Director, Children's Donor and Patient Relations

Duke Health Development & Alumni Affairs (DHDAA) supports a flexible work environment by offering on-site (in office 5 days a week), hybrid (in office a minimum of 2 days a week or defined by manager), remote (work off-site 5 days a week), and flexible start and end time work arrangements. All team members must reside within a 50-mile radius of our downtown Durham office.

If working a hybrid or remote schedule, individuals must have access to and maintain a secure home office environment with high-speed internet service and work collaboratively with others using a variety of technologies and tools. With approval from their manager, staff members may work a flexible schedule in terms of start/end times, while working within DHDAA's core work hours between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (eastern standard).

At the discretion of Managers and/or Senior Leadership, staff working a hybrid, remote or flex schedule may be required to be in the office on days and/or times outside of the agreed upon schedule.

Help bring inspiring patient stories to life while building meaningful connections that fuel philanthropic support.

The Director of Donor and Patient Relations is a dynamic and mission-driven leader who plays a critical role in advancing philanthropic support for Duke Children's. This position drives strategic engagement through best-in-class donor and patient relations, powerful patient storytelling, innovative content development, program management and impactful community partnerships. The role integrates stewardship, and public-facing initiatives to elevate awareness and inspire giving in support of Duke Children's mission.

This position reports to the Assistant Vice President of Duke Children's and Duke Cancer Institute Development and works collaboratively with colleagues throughout the Duke Children's team and Duke Health Development and Alumni Affairs (and Duke University) to maximize marketing and communication support of Duke Children's.

Hybrid;
This position is a full-time located in Durham, NC. This is not a remote position.

• Development or non-profit experience is a plus.
• Demonstrated success managing projects from concept through execution.
• Proven ability to create compelling content and storytelling that drives engagement, builds community, and supports philanthropic growth.
• Experience collaborating across teams and stakeholders, with the ability to build strong internal and external relationships.
• Demonstrated success in managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment while maintaining a high level of quality and attention to detail.
• Passion for mission-driven work, with experience in nonprofit, healthcare, or higher education development strongly preferred.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with a strong command of storytelling.
• Strategic and creative thinker with the ability to translate complex ideas into clear, engaging content across multiple platforms.
• Experience developing and executing integrated communications strategies, including social media, digital marketing, media relations, and content development.
• Proficiency in content creation tools (e.g., Canva, PowerPoint) and familiarity with video production, and multimedia storytelling.
• Strong project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and deliver results on time.
• Experience planning and supporting events, sponsor ships, or community engagement initiatives.
• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative, team-oriented environment while also taking initiative and working independently.
• Positive, creative thinker who can work in fast-paced, deadline-driven, collaborative team environment.
• The ability to deliver effective timely results is key.
• Strong writing skills, detail-oriented and have an eagerness to generate new ideas.
• Solid relationship builder and communicator with the ability to work with a diversity of people.
• Experience with traditional forms of communication, media relations, e‑mail communication/marketing, social media, graphic design, and event management.

Education/Training -…