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.

Occupational Summary

The Family Connects program seeks an associate director for Research Development, Family Connects to develop a comprehensive research development strategy for securing foundation grants and gifts to further efforts to lower the child abuse rate and improve population well-being among young children in communities. This position will work with a network of current and prospective funders and play a key role in the ongoing refinement of the Family Connects’ research development strategy. This research and policy engagement program at Duke University is separate from the dissemination of intervention programs, which occurs through an independent nonprofit Center for Child and Family Health.

Thi position will report to Professor Kenneth Dodge and to the National Director for Family Connects.

Work Performed

A detailed description of functional areas and tasks follows:

Under the direction of senior leadership, identify new funding streams related to early childhood development research and/or policy and maintain relationships with current funders, in coordination with the Sanford School of Public Policy Development Office and Duke University’s Foundation Relations.

Write research grant proposals and budgets, coordinating among staff and appropriate related Duke University offices on content; collaborate with the Family Connects Communications Director on materials appropriate for philanthropic supporters.

Facilitate strategic planning meetings with Family Connects team members on new initiatives. Determine appropriate resources required to pursue new initiatives. Work with Professor Dodge and senior staff to ensure successful competitive site visits for new initiatives, when being reviewed by funding organizations.

Lead communication efforts with members of the Family Connects Advisory Board, including organizing meetings as requested by the leadership team.

Identify appropriate roles for staff and Advisory Board members to play in cultivating potential funders and provide the support and coordination they need to be successful in this capacity.

Refine existing development processes and systems where needed to ensure that Family Connects’ infrastructure supports the organization’s fundraising needs.

Forecast future contracts/grants goals, translating the work happening in development to short-, mid-, and long-term financial forecasts.

Report regularly on the status of the development pipeline and its impact on contracts/grants goals and financial forecasts to the Family Connects leadership team.

In coordination with Family Connects leadership, develop comprehensive development communications plans in coordination with the Center for Child and Family Health, Duke University Foundation Relations, and the Sanford School of Public Policy Development Office.

Perform other related duties incidental to the work described herein.

Qualifications:

• Prior success in nonprofit fundraising roles, with broad exposure to all aspects of development
• Experience working across multiple funding streams, including foundations, corporations, and government funders
• Prior experience or strong interest in early childhood development research and/or policy
• Strong relationship building and oral communication skills
• Significant experience in grant writing (preferably seven plus years working with extramural grants and contracts)
• Able and willing to travel domestically on a regular basis
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience is required

Duke University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

Master's degree in social sciences or similar curricula preferred.

Minimum of three years of related program evaluation experience. OR AN EQUIVALENT COMBINATION OF RELEVANT EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

Duke is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essentialjob functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.