Communications & Administrative Specialist , Sanford School of Public Policy

Duke Careers•Durham, NC

9d•$20 - $31•Onsite

About The Position

As the Communications & Administrative Specialist (Sanford School of Public Policy), you’ll play a vital role in advancing communications, marketing, and operational excellence across a dynamic portfolio of public policy initiatives. You’ll serve as a key connector—supporting the World Food Policy Center (WFPC), the Southeast Asia Research Group (SEAREG), and the broader Sanford Communications & Marketing team—helping bring important research and events to life for diverse audiences. In this multifaceted role, you will support communications activities, digital engagement, event execution, and administrative operations.

Requirements

Four years of clerical or research experience to acquire strong skills in administrative or project research responsibilities as well as accepted office management, communications and research practices.
A bachelor's degree in a field of study directly related to the specific position may be substituted for the education and two years of the experience requirement.
OR AN EQUIVALENT COMBINATION OF RELEVANT EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE
Organized, detail-oriented, collaborative and write well.
1-2 years of professional communications experience, including maintaining websites.

Nice To Haves

4-year degree in communications, graphic design, political science, marketing, other social sciences.
Extensive college exposure to communications strategies may also be considered.
Familiarity with public policy and food system issues would be considered an asset.

Responsibilities

Managing the WFPC’s website and events.
Generating communications that are intended to summarize and publicize the center’s activities to wider audiences.
Managing the WFPC’s communications strategy, working closely with the Sanford communications team.
Reviewing the WFPC’s current website and devising strategies to highlight recent center activities to the public.
Generate narratives or articles to capture recent project activities and events.
Develop and disseminate WFPC newsletters.
Maintain current project descriptions to inform wider audiences of WFPC activities.
Generate ideas to publicize the work of WFPC, both on the Duke campus and for external audiences.
Update profiles on website for WFPC staff and students.
Post journal papers, news mentions, podcasts, videos/webinars.
Maintain and update WFPC course listings.
Work with WFPC Associate Director to maintain list of student internships.
Proofread WFPC written products and engage with transcription services to assist data collection on qualitative projects.
Supporting the planning of school and WFPC events, including organizing outreach and promotion, designing promotional graphics using Canva or similar tools for social media and outreach materials, promoting events through Sanford and Duke channels, and working collaboratively with faculty and staff.
Managing and staffing events, including: scheduling and organizing meetings; interacting with vendors; maintaining mailing lists; assisting with internal space and catering logistics; arranging videography/photography; helping draft post-event social media content; generating summary reports; among other activities.
Scheduling meeting rooms, orchestrating Concur for the Communications and Marketing team, ordering supplies, managing calendars, updating websites, reserving rooms, sending timecard reminders, supporting event logistics for Distinguished Lectures and other Dean priority events, supporting multimedia projects and podcasts, and taking notes at staff meetings.
Being the primary Communications contact for the Southeast Asia Research Group (SEAREG).
Tracking project information and generating written materials and social media content for the SEAREG.
Managing the SEAREG’s website, updating calls for papers and other application windows.
Drafting or distributing news releases to describe SEAREG activities.
Helping manage the SEAREG’s mailing lists.
Perform other related duties incidental to the work described herein.