Research Project Manager

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.

Pratt School of Engineering

The Pratt School of Engineering at Duke University is one of the fastest rising, highly ranked engineering schools in the nation. The school consists of four departments with 130 tenure-track faculty members, 1250 undergraduate students, 1400 master's students, and 600 PhD students. Housed within a university renowned for its programs in the liberal arts, medicine, business and law, Pratt prepares future engineering leaders to address complex challenges with solutions that consider the complexities and nuances of implementing them. Pratt takes a whole-student approach to education, ensuring students are well supported throughout their journeys and graduate with the grit and determination required to persevere in their careers and their lives. Pratt is dedicated to the values of diversity, equitability, inclusivity and community in its pursuit of knowledge and service to society.

PreMiEr ERC

The National Science Foundation (NSF) funded Engineering Research Center (ERC) for Precision Microbiome Engineering (PreMiEr) is a multi-university, multi-disciplinary scientific research organization housed in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering in the Duke Pratt School of Engineering. PreMiEr's mission is to improve human health through modification of built environment microbiomes. PreMiEr comprises approximately 150 faculty and scholars from Duke University, North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University, North Carolina State University, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and The University of North Carolina at Charlotte in addition to external partners. The ERC is in Year 3 of a potential 10-year funding period.

Occupational Summary

The Administrative Director (AD) of PreMiEr is responsible for oversight of the day-to-day operations of the ERC, supporting and working alongside ERC leadership at Duke and other participating universities. An additional responsibility of the AD is to facilitate relationships and activities between faculty / students / professionals involved in the ERC, NSF, industry partners, evaluators, external advisory boards, and various offices on the campuses of participating universities (e.g., Deans, communications, events), working with teams or individuals as necessary. Other responsibilities of an ERC AD involve collecting and collating detailed records, creating or supervising public-facing content including websites and social media, creating standard operating procedures, overseeing an internal proposal process, collating and submitting annual reports, and organizing events such as annual site visits by the ERC's sponsoring governmental organization or ERC-wide meetings. The AD serves as a repository of knowledge concerning federal and university rules and regulations related to an ERC, activities within the center, contacts, and ERC obligations. The PreMiEr administrative team of PreMiEr includes the AD, an administrative coordinator, a part-time finance director, and potentially student interns. The position requires regular on-site attendance on Duke University's West Campus in Durham, NC, and the ability to travel to member university campuses and local sites for PreMiEr-associated events.

PLEASE NOTE : THIS IS A TERM-LIMITED ROLE, AS IT IS GRANTED FUNDED. THIS POSITION IS FUNDED BY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND IS TERM LIMITED. FUNDING HAS BEEN CONFIRMED THROUGH 8 / 31 / 2027, AND MAY BE CONTINUED UPON RENEWAL.

Work Performed

The daily tasks of the Administrative Director change with the ERC's needs and the proximity to NSF-mandated deadlines for reporting and site visits, with frequent shifts in priority. However, in general, the breakdown of the position is as follows :

ERC Day-to-Day Operations

• Meet with and respond to the administrative needs of the ERC Center Director and other members of the PreMiEr Executive Committee, the faculty leadership of ERC foundations and programs, leadership of the student organization, and the NSF PreMiEr Program Director
• Plan and oversee both internal meetings and external meetings with stakeholders, advisory boards, and the PreMiEr Council of Deans
• Manage PreMiEr seminars, webinars, workshops, classes, meetings, and other events
• Assist with planning and execution of summer programs including Research Experiences for Undergraduates and Research Experiences for Teachers
• Create graphics, charts, summaries, or other materials for presentations, posters, advertising, outreach, and reporting
• Work with university offices on member campuses to further PreMiEr initiatives, including Offices of the Dean, Communications, Information Technology, and Health & Safety
• Oversee the update and maintenance of the PreMiEr website content and functionality, social media accounts, and YouTube channel
• Create and distribute a biweekly internal newsletter and quarterly external newsletter
• Collect information and document all activities that occur within the center for reporting purposes
• Oversee an annual internal Request for Applications (RFA) process for funding research projects across the participating universities
• Work with the Center Director, Finance Director, and Administrative Coordinator to prepare annual budgets for the center, ensure that spending is appropriate and accurately reported to the sponsor, and approve expenditures as needed
• Collaborate with the Director of Evaluation and Assessment to collect and provide data on center personnel and activities
• Maintain archives of ERC records and control user access to a data sharing system
• Work with and assign responsibilities to the Administrative Coordinator and student interns
• Respond to requests for information or assistance from members of the ERC or external stakeholders

Preparation of Annual Report / Site Visit

On an annual basis, the ERC's sponsor requires a comprehensive Annual Report on the finances and activities of the center. The AD is responsible for overseeing the completion of this report. The AD responsibilities in this process include :

After the submission of the Annual Report, a Site Visit is held on one of the campuses of PreMiEr. The AD and administrative team is responsible for :

Perform other related duties incidental to the work described herein. The above statements describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this classification. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties required of personnel.

Minimum Requirements

Education / Training

Requires Bachelor degree in related field.

Experience

Minimum of four years of related experience OR AN EQUIVALENT COMBINATION OF RELEVANT EDUCATION AND / OR EXPERIENCE

Preferred Skills

Anticipated Pay Range :

Duke University provides an annual base salary range for this position as USD $ 75,305.00 to USD $128,016.00. Duke University considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position; candidate's work experience, education / training, and key skills; internal peer equity; as well as market and organizational considerations when extending an offer.

Your total compensation goes beyond the dollars on your paycheck. Duke provides comprehensive and competitive medical and dental care programs, generous retirement benefits, and a wide array of family-friendly and cultural programs to eligible team members. Learn more at https : / / hr.duke.edu / benefits /

Job Code : 00001007 RESEARCH PROJECT MANAGER

Job Level : 58

Duke is an Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas-an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Essential Physical Job Functions : Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and / or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.

Salary : $75,305 - $128,016