Assistant Director of Research and Administration, The Nicholas Institute

Duke Careers • Durham, NC

51d

About The Position

At Duke, we celebrate individuality and the unique perspectives that each member of our community brings. As the Assistant Director of Research and Administration at the Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability (NIEES), you’ll be a vital part of a collaborative, interdisciplinary team driving sustainability and climate resilience across the university and beyond. The Strategic Financial and Planning Specialist will lead and support financial and strategic planning processes that directly impact NIEES’s mission. This role engages with university stakeholders, including the Provost’s Office and Campus Grants Management Team, to build systems that provide a comprehensive view of NIEES’s financial health and trajectory. You’ll develop strategic presentations, support grant fundraising efforts, and manage centralized research staff allocation to optimize talent utilization. This role offers the opportunity to shape the future of energy, environment, and sustainability at Duke. You’ll work alongside passionate experts and contribute to impactful research and policy engagement.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree (Master's or higher degree preferred).
• Five years of relevant experience; or equivalent combination of training and experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead monthly, quarterly, and annual financial management processes.
• Build systems to reconcile internal and external funding sources.
• Develop financial forecasts and strategic presentations for leadership.
• Support NIEES’s annual programmatic strategy reviews and budget planning.
• Collaborate with Program Directors on grant proposals and performance metrics.
• Manage centralized research staff allocation and utilization.
• Work with Director of Research and Engagement Strategy to develop and maintain a series of performance metrics for NIEES programs and the Institute that measure efficiency, staff utilization and leverage ratios.
• Oversee preparation efforts for a variety of narrative and analytical reports and correspondence to include ECRT (Effort Certification), Grant proposals (SPS) and Space (WebCentral).

Benefits

• 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.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees