Managing Director, Samuel DuBois Cook Center

Duke Careers•Durham, NC

31d

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 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. 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. 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.

Responsibilities

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
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
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
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
Oversee daily operations, budget monitoring, and administrative systems
Lead evaluation frameworks, reporting, and continuous improvement efforts
Support communications planning and fundraising readiness