University of Pittsburgh
School of Education
FY 2026 Search
Director, Office of Child Development (OCD) at the University of Pittsburgh
And Associate Professor with tenure
Position: Director and Associate Professor (tenured)
Appointment: 9 months, full-time; Starting August 15, 2026
The University of Pittsburgh’s School of Education seeks its next Director of the Office of Child Development (OCD). Entering its 40th year, OCD stimulates and supports interdisciplinary faculty collaborations with community partners to benefit the health, education, and welfare of children and families. The Office of Child Development is awarded around $7 million annually, sourced from a mix of government agencies and private foundations.
Overview
The Office of Child Development is recognized nationally for its leadership in advancing the well-being of children and families. Through a comprehensive approach, OCD delivers high quality training programs, provides technical assistance, and undertakes applied research and evaluation projects. These efforts are designed to improve outcomes for children and families not only within the region, but also across international communities. By emphasizing evidence-based practices and collaborative initiatives, the Office of Child Development serves as a model for effective engagement in child development and family welfare.
To lead such initiatives in research, praxis, policy, and community engagement, the OCD Director position requires:
- A creative and strategic visionary who can lead OCD as a unit critical to the School of Education and University’s larger research and community engagement commitment.
- An individual whose academic and community engagement credentials will enable them to facilitate partnerships with researchers, community professionals, and policymakers on applied research projects and community-based initiatives.
- An intentional leader who can guide OCD’s overall operations and align with the strategic goals of the School of Education.
- A skilled communicator who can develop and sustain successful relationships across academic and community contexts.
- An enthusiastic innovator who with others can generate revenue from local and national research and community funders.
- A strong leader with the ability to oversee OCD’s administration, personnel, and fiscal operations to sustain an infrastructure supporting effective work and a positive workplace climate.
The Director leads a team of about 50 OCD staff members, overseeing, supporting, and collaborating on numerous projects each year. The following divisions and services comprise OCD’s activities: Early Childhood Partnerships, Evaluation and Research, Family and Community Partnerships, Family Foundations Early Head Start, Literacy and Learning, The 3Rs: Reading, Racial Equity, and Relationships, and the P.R.I.D.E. Program. These project areas and staff groups support OCD’s vision to ensure all children and families have access to resources and support for thriving. Through the development of strong, mutually beneficial relationships with diverse stakeholders, OCD seeks to create knowledge, provide services, and influence policy to benefit families and children.
Position Requirements/Minimum Qualifications
- An earned doctorate in Education, Child Development/Human Development, Psychology, and Social Work or related field.
- Academic qualifications and a record of scholarship commensurate with appointment at the rank of associate professor with tenure.
- Evidence of successful leadership successes commensurate with leading a multimillion dollar academic center.
- A successful record of securing private and government funding and managing grants to support applied research and/or practice programs for children and families.
- Demonstrated knowledge of practice and policy issues at a local and national level
- of leadership experience in academic or administrative roles.
- Documented history of scholarly and professional productivity, including successful experience leading interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation.
- Commitment to applied research programs advancing access and equitable outcomes for children birth to middle childhood (i.e., ages 0 to 12) through research, practice, programming and school/community partnerships.
- Strong interpersonal, communication, and collaborative leadership skills.
- Demonstrated ability to lead strategic planning and change management initiatives.
Application Instructions
Applicants should submit the following materials:
- A letter of application detailing qualifications and vision for steering OCD.
- Curriculum vitae.
- Statement of leadership philosophy.
- Three representative writing samples.
- Names and contact information for least six professional references (please note: written copies of letters of reference will be required for all candidates who are invited to an on-campus visit during the finalist round).
Review of applications will continue until the position is filled. To apply, upload materials to https://cfopitt.taleo.net/careersection/pitt_faculty_external/jobdetail.ftl?job=25006660&tz=GMT-05%3A00&tzname=America%2FNew_York
Contact Information
For questions about the application process, contact Megan Brennan at edsearch@pitt.edu. For inquiries about the position, please contact Dr. Heather Bachman, Search Committee Chair, at hbachman@pitt.edu.
The University of Pittsburgh is an equal opportunity employer.
