Program Director, Duke Travels, Duke Alumni Engagement and Development

 

 

 Program Director, Duke Travels, Duke Alumni Engagement and Development (AED)

 

Occupational Summary:

 

The Duke Travels program fosters the development and execution of programming that strengthens and stewards the lifelong bonds and learning relationships of Duke constituents and donors. The Director leads the planning, coordination, promotion, and execution of specialty programming within the Duke Travels program with focus on initiatives aligned with the Duke Campaign around customized travel programing for schools and units to reach their stewardship and cultivation goals for key donors, board members and volunteers . The Director commands knowledge of vendor options, financial negotiation, and an overview of all Duke Travels programs with understanding of the strategic vision and process and how that aligns with the goals of Alumni Engagement and Development. The Director can execute the full spectrum of tasks required to complete a travel program cycle, including selecting, managing, and briefing the Duke faculty and hosts, who lead the travel programs throughout the year. This role reports to the Senior Director of Duke Travels, which is part of the Lifelong Learning team in the Office of Alumni Engagement and Development.

 

As part of the core responsibilities of this role, the employee must be able to travel periodically for extended periods of time (3-14 days) both domestically and internationally.

 

Work Performed

 

Program Planning and Execution

 

• Lead the planning, coordination, and direction of high-quality educational small-group travel programs (approximately 45 programs with 800+ participants annually), which includes primary responsibility for developing up to 10 customized programs that support the fundraising, stewardship, and cultivation goals of the Duke Campaign as well as the graduate and professional schools and units.

 

• Manage select programs through all phases of development and execution overseeing the collaboration with tour operators, traveler management and communications, and program leaders’ briefing and support.

 

• Collaborate with the Senior Director in the selection of annual trip offerings by meeting with tour operators and suppliers.

 

• Identify and secure vendors and negotiate all details of contracts and program details ensuring strategic goals of travel programming for the departments, schools and/or units are realized.

 

• Manage tasks associated with program management, such as processing reservations, vendor communications, and handling traveler correspondence.

 

• Represent Duke Travels programming at required functions and events, including attendance at Educational Travel Consortium’s annual conference, the Southeast Travel Planners Annual Meeting, and annual service as Duke Host on select domestic and international travel programs.

 

 

Collaboration with Program Partners across Duke

 

• Collaborate with Deans, Executive Directors, and Development Officers to identify preferred itineraries and programing customized for their school or unit for targeted constituent stewardship and cultivation.  Participants include leadership volunteers, board members, key prospects and donors with the purpose of enhancing volunteer engagement and support. 

 

• Develop strategic marketing plans with Deans and Development Officers and the Marketing and Communications teams of the schools and units to promote programming to donors to be stewarded and potential donors to be cultivated.

 

• Manage custom programs through all phases of development and execution overseeing the collaboration with tour operators, traveler management and communications, and program leaders’ briefing and support.

 

• Develop and support relationships with the targeted donor constituency of specific schools and units from registration to departure of customized travel program offerings.

 

• Build and maintain relationships with Senior Leaders in these schools and units for continued collaboration on future programming.

 

 

Sales and Promotion

 

• Support the sale of Duke Travels itineraries and vendor products by phone and email leaning on a comprehensive understanding of the programs and vendor offerings.

 

• Coordinate content for Duke Travels monthly newsletter, targeted emails and Duke Magazine ads in collaboration with the Senior Director.

 

• Work with AED Marketing, Communications and Stewardship team, the broader Lifelong Learning team, other AED colleagues as well as the communications teams of schools an