What are the responsibilities and job description for the Managing Director, Samuel DuBois Cook Center position at Duke?
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. Be Bold. Choose Duke.
Be You.
At Duke, we celebrate individuality and the unique perspectives that each member of our community brings. As the Managing Director for the Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity, you will serve as the Center’s senior administrative leader and a strategic partner to the Faculty Director. Together, you will help relaunch and strengthen a university-wide center dedicated to advancing rigorous research, transformative education, and public engagement focused on the systems that shape opportunity, mobility, and well-being.
In this role, you will work closely with faculty, staff, students, and campus partners across Duke to translate scholarly vision into effective programs, strong operations, and meaningful impact.
Be Bold.
This is a pivotal leadership opportunity for a strategic, operations-savvy professional who thrives in complex academic environments. You will help build the infrastructure, systems, and partnerships needed to support interdisciplinary research and engagement at scale—while shaping the Center’s next chapter of growth and excellence.
What You’ll Do
Program Development & Systems Management (30%)
- Guide program development across seed grants, research working groups, colloquia, workshops, and thematic initiatives
- Oversee academic and research programs aligned with Center priorities
- Manage curricular and program logistics to support faculty and students
- Ensure access to data, analytic support, and research infrastructure
- Track research outputs, activities, and program impact
Strategic Planning & Implementation (25%)
- Partner with the Faculty Director to develop and execute an organizational roadmap
- Integrate research, programming, and academic initiatives into a cohesive strategy
- Build systems that support coordinated planning and assessment
Partnerships & Stakeholder Engagement (20%)
- Coordinate partnerships across Duke and with external collaborators
- Support co-sponsored events, joint research projects, and community-engaged initiatives
- Foster cross-school collaboration and manage stakeholder communications
Staff Leadership & Internal Coordination (15%)
- Facilitate communication and workflow across leadership and advisory groups
- Recruit, onboard, supervise, and mentor staff and student employees
- Fulfill essential Program Coordinator duties until the role is filled
- Strengthen internal processes and information flow
Operations, Evaluation & Finance (10%)
- Oversee daily operations, budget monitoring, and administrative systems
- Lead evaluation frameworks, reporting, and continuous improvement efforts
- Support communications planning and fundraising readiness
Choose Duke.
This is more than a leadership role — it’s an opportunity to help shape the future of a university-wide research center at one of the world’s leading institutions. At Duke, the Managing Director of the Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity operates as a trusted strategic partner, influencing research priorities, academic programming, and community engagement at scale.
Duke supports its leaders with:
- Competitive executive-level compensation and comprehensive benefits
- Robust healthcare and wellness programs
- Retirement plans with generous employer contributions
- Substantial paid time off and university holiday schedules
- Tuition benefits for employees and eligible dependents
- Access to a global academic network and professional growth opportunities
At Duke, you’ll find the resources, credibility, and institutional commitment needed to do bold, meaningful work — and the support to build a career with lasting impact.
Ready to Make a Difference?
Apply through the Duke University Careers portal and help us build a stronger, smarter, and more connected future.
Anticipated Pay Range: Duke University provides an annual base salary range for this position as USD $0.00 to USD $0.00. 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 thedollars 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/
Equal Opportunity Employer: 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, (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: