Program Manager, Climate & Sustainability Engineering

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.

The Pratt School of Engineering at Duke University is seeking a highly organized, strategic, and collaborative Program Manager to support a dynamic portfolio of interdisciplinary academic programs and research centers focused on climate, risk, and resilience.

In this role, you will work at the intersection of academic program management, research coordination, and external engagement. You'll partner closely with program directors, faculty, students, and industry stakeholders while serving as a central integrator across multiple programs and centers, including:

• Master of Engineering in Climate and Sustainability Engineering
• Master of Engineering in Risk Engineering
• Center for Innovation in Risk, Catastrophes, and Decisions (CIRCAD)
• Center on Risk
• RESILE (resilience-focused research and engagement initiative)

You will play a critical role in strengthening connections across programs, improving systems, and enabling long-term growth. Your work will directly contribute to advancing interdisciplinary education and research at Duke while supporting high-impact programming, partnerships, and student success.

On a daily basis, you will coordinate across multiple stakeholders, manage program operations, track outcomes and performance metrics, support academic and research initiatives, and drive strategic improvements across workflows and systems.

Minimum Requirements:

• A bachelor's degree is generally required. Requires 2 years of experience in program management, academic administration, or multi-stakeholder initiatives. OR ANY OTHER EQUIVALENT COMBINATION OF RELEVANT EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE *

• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities across complex programs or portfolios
• Strong organizational, project management, and problem-solving skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ability to translate complex technical or research topics into accessible content
• Experience with stakeholder engagement, industry partnerships, or external collaborations
• Experience with event planning, communications, and program coordination
• Familiarity with climate, risk, resilience, or related technical fields
• Experience working in academic, interdisciplinary, or research-driven environments
• Experience with data systems, CRM platforms, dashboards, or program tracking tools
• Master's degree preferred

Other Requirements:

• Ability to work collaboratively across departments, schools, and external partners
• Strong attention to detail and systems-thinking capabilities
• Comfortable operating in a growing and evolving program environment
• May include occasional travel and evening/weekend events

• This position requires that you work on-site for the first 90 days, then you will be eligible for a hybrid schedule.

Be Bold.

Position Description:

• Coordinate activities across multiple academic programs and research centers to ensure alignment of goals, timelines, and deliverables while serving as a liaison across departments, schools, and partner institutions
• Support program directors in strategic planning, implementation, and continuous improvement, including identifying inefficiencies and implementing improvements across workflows, communications, and program operations
• Develop, maintain, and manage integrated systems (e.g., CRM tools, program databases, dashboards) to track students, partners, projects, key performance indicators (KPIs), milestones, and outcomes to inform decision-making
• Manage day-to-day academic program operations including student tracking (progress, requirements, graduation readiness), course coordination, scheduling, admissions support, recruitment activities, onboarding, and student engagement initiatives
• Coordinate and execute program events such as orientations, seminars, residencies, graduation activities, workshops, and cross-program convenings
• Oversee program budgets, financial processes, expense reconciliation, and assist with financial planning and forecasting
• Support research center and grant administration activities including coordination of CIRCAD, RESILE, and related initiatives; scheduling leadership meetings and advisory boards; tracking deliverables and reporting requirements; and assisting with proposal development, reporting, and renewal processes
• Coordinate across research teams and partner institutions while supporting subaward processes and sponsor requirements (e.g., NSF IUCRC structures)
• Manage and strengthen industry partnerships and external engagement efforts, including coordinating advisory board meetings, tracking partner interactions, cultivating new partnerships, and facilitating internships, capstone projects, and experiential learning opportunities
• Support governance processes by preparing materials for leadership teams and advisory boards, tracking decisions and action items, and helping advance strategic initiatives across programs
• Develop and manage communications across programs, including newsletters, reports, websites, social media, and stakeholder updates, translating technical research into accessible messaging
• Plan and execute conferences, workshops, short courses, and student engagement programming while supporting new initiatives such as executive education offerings and strategic partnerships

Choose Duke.

Join the Pratt School of Engineering at Duke University and play a central role in advancing innovative, interdisciplinary programs that address some of the world's most pressing challenges in climate, risk, and resilience. You will collaborate with leading faculty, researchers, and industry partners while helping shape programs that prepare the next generation of engineers and decision-makers.

Duke University is consistently ranked among the top universities worldwide and is renowned for its cutting-edge research, collaborative culture, and commitment to excellence and discovery. Located in Durham, North Carolina, Duke offers a vibrant community paired with meaningful opportunities to drive impact across academia and industry.