Program Coordinator, Professional Development

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 position reports to the Assistant Dean for Graduate Student Professional Development within the Graduate Student Affairs (GSA) team. This individual plays a critical role in graduate student success through communication, program administration, and event planning to support students’ professional development needs, celebrate the accomplishments of the school’s students and faculty, and maintain strong alumni connections after students graduate. This position is responsible for communication efforts for professional development initiatives as well as coordinating communication for the broader GSA unit.

 

Organizational Characteristics

The Professional Development Coordinator is one of eight regular, full-time staff members in the Graduate Student Affairs unit: an associate dean who leads the unit, three assistant deans, two senior program coordinators, and two program coordinators. In addition, the unit includes one graduate student intern and one work-study student. Full-time team members of Graduate Student Affairs are currently eligible for a hybrid work schedule; this option is subject to change based on departmental needs.

 

Professional Development and Graduate Student Affairs Communications (50%)

• Prepare weekly professional development newsletters by curating and compiling content and distributing with the school’s preferred newsletter software (currently iContact). Select and create, as needed, images and graphics to enhance communications efforts, using university-wide communications resources as well as Canva and other tools. As relevant, coordinate with other GSA team members as well as the school’s Academic Affairs and Communications teams to share information with students, faculty, and staff through this newsletter.

• Assist in targeted marketing efforts for professional development programming with departments/programs, student organizations, and alumni through channels such as the GPSG newsletter, Duke events calendar, LinkedIn, the Duke Alumni Network, and others.

• Facilitate student connections with alumni through the Alumni Profiles series; ensure accuracy and quality of final profiles before publication.

• Maintain website content for GSA and professional development areas.

• Maintain updated content in Duke OPTIONS, the school’s online professional development planning tool.

• Manage digital and physical publications and their updates for the GSA team.

• In coordination with the school’s Communications team, review analytics to inform and improve communication strategies.

• Build relationships with departments and students to identify content for sharing through print and electronic mediums, such as program accomplishments, student stories and research, and other highlights of the Duke Graduate School experience

• Help to create, market, and facilitate information sessions and other publicity to promote GSA and professional development initiatives.

• Collaborate with the school Communications team on high touch-projects and special event coordination, e.g., photo shoots for Dean’s Awards, and special guest visits related to GSA and professional development programming

• Help to develop alumni-facing communications in coordination with Alumni Engagement and Development

• Respond to queries sent to general email addresses for GSA and professional development

 

Program Administration (35%)

• Lead the annual Dean’s Awards process in collaboration with the school’s Academic Affairs and Communications teams. Coordinate timelines for announcements and communications, facilitate the collection and vetting of nominations, coordinate selection committees, manage financial awards, and help to announce and celebrate winners of the Dean’s Awards.

• Prepare Professional Development Grant proposal materials for selection committee and Dean’s review, coordinate funding transfers, and maintain records.

• Manage updates and distribution of the Mentoring Toolkit, including a user-friendly, portable handout