Director, Global Administration

Position description

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.

Summary

The Director of Global Administration provides day-to-day leadership for the Global Program Support (GPS) unit. The GPS is a newly formed office designed to ensure that the university’s international programs, partnerships, and activities are supported by effective and coordinated systems that enable Duke’s global education, research, and engagement mission. This position, and the GPS, are part of the Provost Office and will report to the Associate Vice Provost for Global Administration (AVP-GA) and will supervise staff in the GPS.

The position connects strategic planning and operational execution across academic, administrative, and international dimensions. The Director provides strategic and operational leadership for Duke University’s global administrative functions. This position will serve as the designated representative of the GPS in the absence of the AVP-GA and will represent GPS in meetings and committees as required.

Through the GPS office, the Director ensures that Duke faculty, students, and staff receive high-quality service and support to navigate administrative, financial, legal, and operational processes necessary for global teaching, research, and collaboration. The Director also ensures that Duke’s international activities align with the strategic direction established by the Global Priorities Committee (GPC) and the Provost’s Office, translating global priorities into actionable operational plans, risk frameworks, and institutional coordination.

Work Performed

Strategic Leadership and Global Administration (50%)

• Provide day-to-day management of the GPS office, which serves as Duke’s central hub and “front door” for global engagement and inquiries, including supervising staff.
• Ensure that GPS provides responsive, coordinated, and solution-oriented service to Duke faculty, students, and staff involved in global research, education, and partnerships.
• Collaborate with academic, financial, and administrative leadership across the university to translate institutional global strategy into operational practice.
• Work closely with the AVP-GA and Chair of the GPC to ensure that the GPC and GPS are aligned in terms of priorities. Coordination will include GPC agenda development, analysis for requests, tracking of issues, proposals and recommendations and year-end reporting.
• Support the co-chairs of the new Global Operations Committee by developing meeting agendas, working with administrative areas, faculty, and programs to compile information and data between meetings and developing a mechanism to track committee progress and issues resolution.
• Work closely with the Director of Global Finance and Operations to oversee the development of systems and policies that enable faculty, students, and staff to pursue education, research, and engagement abroad, and to develop robust tracking systems for metrics and impact of global initiatives.
• Ensure that Duke’s international activities are strategically aligned, efficient, and compliant with university policy and international standards.
• Manage international partnerships and MOUs, global activity inventories, and institutional support for global work.
• Manage processes for funding opportunities for individual faculty and students and/or specific programs.

Global Risk and Policy Coordination (30%)

• Lead the implementation of a Global Risk Framework to guide decision-making about international operations, in partnership with Audit, Risk and Compliance, University Counsel, and the GPC.
• Coordinate institutional review of international programs and partnerships to identify and assess operational, legal, and reputational risks.
• Provide recommendations that balance innovation with risk management, ensuring Duke can pursue global opportunities responsibly and sustainably.

Institutional Partnerships and Communication (20%)

• Promote communication and coordination across schools and units engaged in global activity.
• Maintain clear and consistent communications for internal and external audiences about Duke’s global engagement and activities, including the Duke Global website and the underlying data.
• Partner with University Advancement, Foundation Relations, and External Partnerships to support global fundraising and relationship-building initiatives.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Education:bachelor’s degree in higher education administration, international relations, business, or a related field; master’s degree preferred.
• Experience:minimum of 8 years of progressively responsible leadership in global higher education or global organization administration, with experience in international program management, operations, or global partnerships.

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong understanding of academic governance, global program operations, compliance, and global risk management.

• Ability to balance strategic vision with operational execution in a dynamic, global context.

• Ability to facilitate and lead diverse groups and committees to reach informed decisions.

• Flexibility and entrepreneurial orientation in building new organizations and structures.

• Familiarity with Duke University’s structures, policies, and global engagement.

• Experience managing complex international partnerships or higher education operations abroad.

• Cross-cultural communication skills and experience working in international contexts.

Application instructions

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