"Director of the Child Study Center and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Psychology"

Position Overview

The Faculty Director of the Child Study Center, a 50 percent faculty appointment and a 50 percent staff appointment, has full responsibility for the operations of the Center, running a model early childhood program (for ages 2-5) with an exceptional learning environment for the training of undergraduate students, and overseeing a research laboratory setting where children and families participate in a variety of college-approved research projects. The Faculty Director is a member of the Psychology Department, who may also be asked to teach early childhood courses within the Education Department, and reports directly to the Dean of Faculty Affairs regarding the administrative issues of the school.

Responsibilities:

• Maintains an environment that provides high quality services to children and families within a positive setting for observation, study, and research in child development.
• Teaches two full course units each year, usually one course unit in the Psychology department and one in the Education department.
• Works with the Psychology Department to set policy and strategy for the school.
• Oversees short-term and long-term planning efforts.
• Implements and maintains the educational programs of the Child Study Center with strong oversight of the program’s operations.
• Oversees public relations, admissions, human resources, facilities operations, and fiscal and budget management.
• Provides research-based leadership for policies and practices in the local and national early childhood community.
• Represents the Child Study Center to other departments and offices of the College, to the general public, and to professional colleagues and organizations.
• Participates as much as possible as a faculty member of the Psychology Department.
• Guides teachers and staff in following the Child Study Center’s tradition and practice of providing high quality programs for families.
• Serves as a leader in the early childhood education field.
• Supports College faculty use of the Child Study Center as a teaching facility.
• Conducts orientations and class visits for several hundred Wellesley College students and volunteers plus student researchers from other institutions.
• Participates in the design of, facilitates, and monitors faculty and student research.
• Supervises data collection of independent studies and/or thesis research students.
• Works with faculty and outside researchers to facilitate research projects at the school.
• Plans and conducts parent meetings and parent discussion group series, staff meetings, clinical consultations, workshops, and training sessions for teachers, interns, and volunteers.
• Writes, updates, and arranges for the production of all school-related written materials, such as handbooks, brochures, guidelines, and newsletters.
• Writes recommendations for children, students, and staff.
• Edits and approves parent conference reports and child progress reports.
• Plans the annual budget, oversees its use, and expedites annual parent fund-raising drive.
• Develops effective fund-raising efforts in close coordination with College initiatives.
• Oversees maintenance of equipment and building (approx. 2100 sq. ft.) and grounds (approx. 11,000 sq. ft.) and the Playroom in the Child and Family Research Suite at the Science Center.
• Responsible for all staffing decisions in the event of short- or long-term absences; runs searches for open staff positions.
• Counsels, advises, and confers with parents, prospective parents, school systems (e.g., for Individualized Education Plans of children with special needs), outside agencies, Wellesley College students, and students from other institutions.
• Oversees adherence to state licensing and professional accreditation standards.

Qualifications:

• Minimum degree requirement is an M.A. in Early Childhood Education or a related field; post-Masters work and/or Ph.D. or equivalent degree in Child Development, Early Childhood Education, or related field is strongly preferred.
• Director I certification according to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care.
• Previous early childhood teaching experience, laboratory school experience, and college teaching experience preferred.
• Familiarity with standard research protocols and experimental design.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills and ability to work with constituents of many ages.
• Demonstrated supervisory and leadership skills.
• Experience with fundraising for private institutions preferred.
• Must be able to work in a culturally diverse environment.

Salary Range:

The pay range for the role is $110,000.00 - $130,000.00

Application Deadline:

February 13, 2026; Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

How to Apply:

Interested applicants should submit applications through our online system at https://www.wellesley.edu/about-us/working-at-wellesley. Please include a cover letter, curriculum vitae and teaching philosophy statement. In addition, please provide the names and email addresses of two references who may be contacted for letters of recommendation, including one reference who can speak to the candidate’s teaching experience and one who can speak to the candidate’s leadership/management.