Program Coordinator, Samuel Dubois Cook Center on Social Equity

Duke Careers•Durham, NC

23h•Onsite

About The Position

As the Program Coordinator, you’ll bring your organizational strengths, creativity, and attention to detail to a mission-centered academic environment. Reporting to the Managing Director at the Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity, you will support faculty, staff, students, and partners as they advance equity-driven research, education, and public engagement. Your work will help transform ideas into impactful programs, meaningful experiences, and lasting community connections. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a fast-paced, collaborative academic setting and enjoys managing multiple priorities while contributing to a larger social mission.

Requirements

Work requires analytical, communications and organizational skills generally acquired through completion of a bachelor's degree program.
Work requires one year of experience in program administration or involving academic, instructional or counseling activities to acquire skills necessary to plan, coordinate and implement a variety of program activities and events. OR AN EQUIVALENT COMBINATION OF RELEVANT EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE
Demonstrated ability to coordinate concurrent programs and events, meet deadlines, and effectively track and organize information.
Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills, with strong problem-solving abilities.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively with a wide range of partners.
Exceptional attention to detail and strong organizational abilities.

Nice To Haves

Three years of experience coordinating programs or projects in academic, nonprofit, or administrative settings, OR AN EQUIVALENT COMBINATION OF RELEVANT EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE.
Experience supporting programs or faculty in a higher education environment.
Knowledge of business and management principles related to strategic planning and coordination of people and resources.
Experience working with or supporting undergraduate students.
Experience developing communications and creative content for digital and social media.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office; Adobe Express or Canva; HTML email platforms (e.g., MailChimp, Emma, Constant Contact); and Drupal or other CMS platforms.
Commitment to advancing equity-driven research and education.

Responsibilities

Assist with the implementation of research, programming, and academic initiatives aligned with the Center’s mission and strategic goals.
Plan and execute colloquia, conferences, book launches, meetings, and special events in collaboration with Center partners.
Manage full-cycle event logistics, including registration, facilities, catering, media services, safety/public safety, room setup, vendor coordination, staff coverage, and on-site support.
Serve as Course Coordinator in the partnership with NEON (National Education Opportunity Network), supporting delivery of no-cost, for-credit Duke courses to scholars in low-income high schools nationwide.
Support processing of summer and academic-year fellowship applications, including preparing materials for selection committees, drafting offer letters, and completing related tasks.
Supervise and mentor undergraduate interns and work-study students.
Assist with tracking research outputs, activities, and program impact across the Center.
Assist with daily Center operations, helping implement and refine procedures, processes, services, and systems.
Coordinate administrative operations, serving as a liaison to finance and HR teams for hiring paperwork, onboarding, timesheet/stipend processing, and similar needs.
Manage financial processes with the support of the Office of Interdisciplinary Finance, ensuring accurate records and policy-aligned processing of transactions.
Maintain organized administrative and program records, including shared files, spreadsheets, contact lists, program documentation, and tracking systems.
Perform routine administrative tasks to ensure smooth Center operations.
Design and distribute print and digital materials—including brochures, reports, one-pagers, and promotional assets—in collaboration with the Assistant Director of Communications.
Maintain and update website and social media content.
Support production of stakeholder email newsletters and announcements.
Ensure all materials adhere to Duke University and Cook Center brand/style guidelines.