University of Denver

Department Summary

The University of Denver (DU) is a top ranked university in a thriving city at the base of the Rocky Mountains. Recently named as the best place to live in the United States, Denver is home to a wide range of world-class museums, award-winning restaurants, trendy clubs and shopping areas, several decorated universities, and seven professional sports teams. The ethnic and cultural diversity of the Denver Metro area includes a Latino/Hispanic population that represents about a third of the population, a strong and visible African American community, a diverse array of Southeast Asian refugees and immigrants, and a similarly diverse population of refugees and immigrants from East Africa. Add to this one of the nation's largest city park systems, 650 miles of paved bike paths, and surprisingly moderate winters and you realize why Denver is the place to be.

The Graduate School of Professional Psychology (GSPP) at DU was created in 1976 to house one of the first PsyD programs in the country, under the then-new Vail training model (practitioner-scholar). The PsyD program is the nation’s second-oldest and has been continuously accredited by the American Psychological Association since 1979. GSPP provides four specialized master’s programs: sport coaching, sport and performance psychology, forensic psychology, and international disaster psychology. The School also has a partially affiliated, APA-accredited internship consortium and in-house service clinics. All programs provide comprehensive training for applied work within an academic environment of cooperation and collaboration that fosters critical thinking and self-determined functioning; we are committed to providing cultural competence for all our students.

Knowledge of multiculturalism and inclusive excellence guides GSPP in the mission to be as welcoming and inclusive as possible to all students, staff, and faculty. GSPP is strongly committed to building a diverse and inclusive educational environment, which is in full accord with the value that DU places on diversity, equity, and inclusion. This includes acknowledging the family needs of post-doctoral fellows, including dual career couples and single parents. We are especially interested in candidates who, through their teaching, advising, mentoring, service, and scholarship, will contribute to the diversity and inclusive excellence of our academic community. We welcome applications from individuals who may have taken a nontraditional career path, taken time off for family or personal reasons, or who have achieved excellence in (sport) careers outside of academia.

As a professional college, GSPP is focused on high level integration of applied practice, theory, research, and scholarship. Our initiative on the State of Sport Colorado adheres to the practitioner-scholar philosophy and emphasizes real-world learning and applied research endeavors. For more information about GSPP, please consult the website: psychology.du.edu. The University of Denver, Graduate School of Professional Psychology and DUKineSport programs are committed to building a diverse and inclusive educational environment. We encourage knowledge of, respect for, and development of skills to effectively engage with diverse individuals and communities.

The State of Sport Colorado initiative takes a critical step in advancing meaningful improvement to sport and its participants and stakeholders. The mission of State of Sport Colorado is to understand how sport is organized and administered within Colorado, particularly the Front Range. We seek to understand the wide range of sport organizations and their vision, mission, values, goals, and practices. We will conduct research, connect with diverse stakeholders, convene community-based events, and write and disseminate white papers to create a feasibility analysis of how to improve sport throughout Colorado. Ultimately, we seek to expand and solidify our presence as a backbone university dedicated to the public good by understanding and improving sport. Supported by philanthropy and a dynamic team of faculty, fellows, students, and community partners, the State of Sport Colorado will become a sustainable model for grassroots social impact harnessing the power of sport.

Position Summary

The fellowship provides opportunities for research (particularly community-based participatory research), public policy, community facing events and relationship building, teaching, mentorship (receiving and providing), and social impact. Service, administration (of academic programs or clinics), and clinical/therapeutic practice is not part of this role. The Fellow is expected to attend faculty and staff meetings.

The 12-month (4-quarter), full-time postdoctoral fellowship will be affiliated with our DUKineSport programs and will be supervised by Professor and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Dr. Brian Gearity. The fellow will teach a 1-4 credit hour course in each of the fall, winter, and spring quarters (i.e., 12 credit hours equally distributed over the three quarters). Any summer teaching will be considered an overload and is not guaranteed. This is a benefited position with an expected average work week of 40-45 hours. Exact teaching assignments will be determined based on the Fellow’s qualifications and the program’s needs, with the expectations to align the course(s) with the Fellow’s strengths, minimize course preparation, and prepare them for full-time professorial-level positions. The Fellow will be integrated into the program’s work, supported directly by five collegial faculty and two staff. Our faculty are committed to providing mentoring, teaching, and research resources that will support the Fellow in their professional development.

Because the fellowship program is demanding, outside employment is strongly discouraged. Postdoctoral fellows will be paid an estimated stipend of $56,484.00 for the 2024-2025 training year (salary will follow the NIH postdoctoral fellow salary requirement). Additional compensation and benefits in the form of health insurance, paid vacation and sick leave, and liability coverage for program-related on- and off-site activities will be provided. Leave will be provided accordingly for conference presentations and professional development. The Fellow will be allocated $2,500 annually for professional development, including conference attendance, presentations, and expenses related to maintaining licensure, certification, or general professional advancement. There may be limited funds available to help with relocation expenses. 

