PROGRAM DIRECTOR, THE NORTH CAROLINA LEADERSHIP FORUM at DUKE

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

The North Carolina Leadership Forum at Duke (NCLF) seeks to address partisan polarization and enable healthy discourse by cultivating state and local leaders and thus the political environment. Each year, NCLF recruits a cohort of statewide leaders from the government, business, and non-profit sectors that are highly diverse across party, ideology, race, ethnicity, gender, professional experience, and regional perspective. Over the course of several months, participants attend 4-5 intensive meetings focused on a specific, important current policy topic. The program recently expanded to run one statewide and two regional cohorts each year, reaching about 100 state and local leaders per year, with the goal of expanding into additional states by Spring 2023. Originally a program at the Sanford School of Public Policy, the NC Leadership Forum is currently housed at the Office of the Provost. NCLF is seeking a Senior Program Coordinator to assist in the planning and execution of its regular programs. This position will plan and implement NCLF’s cohort-based programs, design and lead new programming for NCLF alumni, support research on cohort topics, and assist the Executive Director in working with campus stakeholders, including faculty and students interested in NCLF’s work and public policy generally, as well as external stakeholders such as funders and the media. The position will require some off-site travel to manage meetings and events independently or in coordination with the Executive Director.

This position is a term limited position that is grant funded for two years. Position may have the opportunity to extend if funds are available.

Work Performed

Project Management

Serve as the point person for all assigned North Carolina Leadership Forum meetings involving elected and other public officials and leaders and special events and for replication of these meetings (in regions across North Carolina and in other states).

MDesign and implement events that engage alumni of the Leadership Forum post-program.

Work with the Program Coordinator, Sr to manage invitations and responses; coordinate event logistics; arrange publicity; ensure necessary financial documentation, and undertake necessary follow-up with participants and service providers.

Budget for, and coordinate, public and private eventsand other related programs including symposia, meetings and trainings on and off campus; oversee event logistics and document preparation.

Coordinate and advise on policy and research projects related to specific programs and meetings led by the North Carolina Leadership Forum, in partnership with Duke faculty and students.

Serve as the point person as assigned for faculty and student engagement projects with practitioners and policy-makers at Duke and at other universities including research, logistics, budgeting, and communications.

Work with the Executive Director to hire and train new facilitators on contract to lead NCLF meetings.

Support public relations activities with the Office of Public Affairs and Government Relations on political, media and communication issues; internal branding and marketing objectives.

Implement publicity/marketing activities to promote programs and events including, but not limited to, conceptualizing, designing and preparing news releases, brochures and website materials; develop plans and schedules for release of publicity materials; establish and maintain contact with other departments, area businesses and industries to promote the program. 

As assigned, work with the Executive Director and consultants to monitor and evaluate program effectiveness using qualitative and quantitative research techniques; investigate trends, and recommend and implement modifications to improve program effectiveness.

Program and Administrative Support

Make operational and programmatic decisions that have a significant impact on the successful achievement of strategies and objectives for the NC Leadership Forum; develop, coordinate and advise staff regarding program policies.

Plan, coordinate and administer activities of assigned programs to include developing and implementing procedures, processes, services and systems.

Plan, coordinate and administer external advisory cohorts including former government

officials, non-profit and business leaders, as well as internal faculty and university leaders. Serve as principal coordinator with state-wide and regional networks of faculty, practitioners, and policy-makers.

Train and supervise work of lower level employees, students, and volunteers as assigned.

Exercise judgment in handling sensitive information of a confidential nature.

Work with the Program Coordinator, Sr to address financial, administrative and general business matters.

With Program Coordinator, Sr, fiscally manage all events including negotiation and execution of relevant contracts and agreements.

This position requires the willingness to travel.

Develop and coordinate new ideas and concepts for program themes, materials, and resources to supplement, expand or replace existing program components.

Manage the facilitation of special committees to include preparation of meetings agenda, briefing materials, action items and meeting notes.

Perform other related duties incidental to the work described herein. 

The above statements describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this classification. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties required of personnel so classified. 

Desired Skills:

Skills using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions to problems.

Skills evaluating program performance, summarizing findings, communicating results, and forming an action plan.

Knowledge of business and management principles involved in planning resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, and coordination of people and resources.

Ability to provide guidance and direction to setting standards and monitoring performance.

Work requires communications, analytical and organizational skills generally acquired through completion of a bachelor's degree program.

Work requires the ability to plan and administer programs and direct program activities within a specific functional area, generally acquired through four years of related experience.  OR ANYOTHER EQUIVALENT COMBINATION OF RELEVANT EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE.

Duke is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essentialjob functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.