Director of Convening Operations

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 Duke Divinity School is seeking a detail-oriented and collaborative Director of Convening Operations to join our team at a nationally recognized, Lilly Endowment-funded intermediary organization dedicated to strengthening Christian institutions that support congregations. In this pivotal role, you will provide overall administrative management and coordination of a complex group of convenings related to grant programs, including building and improving processes for registration, communications, managing contractors, and overall evaluation. The required business-related functions include marketing, project management, finance, budget, personnel, grant administration, and policy interpretation and dissemination. The position is supervised by the Executive Director for Grants and Services.

This position is 100% funded by a sponsored program that is currently funded by a grant through December 31, 2028. The department is a Lilly Endowment funded intermediary organization and is a unit of Duke Divinity School.

Minimum Requirements:

• Work requires a general business background, generally equivalent to a bachelor's degree in a business-related field.
• This position isonsite at Duke University in Durham, NC. After the 90 day review process, there is a possibility for a hybrid schedule.

Experience Qualifications:

Work requires 4 years of related business or administrative experience to acquire competence in applying general personnel practices, accounting and budgeting principles and coordination of major administrative functions. A master's degree in a business-related field may be substituted for 2 years of experience OR ANY OTHER EQUIVALENT COMBINATION OF RELEVANT EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

Preferred Qualifications:

• Strong preference for applicants with experience with lay or clergy leadership in congregations.
• Strong preference for applicants with supervision of staff and contractors.

Skills Needed:

Microsoft Outlook - Intermediate; Microsoft Excel - Intermediate; Microsoft Access - Intermediate; Microsoft Powerpoint - Intermediate; Microsoft Word - Advanced; Other Database Software (Airtable) - Intermediate; SAP R/3 - Intermediate.

Leadership skills: Executing Strategic Direction, Operational Decision Making. Operationalizing Change Processes and innovation, Sharing Responsibility, Energizing Peers and Direct Reports Coaching and Developing Others, Developing People, Compelling Communication, Financial Acumen, Cultivating Networks and Partnerships

Be Bold.

In this role as Director of Convening Operations, you will:

• Create and administer processes to design and implement convenings including pilot program and multiple cohorts; ensure compliance with University and the sponsoring agency policies and procedures and prepare financial and administrative reports for submission to sponsoring agency.
• Recruit and assess contractors who have skills in event planning, facilitation and worship leadership. Make recommendations of prospects for leadership at convenings to supervisor and lead contracting process. Train contractors in expectations of specific events. Identify, monitor and minimize conflicts of interest between contractors and participants. Evaluate quality of contractors' work and make recommendations about future opportunities for growth and work.
• Recruit and assess vendors that provide housing, travel, food, materials, technology support, etc. Make recommendations to supervisor of providers. Train vendors in expectations of specific events. Identify, monitor and minimize conflicts of interest between vendors and participants. Evaluate quality of vendors' work and make recommendations about future opportunities for growth and work.
• Analyze data gathered from participants for trends. Compare the trends with available research. Report themes and make recommendations based on findings.
• Collaborate with department's business manager in maintaining and improving the data systems ensuring that information is available for reporting to sponsors as well as executing payment requests to the university.
• Collaborate with department's business manager to determine fiscal requirements, make projections and prepare departmental budgets; monitor, verify, and reconcile expenditure of budgeted funds; prepare financial statements reflecting status of programs and activities; ensure compliance with University policies and procedures.
• Assist in the preparation of grant proposals to include compilation of data and preparation of budget projections; monitor and verify expenditures.
• Supervise and coordinate work of designated employees; manage personnel activities to meet University and departmental objectives in training, equal pay, equal employment, and wage and salary administration.
• Collaborate with the department's director of communications in formulating and implementing marketing and communications plans to advance convening objectives.
• Serve as departmental liaison with select peer organizations that host convenings and support services to Lilly Endowment grantees in order to provide peer support and collaboration on select projects.

Choose Duke.

At Duke Divinity School, you will join a community committed to excellence, formation, innovation, and service. As a leading center for theological education, the Divinity School engages in groundbreaking research, shapes transformative programs, and nurtures leaders who serve communities around the world.

The department you will join is a nationally recognized intermediary organization funded by the Lilly Endowment, entrusted with stewarding major grant initiatives that strengthen congregations, institutions, and ministry leaders. You will work with a passionate, mission driven team and have the opportunity to influence largescale projects that shape Christian institutional life across the United States.