RESEARCH PROJECT MANAGER

Duke University • Durham, NC

3d

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.  Occupational Summary:
Support the Office for Research and Innovation (OR&I) through a dual role that advances both the myRESEARCHnavigators program and institutional research support initiatives. The position implements and assists in developing short- and long-range goals for these programs, staying informed of Duke University and external requirements that influence research planning and conduct.

The incumbent will serve as a program associate and project manager for the Assistant Vice President for Research Support Services, independently managing projects and initiatives that strengthen research infrastructure, community engagement, and service delivery. Responsibilities include designing and implementing small-scale programs, coordinating cross-unit collaborations, and evaluating outcomes to support continuous improvement

Requirements

• Minimum of three years of related program or project management experience, preferably in a research, higher education, or service program environment.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively across diverse stakeholders.
• Experience with data collection, analysis, and reporting for program evaluation.
• Demonstrated initiative, creativity, and follow-through.

Nice To Haves

• Master's degree or Ph.D. in the experimental laboratory-based sciences preferred
• Fluency with the Duke research environment, processes, and resources strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate to develop and conduct program activities for the myRESEARCHnavigators team and OR&I Research Support Services.
• Support onboarding and orientation for faculty, staff, and trainees entering the research enterprise, including education on processes, resources, and policies.
• Respond to or triage research community inquiries to the appropriate resource for resolution.
• Deliver or coordinate presentations, workshops, and training sessions for the research community.
• Review project submissions (e.g., Intent to Submit forms) to identify resource needs, project complexities, and opportunities for proactive planning.
• Contribute to developing guidelines, process improvements, and tracking systems for program evaluation
• Provide dedicated support to the Assistant Vice President for Research Support Services and the Director of the Office of Research Initiatives by providing project management, facilitating communications, and delivering operational assistance across various initiatives.
• Develop and implement small institutional research programs or pilots, including defining timelines, managing stakeholders, and evaluating outcomes.
• Synthesize data and prepare reports or presentations for institutional use.
• Coordinate stakeholder engagement and communications across multiple offices/units.
• Support strategic planning and assessment activities for research support initiatives.
• Maintain organized documentation, workflows, and tracking systems to monitor progress and ensure accountability.
• Coordinate and assist in managing the day-to-day flow of operations within various OR&I programs.
• Identify opportunities to improve coordination, visibility, and efficiency of research support services across Duke.
• Perform other related duties incidental to the work described herein.

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: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees