Senior Director of AI Strategy and Innovation, Fuqua School of Business

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.

 

Position Summary

The Fuqua School of Business at Duke University seeks an experienced and forward-looking leader to serve as Senior Director of AI Strategy and Innovation (Analyst, IT, Sr., Band D). Reporting to the Associate Dean for Information Technology at Fuqua, with a dotted‑line relationship to the Senior Associate Dean for Innovation, the Senior Director will lead the development, evaluation, and implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives across the school.

This role operates at the intersection of strategy, technology, and operations, translating emerging AI opportunities into scalable, secure, and high-impact solutions aligned with Fuqua’s academic and administrative priorities.

Be You

Key Responsibilities

AI Strategy and Program Leadership

• Identify and evaluate AI‑driven opportunities across Fuqua academic programs, research activities, and administrative functions.
• Lead proof‑of‑concept development and pilot initiatives for AI and automation use cases.
• Develop business cases, implementation plans, and success metrics aligned with Fuqua’s strategic priorities.
• Monitor emerging AI trends and advise Fuqua leadership on implications for management education and operations.
• Serve as a strategic bridge between Fuqua’s Office of Innovation and Fuqua IT.

Project Management and Execution

• Design and manage processes for evaluating and managing AI projects.
• Develop and oversee formal project plans, including scope, timelines, milestones, risks, and resource needs.
• Ensure appropriate development, testing, deployment, and post‑implementation evaluation for AI initiatives.
• Provide regular project updates to Fuqua leadership and key stakeholders.
• Manage project budgets and recommend investments in software and hardware.

Governance and Collaboration

Partner with IT leadership to ensure solutions align with enterprise architecture, data governance, cybersecurity, and compliance standards, including the protection of sensitive and confidential data.

• Support stakeholder engagement, change management, and adoption of AI‑enabled solutions.

• Support the development and adoption of AI tools by contributing to internal education efforts, including consultation, documentation, and train-the-trainer engagements.
• Collaborate effectively with stakeholders translating academic and administrative needs into actionable plans.

 

Be Bold - What You Bring

Required Qualifications

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, including computer science, information systems, software development, business or project management.  Advanced degree in business, technology or related field preferred.

Experience

• At least four years of professional experience leading complex projects.
• Significant experience in AI strategy, digital innovation, or technology-enabled transformation.
• Demonstrated ability to move from concept to execution in complex organizational environments.
• Strong cross-functional leadership and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Familiarity with data governance, responsible AI principles, and enterprise technology environments.
• Experience in higher education or similarly complex institutions preferred.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative and level of the types of duties and responsibiliti