Position Description: Director of Research and Engagement Strategy 

Duke University’s Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability seeks to fill the newly created position of Director of Research and Engagement Strategy (DRES). Reporting directly to the Nicholas Institute Director, the DRES will play a pivotal role in enhancing the Institute’s impact by fostering collaboration and integration across its portfolio of research and engagement programs, including climate and health, climate resilience, energy access, energy and climate policy and finance, energy data analytics, environmental justice, nature-based solutions, ocean sustainability, and water policy. This position is instrumental in bridging actionable research in energy, environment, and sustainability to sustained engagement with key stakeholders whose decisions significantly influence these domains.

About the Nicholas Institute

The Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability at Duke University drives solutions to the world’s most important energy and environmental challenges, advancing a more just, resilient, and sustainable world. Conducting actionable research and fostering enduring engagement with policymakers, businesses, and communities, the Institute also delivers transformative educational experiences to empower future leaders. The Nicholas Institute’s work is aligned with the Duke Climate Commitment, which unites all schools at Duke and all aspects the university’s mission to address the deepening societal risks of climate change.

One of Duke’s signature interdisciplinary units, the Nicholas Institute was founded nearly 20 years ago as the Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions and merged with the Duke University Energy Initiative in 2021. A diverse team of over 50 professionals advance the Institute’s goals and impact, and their work includes faculty, staff, and students across all ten schools at Duke to accelerate discovery and pursue solutions to global energy and environmental challenges. Located on Duke's main campus in Durham, North Carolina, the Nicholas Institute also regularly partners with Duke in DC (Duke’s office in Washington, D.C.), Duke University Marine Lab in Beaufort, North Carolina, and Duke Kunshan University in China.

Read more about the Institute’s far-reaching expertise and the powerful impact here.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are core values of the Nicholas Institute. We believe that the educational environment is enhanced when diverse groupsof people with diverse ideas come together to learn. Applicants with a demonstrated commitment to issues of diversity in higher education are particularly encouraged to apply.

Position Responsibilities

The DRES will lead strategic planning and implementation to effectively integrate research and engagement activity across the Institute, aiming to elevate its profile and influence. Key responsibilities include:

• Collaboratively working with program directors to support and promote their efforts to cultivate strategic partnerships that generate research funding and collaboration opportunities.
• Developing cross-program strategies to identify opportunities for building new projects and initiatives that draw on the expertise of multiple programs.
• Chairing team meetings and strategic sessions to foster collaboration and innovation across programs.
• Working with the Institute’s development team to identify and manage cross-program development opportunities and working with program directors to identify development opportunities between programs and non-Institute partners that may need additional support.
• Ensuring that research and engagement initiatives uphold the principles of the Institute’s strategic plan for advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Coordinating and helping to prioritize strategic investments for central funding decisions by the Institute Director.
• Working with and as a liaison to the Institute’s operations director to address high level functional needs in administration, financial reporting, and human resources.
• Advising Director on broader resource and capacity needs across the Institute.
• Serving on the Institute’s senior management team.
• Representing the institute at key meetings, events, and fora within the University to enhance visibility and expand partnerships.
• Facilitate engagement with university faculty and staff outside the Nicholas Institute, external stakeholders, and policymakers, including ongoing development of Nicholas Institute working groups. Identify new opportunities to involve Duke students and faculty in the program.
• Serve as a point of contact for foundation program officers and, as applicable, other external stakeholders, such as representatives from non-profits, corporations, and corporate philanthropies. Respond to requests for information, including legislative drafting, from government officials.
• Work with program directors and research teams, faculty and stakeholders, and Institute events teams to ensure meetings, workshops, conferences, and events are strategically effective, well-planned, and conducted.
• ​Determine fiscal requirements for program area success and prepare budgetary recommendations.
• Serving as an advocate for the Institute’s programs, and in concert with Institute program directors, represent the Institute through travel to meetings, conferences, and donor solicitations. Attend Institute staff and directors meetings, and serve as a liaison for research

programs to the Institute Director, Director of Operations and Planning, and key stakeholders.

Ideally, the DRES will be a subject matter expert in one of the key domain areas of the Nicholas Institute. This full-time position allows for up to 20% of time dedicated to professional research interests, leveraging collaborative opportunities within the Institute, Duke University, and