Duke University Job Description: EXEC DIRECTOR, CLIMATE & SUSTAINABILITY (1107)

Occupational Summary

The Executive Director leads Duke's Office of Sustainability setting priorities and overseeing a vast array of initiatives and ensuring the sustainability and climate goals of the University are being achieved. This position leads Duke's efforts to develop its next level sustainability goals that look beyond the 2024 carbon neutrality commitment and the original campus Sustainability Strategic Plan.

The Executive Director has broad oversight of Sustainable Duke (including the Duke Carbon Offsets Initiative) strategic planning, academic connections, outreach and education programming, communications, training, programs and support for leaders throughout Duke on climate and sustainability.

Work Performed

Leadership

Serve as a visionary leader and organizational strategist to help Duke become an international model for comprehensive, university climate and sustainability efforts. Represent Duke's climate and sustainable vision internally and externally.

Serve as a climate and sustainability resource thought partner with Duke's Board of Trustees and senior administration across the enterprise

Develop and implement strategies to integrate sustainability and practices into the university's operational long-term planning process, the management of its resources and operations, facilities planning and design, and the university's cultural and co-curricular experience

Collaborate with university leadership, e.g. AVPs, Deans, VPs, to prioritize campus sustainability efforts and achieve success Work with Alumni Engagement and Development to develop, prioritize and highlight external funding opportunities to enhance Duke's climate and sustainability activities and initiatives

Lead Sustainable Duke's team of both full time staff and student employees in the achievement of campus-wide goals and internal strategic plans. Be accountable for the successful achievement of these goals and effective stewardship of financial resources.

Determine fiscal requirements for Sustainable Duke and other operational and community sustainability program budgets and financials. Develop and monitor budgets for Sustainable Duke and broad campus climate and sustainability efforts.

Strategy and Assessment

Engage internal and external constituents to define, develop and implement a comprehensive and aggressive vision, strategies, benchmarks and goals for impactful operational practices, academic programs and policy decisions that will maintain and enhance Duke's operational and community sustainability leadership

Formulate action plans with defined objectives, targets and responsibilities to support agreed upon sustainability strategies

Analyze and make improvement recommendations for university sustainability performance by identifying, tracking, and reporting on key sustainability performance indicators

Enhance operational, academic, and community integration

Align operational sustainability efforts with academic and research strategies, initiatives, institutes and faculty interests and aspirations, leveraging the knowledge and research capacity of the university to help solve sustainability issues

Engage in innovative and creative academic and research pursuits through teaching, supporting research, mentoring students, contributing to the design of curriculum, supporting student projects, etc.

Develop and support a learning and testing environment (i.e., Campus As Lab) to facilitate sustainability ideation, innovation, teaching, and testing for campus stakeholders

Create sustainability co-curricular learning experience through the development and implementation of initiatives in university operations

Lead effective partnerships and relationships with Departments and Schools across Duke to enhance their overall sustainability and climate efforts

Enhance sustainability integration with the City and County of Durham, Triangle universities, local corporate partners and peer institutions to determine specific and achievable ways to work together in accomplishing goals that extend beyond campus boundaries

Create campus culture of sustainability

Lead and expand opportunities for faculty, staff, students and administrators to learn about climate and sustainability throughout the academic and operational dimensions of Duke's enterprise to promote a culture of sustainability

Oversee planning and execution of communications and marketing strategies that increase awareness and support of operations sustainability objectives, assessments and/or rating systems and practices

Foster an ongoing open, challenging, and dynamic dialogue about sustainability and Duke's commitment and efforts.

Required Qualifications at this Level

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative and level of the types of duties and responsibilities that will be required of positions given this title and shall not be construed as a declaration of the total of the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.

Duke University 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.