Director for Graduate Student Success and Development

About the role

As the Director for Graduate Student Success and Development, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the graduate student experience from recruitment through degree completion. In this highly collaborative leadership role, you will partner with faculty, staff, students, and external organizations to create programs and services that support student success, foster belonging, and promote academic excellence. Your work will directly impact the recruitment, engagement, retention, and development of a diverse and thriving graduate student community.

Responsibilities

• Lead Graduate Student Recruitment Initiatives
  • Develop and execute comprehensive graduate student recruitment strategies for master’s and doctoral programs.
  • Partner with Admissions, faculty, staff, and current students to build strong recruitment networks and pipelines.
  • Represent Duke at recruitment fairs, workshops, campus visits, and outreach programs.
  • Coordinate visitation opportunities, research experiences, and pre-application programs for prospective students.
  • Expand partnerships through initiatives such as the EDGE Collaborative and other strategic recruitment alliances.
  • Explore and support the development of innovative pathways, including inter-institutional 4+1 programs.
• Advance Student Success, Retention, and Belonging
  • Design, implement, assess, and continuously improve programs that support graduate student persistence and success.
  • Foster meaningful connections across academic departments to promote best practices that enhance student outcomes.
  • Create initiatives that strengthen belonging, engagement, and community among graduate students.
  • Provide individualized guidance and connect students with resources that support their academic, personal, professional, financial, and social well-being.
  • Collaborate with campus partners to provide training and resources related to cultural awareness, crisis response, and student support.
• Drive Assessment and Strategic Improvement
  • Evaluate programs and peer institution practices to identify opportunities for innovation and improvement.
  • Develop reports and recommendations that inform strategic decision-making and student success initiatives.
  • Use research, assessment data, and emerging trends to enhance Graduate Student Affairs programs and services.
• Contribute to Graduate Student Affairs Leadership
  • Support signature Graduate Student Affairs programs and events, including orientation, recognition ceremonies, appreciation initiatives, and awards programs.
  • Serve as a trusted resource and liaison for graduate student organizations, student leaders, faculty, and staff.
  • Advise student organizations on operational, financial, and organizational matters.
  • Build partnerships across Duke, professional organizations, peer institutions, and national graduate education networks.
  • Assist with publications, presentations, communications, and resource development that showcase Graduate Student Affairs achievements.
  • Actively contribute to team planning, goal setting, and continuous improvement efforts.

Requirements

• Education: Bachelor’s degree required; doctorate preferred.
• Experience: At least 3 years of related experience, preferably in a university setting; broad knowledge of higher education and specific knowledge of graduate education issues.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Significant, progressively responsible experience leading recruitment and enrollment initiatives in higher education, preferably for master’s and doctoral programs.
• Demonstrated success developing, implementing, and evaluating comprehensive recruitment strategies that strengthen applicant pipelines, expand reach, and advance enrollment goals.
• Experience providing strategic leadership for recruitment efforts across multiple stakeholders, including admissions, faculty, academic programs, staff, current students, and external partners.
• Proven ability to build and sustain high-impact recruitment partnerships with peer institutions, professional organizations, community-based organizations, and other strategic collaborators.
• Experience leading recruitment communications, prospective-student engagement, campus visit programs, fairs, workshops, and other outreach initiatives.
• Ability to use enrollment data, market trends, and prospective-student feedback to set priorities, assess outcomes, and continuously improve recruitment strategy.
• Experience supervising, mentoring, or coordinating the work of staff, student ambassadors, or cross-functional recruitment teams.
• Strong strategic planning, project-management, and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Outstanding written, verbal, and presentation communication skills, including experience developing compelling recruitment publications and promotional materials.
• Demonstrated success supporting graduate students through advising, coaching, counseling, or student services.
• Exceptional collaboration, networking, relationship-building, and interpersonal skills.
• Willingness and ability to travel.

Pay

Annual base salary range: USD $64,505.00 to USD $106,121.00. Total compensation includes comprehensive benefits; final offer will consider scope of responsibilities, candidate qualifications, internal equity, and market considerations.

Benefits

Duke provides comprehensive and competitive medical and dental care programs, generous retirement benefits, and a wide array of family-friendly and cultural programs to eligible team members.