Director, Time Away Office

Duke Careers • Durham, NC

1d • $62,694 - $107,633

About The Position

At Duke, we celebrate individuality and the unique perspectives that each member of our community brings. As the Director of the Time Away Office (TAO), you’ll play a vital role in shaping an equitable, supportive, and student‑centered approach to undergraduate separation and return processes. You’ll guide students and collaborate with partners across campus to ensure pathways that promote clarity, belonging, and well‑being.

The Director of the Time Away Office provides strategic leadership for Duke’s approach to undergraduate student time away and return. Positioned within the Dean of Students Office, this role sets the vision, standards, and partnerships that uphold consistency, transparency, and compassionate support throughout the student separation and re-entry experience.

Requirements

• A master’s degree demonstrating strong knowledge of educational principles, curriculum development, instructional design, and analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
• At least four years of professional experience.

Nice To Haves

• Five or more years of progressive experience supporting students in a higher education or Student Affairs setting.
• Demonstrated leadership in complex, cross-functional initiatives.
• Professional grounding in counseling, education, social work, public health, or a related field.
• Experience providing strategic leadership within a Dean of Students or Student Affairs context.
• Proven success in staff supervision, development, and organizational leadership.
• Deep understanding of undergraduate student development and transitional support.
• Ability to use data to inform policy, decisions, and program improvements.
• Excellent oral, written, and intercultural communication skills.
• A strong commitment to advocating for students and ensuring equity and transparency in institutional processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead the strategic direction, workflow design, and operational structure of the Time Away Office.
• Streamline documentation, tracking, and communication processes to increase efficiency and reduce administrative burden.
• Oversee compliance of university leave and return documentation with Student Affairs and institutional policies.
• Guide development and use of data systems to track outcomes and inform decision-making.
• Manage the TAO budget and align resource allocation with Dean of Students Office priorities.
• Establish and maintain professional communication standards and templates.
• Provide leadership for Student Affairs–led time away and return practices.
• Lead high-impact or complex cases requiring executive-level judgment and cross-campus coordination.
• Establish standards for individualized time away and return planning that ensure clear academic expectations and support structures.
• Maintain periodic engagement with students during time away, reinforcing expectations and readiness for return.
• Oversee the multidisciplinary review process for return requests and recommendations.
• Serve as the primary Student Affairs liaison to academic deans on matters of time away and student return.
• Rebuild and sustain collaborative relationships across campus that support coordinated student-centered decision-making.
• Partner with academic and Student Affairs leaders to review and refine policies related to student separation and return.
• Represent the Time Away Office on university committees and initiatives.
• Provide briefings, consultations, and trainings for campus leaders on Student Affairs roles and processes.
• Lead, supervise, and mentor TAO staff.
• Delegate case management and administrative responsibilities effectively.
• Facilitate case consultation with an emphasis on consistency, assessment, and shared learning.
• Oversee recruitment, onboarding, training, and performance evaluation processes.
• Lead assessment of time away trends, student experiences, and return outcomes.
• Translate data insights into policy improvements and staffing recommendations.
• Support ongoing efforts that advance equity, transparency, and student understanding of Student Affairs–led processes.
• Perform additional responsibilities as assigned to advance departmental, divisional, and institutional priorities.

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: Director