Executive Director

Duke University Pratt School of Engineering; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

The Duke Pratt School of Engineering in Durham, NC, is seeking an Executive Director to lead the Master of Engineering in Cybersecurity program within the Institute for Enterprise Engineering. The role focuses on curriculum leadership, cross-disciplinary collaboration, industry partnerships, and program growth.

Ideal candidates have at least ten years of technical and managerial experience, a master’s degree (doctorate preferred), and strong communication and teaching skills.

Qualifications

• Ten years of experience in technical and managerial roles.
• Master’s degree required; doctorate or terminal degree preferred.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and mentoring skills.
• Experience in academic program-building, curriculum development, or leadership in education.

Responsibilities

• Provide program leadership on curriculum, assessment, and admissions.
• Oversee faculty, operations, and budget while fostering a collaborative environment.
• Collaborate across program, institute, department, and school boundaries.
• Hire innovative faculty to teach the curriculum and develop applied courses.
• Support development of co-curricular programs and internships.

Skills

Leadership

Teaching experience

Communication skills

Collaboration across boundaries

Industry engagement

Education

Master's degree

Doctorate/terminal degree preferred

Job description

The Duke Pratt School of Engineeringis seeking a talented, driven, and innovative Executive Director to lead theMaster of Engineering in Cybersecurityprogram.

TheMaster of Engineering in Cybersecurityprogram 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. This role is part of theInstitute for Enterprise Engineering , which supports the development of engineering professionals throughout their careers. The Cybersecurity program embraces a collaborative culture, values real-world impact, and thrives at the intersection of creativity and technology.

The major responsibilities of the Executive Director will be to lead the Master of Engineering in Cybersecurity and 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.

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.

This is a full-time, on-site position based in Durham, NC.