What are the responsibilities and job description for the Project Planner II position at Duke University?
Duke University
Duke University was created in 1924 through an indenture of trust by James Buchanan Duke. Today, Duke is regarded as one of America’s leading research universities. Located in Durham, North Carolina, Duke is positioned in the heart of the Research Triangle, which is ranked annually as one of the best places in the country to work and live. Duke has more than 15,000 students who study and conduct research in its 10 undergraduate, graduate and professional schools. With about 40,000 employees, Duke is the third largest private employer in North Carolina, and it now has international programs in more than 150 countries.
Be You.
At Duke, we celebrate individuality and the unique perspectives that each member of our community brings. As the Project Planner II, you’ll be a vital part of a collaborative, interdisciplinary team supporting the Office of the Provost – Finance and Administration in advancing financial, accounting, and operational excellence across the university.
Be Bold.
What You’ll Do
Project Planning and Coordination (~30%)
Join a community that values innovation, collaboration, and bold thinking. Duke empowers its people to contribute meaningfully to initiatives that shape our university’s future.
Anticipated Pay Range
Duke University provides an annual base salary range for this position as USD $77,898.00 to USD $124,598.00. Duke University considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position; candidate's work experience, education/training, and key skills; internal peer equity; as well as market and organizational considerations when extending an offer.
Your total compensation goes beyond the dollars on your paycheck. Duke provides comprehensive and competitive medical and dental care programs, generous retirement benefits, and a wide array of family-friendly and cultural programs to eligible team members. Learn more at https://hr.duke.edu/benefits/
Job Code: 00002822 PROJECT PLANNER II
Job Level: 71
Duke is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy related conditions), sexual orientation or military status.
Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.
Essential Physical Job Functions
Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.
Duke University was created in 1924 through an indenture of trust by James Buchanan Duke. Today, Duke is regarded as one of America’s leading research universities. Located in Durham, North Carolina, Duke is positioned in the heart of the Research Triangle, which is ranked annually as one of the best places in the country to work and live. Duke has more than 15,000 students who study and conduct research in its 10 undergraduate, graduate and professional schools. With about 40,000 employees, Duke is the third largest private employer in North Carolina, and it now has international programs in more than 150 countries.
Be You.
At Duke, we celebrate individuality and the unique perspectives that each member of our community brings. As the Project Planner II, you’ll be a vital part of a collaborative, interdisciplinary team supporting the Office of the Provost – Finance and Administration in advancing financial, accounting, and operational excellence across the university.
Be Bold.
What You’ll Do
Project Planning and Coordination (~30%)
- Plan and manage a multi‑phase diagnostic and planning initiative involving auxiliary leadership, central finance, IT, and external vendors.
- Develop project plans, timelines, milestones, and deliverables focused on stabilization and long‑term improvements.
- Coordinate efforts across teams, vendors, consultants, and auditors.
- Apply project management methodologies including scope, schedule, dependencies, and risk management.
- Track progress, identify issues, and recommend corrective actions.
- Prepare status reports, briefings, and executive summaries.
- Serve as the main point of contact and facilitate communication among stakeholders.
- Identify needs for supplemental consulting support and oversee deliverables.
- Review accounting structures, mappings, and reporting processes related to outsourced production, distribution, and warehousing.
- Identify misalignments between vendor statements, SAP general ledger activity, and operational systems.
- Document reconciliation processes ensuring consistent alignment across systems.
- Recommend accounting procedures to support timely and accurate reporting.
- Analyze revenue/expense processing, journal entries, reconciliations, accruals, inventory, and revenue recognition.
- Perform root‑cause analysis on recurring accounting errors and reporting discrepancies.
- Assist in resolving historical accounting issues and establishing documentation standards.
- Translate complex findings into clear recommendations for non‑technical audiences.
- Review accounting frameworks and recommend current‑state and future‑state models.
- Coordinate a technical assessment of financial and operational systems integrating third‑party vendor data.
- Assess staffing models and resource needs to support sustainable operations.
- Support planning and coordination of an external financial audit.
- Recommend standardized accounting procedures, controls, and governance practices.
- Establish monitoring and reconciliation controls to prevent future issues.
- Evaluate reporting structures and recommend improvements for transparency and alignment.
- Develop dashboards and planning tools supporting leadership oversight.
- Prepare a long‑term stabilization and modernization plan with priorities and resource requirements.
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, Business Administration, or related field.
- Four years of progressively responsible experience in project planning, analysis, or coordination involving complex initiatives.
- Experience in financial operations, accounting, reporting, audit coordination, or related analytical work.
- Experience supporting outsourced or third‑party financial or operational models.
- Experience in higher education or similarly complex environments.
- Familiarity with Duke University financial systems, policies, and procedures.
- Formal training or certification in project management.
- CPA, MBA, or related advanced credential.
- Knowledge of project planning principles and tools.
- Knowledge of accounting, financial reporting, and internal controls.
- Ability to analyze accounting structures and system integrations.
- Strong analytical, organizational, and problem‑solving skills.
- Ability to communicate complex concepts clearly to diverse audiences.
- Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities.
- Ability to build effective working relationships.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office, especially Excel; SAP and reporting tools preferred.
Join a community that values innovation, collaboration, and bold thinking. Duke empowers its people to contribute meaningfully to initiatives that shape our university’s future.
Anticipated Pay Range
Duke University provides an annual base salary range for this position as USD $77,898.00 to USD $124,598.00. Duke University considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position; candidate's work experience, education/training, and key skills; internal peer equity; as well as market and organizational considerations when extending an offer.
Your total compensation goes beyond the dollars on your paycheck. Duke provides comprehensive and competitive medical and dental care programs, generous retirement benefits, and a wide array of family-friendly and cultural programs to eligible team members. Learn more at https://hr.duke.edu/benefits/
Job Code: 00002822 PROJECT PLANNER II
Job Level: 71
Duke is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy related conditions), sexual orientation or military status.
Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.
Essential Physical Job Functions
Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.
Salary : $77,898 - $124,598