Duke Careers

Director of Administration – Special Projects

Duke Careers

full-time

Posted on:

Location Type: Hybrid

Location: Durham • North Carolina • United States

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Job Level

Lead

About the role

  • Lead independent planning and execution of strategic special projects from concept through completion—defining scope, goals, success metrics, and project plans.
  • Translate the Vice Provost for the Arts’ priorities into actionable operational strategies, including resource alignment, risk assessment, and cross-functional coordination.
  • Develop and manage project budgets, including forecasting, tracking expenditures, reconciling accounts, and ensuring adherence to financial parameters.
  • Facilitate engagement with faculty, staff, students, campus partners, and external collaborators to ensure strategic alignment and project momentum.
  • Support Provost-led initiatives: AI, Pluralism, Free Inquiry & Belonging, Climate.
  • Lead We the People: Duke’s campus-wide commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
  • Coordinate season-long themes integrating performance, engagement, academic inquiry, and community participation.
  • Coordinate and launch emerging campus-wide arts networks.
  • Support Council for the Arts agenda development, collaborations, membership coordination, and project activation.
  • Support NeuroArts Network mission development, structural design, and ongoing initiative leadership.
  • Support other arts-related collaborations and initiatives as they emerge.
  • Partner with the VPA to shape and drive senior leadership agendas, structure high-impact meetings, clarify decision pathways, and ensure execution and follow-through.
  • Serve as a strategic thought partner on resource planning, financial sustainability, and multi-year modeling.
  • Oversee alignment of Duke Arts’ operating budget and multi-year financial plans with institutional priorities.
  • Lead development and execution of Duke Arts’ strategic planning framework, including benchmarking, landscape analysis, stakeholder engagement, and institutional communications.
  • Enhance executive effectiveness by advising on priorities, commitments, institutional engagements, partnerships, and visibility.
  • Represent the VPA in meetings and committees as needed.
  • Strengthen operational alignment across Duke Arts Directors in Programming, Engagement, Marketing & Communications, and Development.
  • Help strengthen and steward a positive, collaborative culture across Duke Arts and the wider arts community at Duke.
  • Support additional institutional projects and initiatives as they arise.

Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree required, preferably in a business-related field, public administration, arts administration, or a related discipline.
  • Minimum four years of progressive experience in program management, administration, or related work.
  • Strong organizational, management, administrative, and strategic problem-solving skills.
  • Excellent communication and human relations skills with ability to collaborate across diverse stakeholders.
  • Proven ability to manage multiple priorities in a complex, matrixed environment.
  • 15 years of leadership experience in arts management or a highly matrixed higher‑education environment preferred.
  • Experience advising executives and supporting high-visibility, institution-wide initiatives preferred.
  • Ability to lead without formal authority preferred.
  • Expertise in strategic planning, financial analysis, operational leadership, and organizational design preferred.
  • Experience with interdisciplinary arts initiatives, community engagement, or cross-campus networks preferred.
Benefits
  • Health insurance
  • 401(k) matching
  • Flexible working hours
  • Paid time off
  • Professional development opportunities
Applicant Tracking System Keywords

Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.

Hard Skills & Tools
project managementfinancial analysisstrategic planningbudget managementresource alignmentrisk assessmentoperational leadershiporganizational designprogram managementcommunity engagement
Soft Skills
organizational skillsstrategic problem-solvingcommunication skillshuman relations skillscollaborationleadershipability to manage multiple prioritiesadvising executivescross-functional coordinationpositive culture stewardship
Certifications
Bachelor’s degree