Director, Student Professional Development and External Partnerships

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Work Arrangement:
Hybrid (On-Site and Remote mix)

Requisition Number: 274162

Regular or Temporary:
Regular

Location:

Durham, NC, US, 27710

Date:
Aug 28, 2026

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.

Be You.

At Duke, we celebrate individuality, curiosity, and the unique experiences each person brings to our community. As the Director, Student Development & External Partnerships, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the professional futures of Duke Ph.D. students by creating innovative pathways that connect academic excellence with meaningful careers beyond academia.

You’ll join The Graduate School's Graduate Student Affairs team, working closely with the Senior Assistant Dean for Graduate Student Professional Development, and collaborating with colleagues across Duke and with industry leaders, nonprofit organizations, foundations, alumni, and faculty to expand career opportunities and experiential learning for doctoral students.

Be Bold.

This is an opportunity to build and lead a transformative portfolio of career-connected learning experiences that prepare doctoral students to thrive in today's evolving workforce. You’ll serve as a strategic connector between Duke's exceptional doctoral talent and organizations seeking innovative thinkers, while helping shape the future of graduate professional development.

Design, implement, and continuously improve a comprehensive portfolio of experiential professional development opportunities for Ph.D. students pursuing careers beyond academia.

Develop a cohesive pathway of programs that includes:

Career exploration events and industry panels

Employer site visits and job-shadowing opportunities

Industry-sponsored project courses

Specialized microcredential programs

Internships and experiential learning placements

Establish annual program goals, priorities, and success measures.

Deliver selected programs directly while recruiting, training, and managing instructors and program staff.

Serve as The Graduate School's primary liaison to employers, foundations, nonprofit organizations, and other strategic partners.

Develop and maintain long-term relationships that expand career opportunities for Duke doctoral students.

Collaborate closely with the Office of External Partnerships, Career Center, Alumni Engagement and Development, Graduate Board of Visitors, and other campus stakeholders.

Secure commitments for experiential learning opportunities, project sponsor ships, internships, and co-developed educational programs.

Support faculty members in leveraging their external networks to create innovative student development opportunities.

Increase awareness and participation in professional development programming across the graduate student community.

Partner with communications teams to develop compelling messaging and maintain an engaging web presence.

Plan and execute high-impact events, including:

Industry and partner showcases

Fellowship and student recognition events

Project-course presentations and celebrations

Represent Duke at regional and national conferences focused on doctoral career development and industry engagement.

Design and implement program evaluation strategies.

Assess participants’ satisfaction, skill development, career readiness, and…