Global Mental Health Research and Communications Assistant

Staff Assistant, Duke Center for Global Mental Health

Background 
Duke Global Health Institute (DGHI) was created in 2006 as a University-wide institute with faculty from across Duke. DGHI has an expansive vision: to achieve health equity for vulnerable groups and individuals around the world. We work to prepare global health leaders through world-leading interdisciplinary education programs; seek innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing global health challenges by conducting research, designing policies, and implementing evidence-based interventions; and partner for change by engaging international and local organizations in locally grounded, collaborative projects. The DGHI community involves 111 staff, 99 core faculty, and 84 affiliate and adjunct faculty. DGHI values humility, compassion, respect, cultural sensitivity, collaboration, diversity and inclusion, and commitment to impact. More information on the institute’s leadership, education and degree programs, faculty research, and impact can be found at:  https://globalhealth.duke.edu 

DGHI is dedicated to research and training in Global Mental Health to reduce disparities in mental health care in low-resource contexts. We have an established Duke Center for Global Mental Health that serves as a hub to link interdisciplinary faculty and trainees performing mental health-related work across Duke, including Duke University and Duke School of Medicine. We have faculty members who integrate mental health into their interdisciplinary programs of research, practice, and policy engagement, as well as trainees participating actively in Global Mental Health projects at the undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral levels. At Duke, we define Global Mental Health broadly, with topics addressing diverse mental health needs across contexts and age groups, and spanning the prevention to treatment continuum. Please see more information about our Center for Global Mental Health and faculty here: https://globalhealth.duke.edu/global-mental-health-center. 

OCCUPATIONAL SUMMARY

Under the operational umbrella of the Duke Center for Global Mental Health, the Staff Assistant will give broad-range support to activities conducted in collaboration with our internal stakeholders and international partners. This position will report to the Center’s Director and lead administrator. We seek a Staff Assistant who can lead, coordinate, and administer activities within the below program areas. The specific activities will include:

General Duties and Responsibilities

• Coordinate and participate in meetings with faculty and staff to determine priorities and objectives, manage a portfolio of programmatic activities, and identify internal and external resources to meet priorities and objectives.
• Work with the Center leadership, program staff, and affiliated faculty to Coordinate and support visits to Duke by global colleagues and scholars, including logistics and purchasing related to transport, accommodations, and all travel-related needs.
• Develop and maintain records, reports, and correspondence required for reference and efficient operations.
• Support the development of presentations and related materials (e.g., slide decks, summary documents).
• Coordinate arrangements for special events such as seminars, conferences, and other Center activities (e.g. routine Center meetings, ad hoc symposia/dinners, meetings with residents/students, executive team meetings).
• Provide administrative support for sub-contracting with researchers within and outside the US.
• Provide administrative support for business development and proposal development (including our response to RFPs).

Communications

• Manage the writing and analysis of the Center’s Annual Report.
• Distribute information to Center faculty, trainees, and global partners related to events, updates, opportunities, and more.
• Manage Center website and social media accounts and material dissemination, with targeted goals of expanding the Center’s social media presence and external visibility.
• Help proofread Center articles, grants, and briefs.

Financial

• Track and monitor the research budgets of the Center budget and primary Center grants.
• Serve as point of contact for all Center financial needs.
• Produce monthly reports for all Center fund codes.
• Prepare/Submit travel related expense reports to reimburse faculty, trainees and staff as needed. 
• Work with site contacts to get staffing contracts in place and invoices paid.

Database Management

• Manage and update project action steps and progress.

• Manage file-sharing system (Duke Box).
• Maintain and update databases on Center personnel and all Center-related projects.
• Design, update and maintain spreadsheets to accommodate evolving needs of the Center.
• Track, record, and report data on Center metrics of progress.

Required Qualifications at this Level

Education/Training

Work requires a broad knowledge of clerical and accounting principles and practices normally acquired through two years of post-secondary education in administrative support or a related business field.

Experience

Work generally requires four years of related secretarial/clerical experience to acquire skills necessary to administer complex office functions related to office management, communications, and budgetary/accounting activities.

OR AN EQUIVALENT COMBINATION OF RELEVANT EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

Technical Skills Required

Email/Microsoft Outlook; Microsoft Word; Excel; Power Point; Windows; Google Drive; Editing/proofing own work.

“Soft Skills” Requested

Professional demeanor; excellent oral and written communication skills; attention to detail; flexible, able to multitask and adapt to changing priorities; able to work independently; self-starter; high energy; team player; personable.

The above statements describe the general nature and level of work being performed and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties required.

Duke 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 essentialjob 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.