Cybersecurity Executive Director

Position Description

Executive Director
of Master of Engineering in Cybersecurity (Executive in Residence) Job
Description

Duke University’s
Pratt School of Engineering is seeking a talented, driven, and innovative Executive
Director to lead the Master of Engineering in Cybersecurity program. This is a full-time,
on-site position based in Durham, NC. The program is designed to prepare
students for leadership in the complex and evolving world of cybersecurity
through interdisciplinary expertise, technical acumen, innovative problem-solving
skills, and strong leadership abilities.

Position
Overview

The
major responsibilities of the Executive Director will be to (1) to lead the
Master of Engineering in Cybersecurity and (2) teach two courses per year. In
this role, you will be expected to:

• ·

Provide program leadership on initiatives related to curriculum design,
program assessment, and admissions review.

• ·

Enhance
and oversee a world-class interdisciplinary academic program including managing
faculty, operations, and budget, while creating a collaborative and respectful
work environment.

• ·

Collaborate across program, institute, department, and school boundaries.

• ·

Identify and hire innovative faculty to teach the curriculum.

• ·

Develop and deliver innovative and applied, problem-based courses.

• ·

Support the development of co-curricular programs and research
opportunities for students.

• ·

Develop
a long-term vision and implement strategic plans that further enhance the
residential and online Cybersecurity program.

• ·

Promote the program to external constituencies.

• ·

Direct student recruiting and student admissions processes.

• ·

Lead industry engagement by cultivating and maintaining relationships
with industry partners to enhance student learning, project-based experiences,
and career opportunities.

• ·

Interact with Industry Advisory Board members to develop opportunities for
collaboration on internships, jobs and research.

• ·

Foster and develop relationships with the US military and federal
government agencies to identify and deliver educational and research initiatives.

• ·

Promote growth and management of initiatives such as labs, experiential
learning, or applied research that connect academic preparation with industry
practice.

• ·

Maintain and promote the National Security Agency Center of Academic
Excellence designations.

• ·

Oversee the Duke Executive Education Certificate program and the Duke
Cybersecurity Conference.

Qualifications

Ideal candidates will have at least ten years of experience in technical
and managerial roles in either an academic, government or corporate setting.
Candidates should also demonstrate strong communication skills, a collaborative
spirit, and a passion for mentoring emerging professionals. A master’s degree
is required, with a doctorate or terminal degree preferred. In exceptional
cases, significant and highly relevant industry experience may be considered in
place of a doctorate degree. Candidate should demonstrate teaching experience,
preferably in a higher education or professional training setting. Experience
in academic program-building, curriculum development, or collaborative
educational leadership is preferred. Candidate should have strong interpersonal
and communication skills, with the ability to work across academic, industry,
and governmental boundaries.

This role is part of
the Institute for Enterprise Engineering, which supports the development of
engineering professionals throughout their careers. The Cybersecurity program
embraces a collaborative culture, values real-world impact, and thrives at the
intersection of creativity and technology.

Our institutional
culture is built upon our history and values. Our shared values: respect,
trust, inclusion, discovery, and excellence are more than aspirations. They are
the beliefs and behaviors that we expect of ourselves and our colleagues. These
are the ideals that we must uphold in order to earn and maintain our reputation
for quality and integrity, and to inspire confidence with each other, and the
world which we both serve and rely on for our future viability. All members of
our community have a responsibility to uphold these values. Information about
Duke Values and Culture can be found at https://president.duke.edu/values/.

Please note that
Duke specifically seeks information about past misconduct or policy violations
(in the past ten (10) years) and/or relevant pending investigations as part of
the application process. Disclosures will not be an automatic bar to hiring but,
instead, will initiate further dialogue regarding past actions and steps taken
to address them. Disclosures will not be shared with search committees during
the application review process.

Duke is an 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, (including pregnancy and pregnancy related conditions), sexual
orientation, or military 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.

Applicants should submit the materials below for consideration. The
preferred application deadline is October 31, 2026, but applications will be
considered until a suitable applicant is found. This is a national search and
there is potential for relocation assistance for the selected candidate.

Application Materials Required:

Submit the following items online to complete your application:

• Cover letter
• Teaching Statement, including

examples of course topics the candidate could consider teaching, approach
to creating an exemplary classroom environment and instructional
approaches to optimize student learning.

• Curriculum Vitae or Resume
• Three references (names and email

addresses only)

Duke University
is an 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, ethnicity, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy
related conditions), sexual orientation, or military status.

Duke University 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.