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.

The Robertson Scholars Leadership Program (RSLP) invests in promising young leaders who strive to make transformational contributions to society. Combining the best of Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, RSLP provides a full merit scholarship along with a comprehensive suite of summer enrichment opportunities, special courses, and access to the Program’s distinctive alumni community. www.robertsonscholars.org

Position Overview

The Assistant Director is a key position within the office, reporting directly to the Executive Director of the Robertson Scholars Leadership Program. This position will focus on two key areas: engaging, nurturing and energizing RSLP’s alumni community; and the development and implementation of a strategic and holistic communications plan for the Program. In addition, the Assistant Director will be expected to work closely with colleagues to create, oversee, and deliver all aspects of the four-year merit scholarship program.

The Assistant Director serves as a vital resource and liaison for all functional areas of the Program reaching many different stakeholder groups. To be effective, the Assistant Director must build relationships across both Universities, as well as within the Robertson alumni and student communities. Candidates must have in-depth knowledge of higher education administration, with particular emphasis on alumni affairs and/or communications, and should thrive on multi-tasking and prioritizing during times when many projects are ongoing. Given the diverse backgrounds, experiences, and identities of Robertson Scholars and Alumni, the ideal candidate will have a demonstrated commitment to anti-racism, inclusion, and belonging and will be willing to bring that commitment to the position. Ability to work with ambiguity is required; a self-starter attitude is essential.

A key responsibility of this position includes serving as the Program’s primary representative to almost 500 alumni – working with these individuals to identify future initiatives reflective of program mission and values, organizing alumni events and ongoing leadership development, and encouraging alumni to give back to RSLP.

Projects and Job Responsibilities include:

Alumni Engagement and Activities

Establish and maintain relationships with the Robertson alumni community – currently almost 500 individuals – and serve as the program’s primary point person and staff liaison for the Alumni Council, the primary community-driven alumni advisory body to the Program. The Program’s goal is to have committed, involved alumni who are motivated to give back to the program in multiple ways. This position is responsible for fostering and stewarding these relationships in service of that goal. Specific responsibilities include:

● Collaborating closely with the Alumni Council to enable community-driven programming

● Establishing a communication strategy and consistent cadence, including the development and distribution of Alumni communications and newsletters

● Planning and executing reunion celebrations

● Organizing and implementing regional summer and holiday alumni gatherings at locations around the country

● Planning and executing Alumni leadership development and networking opportunities (e.g., NOLS trip)

● Coordinating and delivering key alumni resources as mentors and facilitators in Scholar programming, interviewers in the selection process and sponsors of internships for current Scholars

● Constructing and maintaining individual profiles on Alumni detailing their personal and professional accomplishments

● Actively cultivating relationships with Alumni, parents and other potential supporters of the RSLP with the longer-term goal of creating a development and donor relations platform

Senior Year Programming

Work with colleagues to refine Robertson’s signature “Senior Capstone” experience and to position graduating seniors to be involved, contributing program alumni. Seniors are required to dedicate a portion of their final years on campus participating in retreats and activities designed to “cap” their college experience and to prepare them for the transition to career development. The Assistant Director will actively participate in programs/workshops that guide seniors toward their post-college activities.

Direct External Communications

● Develop an external communications plan, including a calendar and timelines, encompassing web, email, social media, print, and other methods that align with RSLP needs.

● Collaborate with other staff to ensure that all external communications have a unified and consistent message and look. This includes, but is not limited to, annual reports, newsletters, web pages and social media, event marketing and promotion, communications with Scholars, and presentations and proposals.

● Build a thorough knowledge of RSLP’s history, programs and major milestones, and document and share Scholar/Alumni success stories, as well as measures of Program impact.

● Measure communication, outreach and engagement impact, effectiveness and growth across all platforms; adjust as necessary to ensure desired results.

● Build relationships with university development and communications colleagues and university leadership at UNC and Duke to increase awareness of and appreciation for the RSLP on both campuses.

Special IT Initiatives

This position will have primary responsibilities maintaining the Program’s Salesforce system and making updates to the external website.

Qualifications

● Bachelor’s degree (required)

● 3 years (required) and 5-10 years (preferred) of relevant experience in alumni affairs, development and/or communications, with a preference for higher education experience

● Entrepreneurial approach and ability to self-direct

● Demonstrated organizational and technology skills

● Strong copywriting skills for both print and digital collateral

● Experience with data management platforms and software

Minimum Qualifications

Education

Work requires communications, analytical and organizational skills generally acquired through completion of a Bachelor's degree program.

Experience

Work requires the ability to plan and administer programs and direct program activities within a specific functional area, generally acquired through three years of related 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.