Strategic Business Manager

Duke University:

Duke University was created in 1924 through an indenture of trust by James Buchanan Duke. Today, Duke is regarded as one of America’s leading research universities. Located in Durham, North Carolina, Duke is positioned in the heart of the Research Triangle, which is ranked annually as one of the best places in the country to work and live. Duke has more than 15,000 students who study and conduct research in its 10 undergraduate, graduate and professional schools. With about 40,000 employees, Duke is the third largest private employer in North Carolina, and it now has international programs in more than 150 countries.

Be You.

The Department of Biomedical Engineering (BME) at Duke University is seeking a strategic and collaborative Senior Business Manager to serve as the department's senior administrative and financial leader. Reporting to and partnering closely with the Department Chair, you will help guide the operational, financial, and administrative direction of one of Duke's most interdisciplinary and research-intensive academic departments. BME supports a diverse community of faculty, researchers, staff, trainees, and students conducting groundbreaking research, education, innovation, and translational work across Duke University and Duke Health.  

In this role, you will translate strategic priorities into actionable financial, staffing, and operational plans while providing leadership for finance, human resources, faculty affairs, administrative operations, research administration, and facilities coordination. You will serve as a trusted advisor to departmental leadership, proactively identifying opportunities, mitigating risks, and ensuring responsible stewardship of departmental resources.  

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, or a closely related field.  
• Minimum of eight years of progressively responsible administrative management experience.  
• Demonstrated experience in financial management, budgeting, personnel supervision, organizational leadership, and complex administrative operations.  
• Master's degree in a related field may substitute for two years of required experience.  
• Equivalent combinations of relevant education and experience will be considered.  

Preferred Qualifications

• Senior administrative or financial leadership experience in a research-intensive university, academic medical center, engineering organization, or similar complex environment.
• Strong budgeting, forecasting, analytical, and multi-year financial planning skills.
• Experience leading and developing professional administrative teams.
• Experience overseeing HR functions and partnering on workforce planning and complex personnel matters.
• Demonstrated success improving processes, systems, workflows, and organizational effectiveness.
• Excellent communication, relationship-building, and strategic problem-solving skills.
• Familiarity with modern analytics and AI-assisted tools.
• Experience working across multiple academic and administrative units.
• Knowledge of Duke administrative, financial, HR, or research systems preferred.  

Be Bold.

Position Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Executive Partnership (15%)

• Serve as a strategic advisor to the Department Chair and leadership team.
• Translate departmental goals into operational, financial, staffing, and resource plans.
• Provide recommendations on organizational structure, staffing, financial commitments, and departmental performance.
• Anticipate risks, identify opportunities, and develop solutions that support departmental priorities.
• Represent BME and collaborate with Pratt School of Engineering leadership, Duke administrative offices, and university partners.  

Financial Strategy and Resource Management (25%)

• Lead departmental budgeting, forecasting, financial planning, reporting, and resource allocation.
• Develop short- and long-range financial plans aligned with strategic priorities.
• Prepare multi-year projections and scenario analyses to support leadership decision-making.
• Oversee departmental operating and discretionary budgets, faculty commitments, startup packages, and major expenditures.
• Ensure compliance, fiscal accountability, sound internal controls, and effective stewardship of resources.
• Develop financial reports and dashboards that provide visibility into current performance and future commitments.  

Administrative Operations and Continuous Improvement (20%)

• Direct administrative operations supporting research, education, faculty, staff, and students.
• Improve workflows, systems, and service delivery to increase efficiency, accountability, and responsiveness.
• Establish and maintain standard operating procedures, internal controls, and performance metrics.
• Promote data-driven decision making, technology adoption, and process automation where appropriate.
• Coordinate administrative functions to ensure clear communication, effective delegation, and operational continuity.  

Staff Leadership and Human Resources Oversight (20%)

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing administrative team.
• Establish performance expectations and support employee growth and development.
• Evaluate staffing structures and workforce needs to support evolving departmental priorities.
• Provide leadership and oversight of the department's HR function, including partnership with the HR Manager and HR Specialist.
• Collaborate with Pratt and Duke HR leaders on workforce planning, recruitment, retention, compensation, and employee relations initiatives.  

Faculty Affairs and Research Administration (15%)

• Oversee faculty recruitment, appointments, onboarding, promotion, retention, leave administration, and related processes.
• Partner with departmental leaders on faculty workforce planning and associated financial commitments.
• Ensure high-quality administrative support for faculty throughout their Duke careers.
• Provide oversight of administrative structures that support sponsored research and academic programs.
• Resolve complex administrative issues that require cross-functional coordination and collaboration.  

Space, Facilities, and Institutional Coordination (5%)

• Oversee space planning, renovations, relocations, capital projects, and equipment management.
• Ensure responsible allocation and stewardship of departmental facilities and physical resources.
• Represent the department in school-wide and university-wide administrative initiatives and committees.  

Choose Duke.

The Department of Biomedical Engineering is recognized for its collaborative culture and innovative environment, bringing together engineering, medicine, and science to address some of society's most complex challenges. As Senior Business Manager, you will have a direct impact on the department's success by shaping strategy, strengthening operations, supporting world-class faculty and researchers, and ensuring resources are aligned with long-term goals.  

This position offers a unique opportunity to work closely with academic and administrative leaders while influencing decisions that support research excellence, educational innovation, and organizational effectiveness. Join Duke University and become part of a community dedicated to discovery, collaboration, and excellence.