Director of Administration and Special Projects, Duke Arts

Duke Careers•Durham, NC

About The Position

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 Director of Administration and Special Projects, you will be a vital part of a collaborative, interdisciplinary team that strengthens Duke Arts, advances academic and creative excellence, and supports transformative experiences for students, faculty, artists, and the Durham community. You will be working across a robust ecosystem that includes Duke Arts Presents, Duke Arts Engagement, academic arts departments (Music; Dance; Theater Studies; Art, Art History & Visual Studies; and Creative Writing), community arts partnerships, and interdisciplinary initiatives that make the arts a vibrant part of the Duke experience. Be Bold. As the Director of Administration and Special Projects, you will serve as a strategic partner, operational integrator, and trusted advisor to the Vice Provost for the Arts (VPA). In this newly created senior leadership role, you will connect long‑range strategic vision with day-to-day operational execution—serving as the designated representative of the VPA as needed and ensuring that Duke Arts executes with clarity, efficiency, and institutional alignment.You will collaborate closely with Duke Arts Directors across Programming, Engagement, Marketing & Communications, and Development, providing guidance on complex issues, strengthening workflows, and aligning efforts across the arts ecosystem. You will also partner with the Administrative Assistant to ensure consistent, accurate communication and seamless operations within the Office of the Vice Provost for the Arts.Your role will anchor Duke Arts’ highest‑priority initiatives. You will advise the VPA, coordinate and implement institutional projects, lead special initiatives, and support both strategic planning and financial management. You will identify and track milestones, develop governance pathways, enhance executive visibility, and ensure momentum across all VPA-driven efforts.This role is ideal for an experienced, strategic professional who thrives in an environment of innovation, collaboration, executive advising, and matrixed leadership—and who is inspired to help shape the future of Duke Arts.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required, preferably in a business-related field, public administration, arts administration, or a related discipline.
Minimum four years of progressive experience in program management, administration, or related work.
Strong organizational, management, administrative, and strategic problem-solving skills.
Excellent communication and human relations skills with ability to collaborate across diverse stakeholders.
Proven ability to manage multiple priorities in a complex, matrixed environment.

Nice To Haves

15 years of leadership experience in arts management or a highly matrixed higher‑education environment.
Experience advising executives and supporting high-visibility, institution-wide initiatives.
Ability to lead without formal authority.
Expertise in strategic planning, financial analysis, operational leadership, and organizational design.
Experience with interdisciplinary arts initiatives, community engagement, or cross-campus networks.

Responsibilities

Lead independent planning and execution of strategic special projects from concept through completion—defining scope, goals, success metrics, and project plans.
Translate the Vice Provost for the Arts’ priorities into actionable operational strategies, including resource alignment, risk assessment, and cross-functional coordination.
Develop and manage project budgets, including forecasting, tracking expenditures, reconciling accounts, and ensuring adherence to financial parameters.
Facilitate engagement with faculty, staff, students, campus partners, and external collaborators to ensure strategic alignment and project momentum.
Support Provost-led initiatives: AI, Pluralism, Free Inquiry & Belonging, Climate.
Lead We the People: Duke’s campus-wide commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
Coordinate season-long themes integrating performance, engagement, academic inquiry, and community participation.
Coordinate and launch emerging campus-wide arts networks.
Support Council for the Arts agenda development, collaborations, membership coordination, and project activation.
Support NeuroArts Network mission development, structural design, and ongoing initiative leadership.
Support other arts-related collaborations and initiatives as they emerge.
Partner with the VPA to shape and drive senior leadership agendas, structure high-impact meetings, clarify decision pathways, and ensure execution and follow-through.
Serve as a strategic thought partner on resource planning, financial sustainability, and multi-year modeling.
Oversee alignment of Duke Arts’ operating budget and multi-year financial plans with institutional priorities.
Lead development and execution of Duke Arts’ strategic planning framework, including benchmarking, landscape analysis, stakeholder engagement, and institutional communications.
Enhance executive effectiveness by advising on priorities, commitments, institutional engagements, partnerships, and visibility.
Represent the VPA in meetings and committees as needed.
Strengthen operational alignment across Duke Arts Directors in Programming, Engagement, Marketing & Communications, and Development.
Help strengthen and steward a positive, collaborative culture across Duke Arts and the wider arts community at Duke.
Support additional institutional projects and initiatives as they arise.