Duke University Job Descriptions
Duke Job Postings
To see if there are current openings for any of the job descriptions listed on this web site, please search Duke Jobs.
EXEC DIR, DUKE GOV RELATIONS & DUKE DC
Job Title: EXEC DIR, DUKE GOV RELATIONS & DUKE DC
Job Code: 2441
FLSA: E
Job Level: 17
Revised Date: 06/01/2025
Job Family: JF 28
Occupational Summary
Serve as Duke University's primary contact person based in Washington, DC; manage the Duke in Washington DC Office, develop relationships with key organizations and individuals, and work to promote Duke scholarship and programs to audiences in the nation's capitol to advance Duke's profile and agenda. Oversee all aspects of communication for the Office of Government Relations (OGR); the executive director is a registered lobbyist for the university.
Work Performed
Serve as the University's lead official in Washington, DC for Duke students, faculty and staff. Oversee and coordinate events, programming and all facility use of the Duke in DC Office. Serve as the main liaison with the Office of the Provost and all schools and institutes involving programming and events in Washington.
Represent Duke and Duke in DC to the greater DC and Duke communities through attendance at events and meetings and delivering presentations.
Develop extensive and productive relationships with individuals and key organizations and offices in DC that help advance Duke's profile and agenda. These relationships include, but are not limited to, appointed and elected federal officials, think tanks, members of the media and other thought leaders.
Create strategic and long-range plans for the marketing and promotion of Duke in DC in Washington and Durham.
Develop and implement policy in collaboration with the senior staff and leadership of the university regarding government relations activities.
Oversee the production - including the creation, writing, editing and distribution of information about Duke and federal policy activity that impacts the university for use on campus and with institutional stakeholders in Washington. Monitor and engage in social media activity on behalf of the OGR. Maintain OGR and Duke in DC websites.
Monitor legislative and executive policy activities in Washington and when appropriate and where there is a Duke faculty expert in a certain area, connect individuals in order to inform and educate decision-making and crafting of such policies. This may include providing faculty research, organizing meetings, developing a briefing and/or coordinating congressional testimony.
Serve as the primary lobbyist for Duke on issues related to federal student aid and immigration policy.
Work closely with the Office of Government Relations on "Government Relations Activities" including lobby compliance, voter education and political activities. This includes the development of guidance on such policies, in conjunction with the Office of University Counsel, monitoring activities and promotion and curation of guidance on the Government Relations website.
Work to promote Duke scholarship and programs to general DC audiences by planning and executing Duke in DC-sponsored public events, pitching Duke scholars to appear in external events, and other outreach activities. Establish and maintain relationships with individuals and programs on campus to identify above opportunities. Serve as liaison to DC-based alumni groups, including but not limited to, the DukeDC Regional Board, Duke Policy and Politics Network, the Duke Network for International Affairs, and the Duke Lobbyist Network.
Supervise personnel actions and provide leadership role, as needed, including hiring and training of staff, interns and volunteers; management of projects given to staff, interns and volunteers, and basic day-to-day operations of the office.
Develop and manage budget for Duke in Washington.
Required Qualifications at this Level
Education/Training
Work requires communications, analytical, decision making, and organization skills generally acquired through a masters or professional degree beyond the bachelor's.
Experience
This work requires 10 years of related experience in communications such as public relations, media and communications, and at least three years of institutional communications experience at a university or similar organization.
Appreciation and understanding of higher education is essential. Past experience with media and/or policymaking and politics is helpful.
Skills
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 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.
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.
