Director, Global Health and Safety

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

Requisition Number: 274857

Regular or Temporary:
Regular

Location:

Durham, NC, US, 27710

Date:
Sep 18, 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.

Duke University is seeking an experienced and strategic Director, Global Travel Health and Safety to lead the enterprise-wide approach to global travel risk management, traveler readiness, and coordinated incident response. This highly visible leadership role oversees the Global Travel, Health and Safety office and serves as the university's senior subject matter expert for international travel health, safety, security, emergency preparedness, travel operations, and risk governance.

In this role, you will shape the strategy, policies, systems, and services that support thousands of Duke-sponsored travelers worldwide, including undergraduate, graduate and professional students, faculty, staff, researchers, and program leaders. You will provide executive leadership for complex travel risk decisions, emergency response coordination, traveler location and registry management, health and safety consultation, and the technologies and vendor partnerships that enable Duke's global programs and activities.

You will partner closely with senior university leaders, academic units, Duke Health, Athletics, Legal, Risk Management, Human Resources, Student Affairs, Campus Emergency Management, Research Administration, Information Technology, Duke Police, and external service providers to ensure Duke maintains a comprehensive and consistent duty of care framework. Your work will directly influence institutional preparedness, traveler safety, policy development, risk mitigation, and operational excellence across the university's global footprint.

This position is ideal for a leader who thrives in complex environments, can navigate high-stakes situations with confidence, and enjoys building enterprise-wide partnerships that strengthen institutional resilience and global engagement.

• Master's degree in international education, risk management, security studies, emergency management, public health, higher education administration, public administration, law, or a related field.
• Significant directly related experience may be considered as an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Six years of progressively responsible experience in global travel health and safety, emergency or crisis management, travel risk management, international operations, international education, international research, or a closely related field.
• Experience establishing strategy and leading complex operational functions within a university, nonprofit, government, nongovernmental organization, or similarly decentralized environment.
• At least three years of formal staff supervision or equivalent leadership responsibility managing a multi-person team or function.
• Demonstrated experience leading crisis preparation and response efforts, managing complex incidents or emergencies, and advising senior leaders during time-sensitive situations.
• Experience developing and implementing policies, standards, operational protocols, programs, or systems that impact multiple populations, departments, or organizational units.
• Experience working with higher education compliance frameworks, including areas such as Clery, FERPA, Title IX, high-risk travel governance, or related institutional requirements.

• Participation in a rotating 24/7 emergency response and on‑call coverage program.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally, including on short notice when operational needs require.
• Ability to work evenings, weekends, holidays, and nontraditional hours during emergencies or critical incidents.
• Periodic domestic and international travel for program assessments,…