The Fellow will have, or share, an office and access to various resources from DU. The Fellow will have a computer with word processing software, access to printers, e-mail, and one of the nation’s best university libraries.

The Fellow will be formally evaluated on a quarterly basis pursuant to a written evaluation process (including teaching, research, and project completion) that outlines progress over the course of the year, including identification of strengths and limitations of the Fellow’s skills as an early career scholar-practitioner.

Currently, there is guaranteed funding for this fellowship for two years. Upon successful evaluation, the initial one-year contract may be renewed for a second year. Due to the nature of this fellowship, we desire the fellow to commit to this position for two years. Fellows are encouraged to apply for funding or engage in philanthropy, under the supervision and direction of GSPP and DU, to sustain and/or grow this and subsequent related initiatives. The Fellow will be able to conduct or complete their own research and additional research, and collaborate with our faculty, while they complete the essential functions for the State of Sport Initiative.

The projected start date for this position is August 1, 2024.

Essential Functions

• Teach 1-4 credit hour course in fall, winter, and spring quarters (12 credit hours total).
• Create materials, such as documents and databases, detailing how sport is organized and administered in Colorado.
• Identify organizations’ metrics used for assessment; employee or volunteer preparation; regulation, legislation, and oversight internal and external to the organization; and revenue or funding. 
• Review the literature for discourses and metrics used to assess quality sport programming, with a focus on sport coaching.
• Create a feasibility analysis identifying where, how, and to what effect sport can be improved in Colorado.
• Create policy recommendations for sport stakeholders and legislators.
• Possibly implement a small-scale program/intervention to demonstrate success, lessons learned, future recommendations, and revise the feasibility analysis.
• Build relationships and contacts with sport stakeholders, host them at DU, and engage in community sport events.
• Conduct analyses and develop a plan for DU to sustain thought leadership and serve as a backbone organization in Colorado for the public good in sport.
• Lead in organizing and convening community-based sport events, in collaboration with DU faculty, staff, and students and friends of the university.
• Lead in writing white papers, grey matter, op-eds and other methods of mass communication, such as webinars, podcasts, and blog posts.
• Supervise DU students to fulfill the Sate of Sport Colorado initiative.
• Create and post resources on DU websites, learning management system, and other technologies to serve the public good.
• Apply for funding or engage in philanthropy, under the supervision and direction of GSPP and DU, to sustain and/or grow this and subsequent related initiatives.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Attitudes

• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including diverse writing styles including scientific and lay writing.
• Strong research skills.
• Ability to learn quickly and pay attention to detail.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Fluency in English.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Manage logistical aspects of hosting small size events for community guests and partners to come to DU.
• Ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to complete scientific research across quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods or the ability to learn new methodologies quickly.
• Strong work ethic, frustration and ambiguity tolerance, and openness and curiosity.

Required Qualifications

• Doctoral degree in kinesiology or highly related area (e.g., education, exercise/health/sport psychology, sport sociology, motor development, sport management, physical activity/education). ABD candidates will be considered but should be able to provide documentation related to timeline to terminal degree completion.
• Effective teaching experience, preferably at the undergraduate level.
• Demonstrated praxis committed to social justice and addressing the needs of diverse populations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience as a sport practitioner, preferably as a sport coach or athletic administrator or manager.
• Demonstrated success in community-based research or programming.
• Fluent in Spanish or other common languages within the Denver area.

Work Schedule

The work schedule for this position will vary depending on teaching, research, community partners and events, and fellowship needs. Typically, the work schedule would include teaching on-campus two days per week and the rest of the work conducted at a mix of on- and off-campus sites, including personal residence or community partner sites.

Working Environment

Standard office/classroom environments - unexpected interruptions could occur, and stress level is low to moderate. Noise level is quiet to moderate. Off-campus sites with community partners and establishing new partners. 

Physical Activities

Ability to sit in front of a computer for an extended period. Occasionally required to move about the office/campus with the capability of transporting objects up to 20 lbs. Able to conduct treatment onsite or through secure telehealth services.

Application Deadline

For consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) April 26, 2024.

Special Instructions

Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.

Salary Grade Number

The salary grade for the position is GE8.

Salary Range

The salary range for this position is $56,000-$68,000.

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 excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO pass. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver.

Please include the following documents with your application

1. Cover Letter; include (a) your interest in this position and its alignment with your career or professional goals and (b) how your knowledge, skills, and attitudes prepare you for the functions of this position. 
2. CV
3. Names and contact information of three references.

The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. The University of Denver prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, creed, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital 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; Equal Pay Act; Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act; the Colorado Protecting Opportunities and Workers' Rights ("POWR") Act; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or 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 contingent upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history background check.

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