Qualifications: This position requires a resourceful, collaborative, and creative individual who can build and sustain relationships with a diverse range of community partners who affect children’s lives. The Research Associate will demonstrate knowledge of research-based, developmentally appropriate practice for children birth through age 8; knowledge of building communities of practice; and understanding of, and sensitivity to, the needs of educators, early learning teachers, family childcare providers, families of young children, and others who care for children.

Education: Bachelor’s degree in education, psychology, community development, child development, social work or nonprofit management is required; master’s degree preferred.

Experience: A minimum of three years experience working directly with children, and/or working with community programs, schools, or child-serving professionals. Prior research, training, facilitation experience is preferred. The Research Associate will be technologically proficient with a computer and audio/video equipment.

Duties: The Research Associate will effectively reach out, coordinate, connect with, and convene diverse groups of professionals and partners, and engage these groups in learning and development that promotes high quality practice with children. The individual in this position engages in projects in community settings, including in-field filming, video filming, analysis, and editing, assisting in the planning and facilitation of professional development learning sessions, as well as research through the Fred Rogers Archive. The staff will contribute to community engagement and professional development projects; coordinate action with community programs and organizations that serve children; engage and coordinate communities of professionals in early childhood settings as well as public schools; connect with community partners, school board, and parents; coordinate and collaborate with Fred Rogers Center and Saint Vincent College staff, faculty, and students; and assist with other related project initiatives at the Fred Rogers Center. Responsibilities of this position require frequent travel throughout southwestern Pennsylvania.

This position requires the incumbent to be able to fully embrace the unique mission and identity of Saint Vincent as a Catholic, Benedictine liberal arts institution.  Saint Vincent Archabbey and College are committed to diversity and encourage applications from all qualified candidates. Equal opportunity employer.

Deadline to apply: October 4, 2017