Cybersecurity Executive Director

1000scholars; United States; On-site; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Executive Director of the Master of Engineering in Cybersecurity at Duke University’s Pratt School of Engineering is a full-time, on-site role in Durham, NC. The Director will lead program strategy, supervise faculty and budget, and teach two courses annually.

The role emphasizes curriculum development, program assessment, and strong industry and government partnerships to advance practice and education. Candidates should have extensive leadership and teaching experience in higher education.

Qualifications

• Master's degree required in a related field.
• At least ten years of experience in technical and managerial roles.
• Teaching experience in higher education or professional training preferred.
• Strong interpersonal and cross-boundary collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee the MEng Cybersecurity program.
• Teach two courses per year.
• Develop curriculum, assessment, and admissions processes.
• Manage faculty, operations, and budget.
• Foster industry partnerships and internships.
• Direct student recruitment and admissions.
• Promote NSA Center of Academic Excellence designations.
• Oversee external relations and program growth.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Mentoring

Curriculum design

Education

Master's degree

Doctorate preferred

Job description

Executive Director of Master of Engineering in Cybersecurity (Executive in Residence) Job Description

Duke University's Pratt School of Engineering is seeking a talented, driven, and innovative Executive Director to lead the Master of Engineering in Cybersecurity program. This is a full‑time, on‑site position based in Durham, NC. The program is designed to prepare students for leadership in the complex and evolving world of cybersecurity through interdisciplinary expertise, technical acumen, innovative problem‑solving skills, and strong leadership abilities.

Position Overview

The major responsibilities of the Executive Director will be to (1) to lead the Master of Engineering in Cybersecurity and (2) teach two courses per year. In this role, you will be expected to:

• Provide program leadership on initiatives related to curriculum design, program assessment, and admissions review.
• Enhance and oversee a world‑class interdisciplinary academic program including managing faculty, operations, and budget, while creating a collaborative and respectful work environment.
• Collaborate across program, institute, department, and school boundaries.
• Identify and hire innovative faculty to teach the curriculum.
• Develop and deliver innovative and applied, problem‑based courses.
• Support the development of co‑curricular programs and research opportunities for students.
• Develop a long‑term vision and implement strategic plans that further enhance the residential and online Cybersecurity program.
• Promote the program to external constituencies.
• Direct student recruiting and student admissions processes.
• Lead industry engagement by cultivating and maintaining relationships with industry partners to enhance student learning, project‑based experiences, and career opportunities.
• Interact with Industry Advisory Board members to develop opportunities for collaboration on internships, jobs and research.
• Foster and develop relationships with the US military and federal government agencies to identify and deliver educational and research initiatives.
• Promote growth and management of initiatives such as labs, experiential learning, or applied research that connect academic preparation with industry practice.
• Maintain and promote the National Security Agency Center of Academic Excellence designations.
• Oversee the Duke Executive Education Certificate program and the Duke Cybersecurity Conference.

Qualifications

Ideal candidates will have at least ten years of experience in technical and managerial roles in either an academic, government or corporate setting.

Candidates should also demonstrate strong communication skills, a collaborative spirit, and a passion for mentoring emerging professionals.

A master's degree is required, with a doctorate or terminal degree preferred.

In exceptional cases, significant and highly relevant industry experience may be considered in place of a doctorate degree.

Candidate should demonstrate teaching experience, preferably in a higher education or professional training setting.

Experience in academic program‑building, curriculum development, or collaborative educational leadership is preferred.

Candidate should have strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work across academic, industry, and governmental boundaries.

Our institutional culture

Our institutional culture is built upon our history and values. Our shared values: respect, trust, inclusion, discovery, and excellence are more than aspirations. They are the beliefs and behaviors that we expect of ourselves and our colleagues. These are the ideals that we must uphold in order to earn and maintain our reputation for quality and integrity, and to inspire confidence with each other, and the world which we both serve and rely on for our future viability. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values. Information about Duke Values and Culture can be found at https://president.duke.edu/values.

Please note that Duke specifically seeks information about past misconduct or policy violations (in the past ten (10) years) and/or relevant pending investigations as part of the application process. Disclosures will not be an automatic bar to hiring but, instead, will initiate further dialogue regarding past actions and steps taken to address them. Disclosures will not be shared with search committees during the application review process.

Duke is an 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, (including pregnancy and pregnancy related conditions), sexual orientation, or military 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.

The preferred application deadline is October 31, 2026, but applications will be considered until a suitable applicant is found.

There is potential for relocation assistance for the selected candidate.

This is a national search.

Duke is an 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, (including pregnancy and pregnancy related conditions), sexual orientation, or military 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.