Job Description

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. Be Bold. Choose Duke.

Senior Program Coordinator

Hart Leadership Program | Sanford School of Public Policy

Be You.

At Duke, we celebrate individuality and the unique perspectives that each member of our community brings.

The Hart Leadership Program prepares and inspires undergraduate students to practice the art of leadership in public life. Program offerings include internships, fellowships, and co-curricular leadership projects at Duke, in Durham, and in communities across North Carolina and around the world.

The mission of the Hart Leadership Program (HLP) is to teach Duke undergraduates how to practice ethical leadership by fostering community-based action, research with a civic mission, and collaborative practices that build genuinely public goods.

Reporting to the Director and working closely with staff colleagues and Hart faculty, the Senior Program Coordinator serves as a key member of the Hart Leadership Program team. The position combines program coordination, student advising, community engagement, partnership development, and co-curricular design. Strong candidates will bring passion for each of these areas and an eagerness to help shape the future of the Hart Leadership Program.

The Senior Program Coordinator must be comfortable working both independently and as part of a fast-paced, tightly coordinated team. We seek candidates who are dependable, hardworking, energetic and creative, have excellent people skills, and are thorough and careful in their attention to detail.

Be Bold.

As the Senior Program Coordinator, you will play a critical role in supporting undergraduate leadership development, strengthening community partnerships, and advancing the mission of the Hart Leadership Program.

What You'll Do

Manage the Hart Fellowship Program (50%)

• Working closely with relevant Hart faculty, design and implement all aspects of the Hart Fellowship experience, providing a high level of support and mentoring to fellows while they are in the field.
• Coordinate the recruitment, application, and selection process.
• Plan and lead the Hart Fellows retreat and orientation.
• Plan and lead monthly seminars for fellows and other programming as needed.
• Convene and lead regular team meetings for staff and faculty, including annual program review.
• Advise students on project development, community partner outreach, research design, project budgeting, faculty mentor selection, and placement logistics.
• Supervise logistics, including payment process for student stipends, required forms, travel and visa arrangements, immunizations, housing, insurance, and other items that may arise.
• Track program participants’ written reflections and other assignments.
• Maintain and update program manuals, ensure accurate record keeping and data management.
• Assist with management of the Hart Fellowship program budget in coordination with the Director and Finance Coordinator.
• Represent the program to potential community partners and placement organizations.
• Develop awareness of the fellowship program among Duke campus partners.

Build and Strengthen Community Partnerships (50%)

• Identify, contact, and cultivate relationships with potential community partners whose work aligns with the mission, values, and goals of the Hart Leadership Program.
• Work closely with faculty to map, steward, and deepen existing partnerships.
• Represent the Hart Leadership Program to external partners in Durham, nationally, and globally.
• In close coordination with the Director and other stakeholders, develop and implement near- and medium-term strategies to guide future growth for the Hart Fellowship through partnership development.
• Support colleagues in community partner engagement by facilitating partner meetings and orientations as needed.
• Support alumni engagement efforts.

Additional Responsibilities

• Perform other related duties incidental to the work described herein.
• This position may supervise work-study students.

What You Bring

Minimum Qualifications

Education

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

Experience

Work requires three years of experience in program administration or involving academic, instructional or counseling activities to acquire skills necessary to plan, coordinate and implement a variety of program activities and events.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

The successful candidate will possess the following qualities and attributes:

• Experience in a student-facing role, preferably in advising or program coordination.
• Experience working with nonprofits, NGOs, public agencies, or community-based organizations.
• Experience in university-community engagement or partnership development.
• Excellent organizational, planning, and project management and implementation skills.
• Superior oral and written communication skills, including confidence in public speaking and writing for a public audience with minimal editing to the highest standards of professionalism.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Ability to work effectively with faculty, students, staff, alumni, and internal and external constituents.
• Highly motivated with the ability to work under pressure against multiple deadlines and coordinate multiple simultaneous projects efficiently and effectively.
• An eagerness to find solutions, collaborate with a team, and share both work and credit.
• Abiding interest in the work of the Hart Leadership Program and ability to describe the mission, scope, and values of the program.
• Proficiency in software programs such as Microsoft Word, Excel, Canva, Access, PowerPoint, Google Suite, and WordPress.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with the theory and practice of civic engagement pedagogy, service-learning, community-engaged research, experiential education, and/or leadership development.
• Knowledge of the Duke University community.

Work Environment

• Work is completed on-site at the Sanford School of Public Policy.
• Regular business hours with occasional evenings and weekends.
• Reports to the Hart Leadership Program Director.

Choose Duke.

At Duke University, you'll join a collaborative community dedicated to innovation, leadership, and public impact. Through your work with the Hart Leadership Program, you will help shape transformative experiences that prepare students to practice ethical leadership and create meaningful change in communities around the world.

Ready to Make a Difference?

Apply now and help us build stronger leaders, stronger communities, and a stronger future.

To apply, please submit a resume and cover letter detailing your interest in and qualifications for this role. Only applications submitted through the Duke Careers portal will be considered.