New

Director for Special Projects, Planning & Strategic Initiatives

North Carolina State University

Commensurate upon experience

life insurance, flexible benefit account, paid time off

United States, North Carolina, Raleigh

Feb 25, 2026

Posting Information

Posting Number	PG194496EP
Internal Recruitment	No
Working Title	Director for Special Projects, Planning & Strategic Initiatives
Anticipated Hiring Range	Commensurate upon experience
Work Schedule	Monday - Friday, 8 am - 5 pm
Job Location	Raleigh, NC
Department	Lampe Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering
About the Department	The mission of the Lampe Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering is to provide leadership through exceptional educational programs and experiences that prepare engineers and scientists to meet the challenges of biomedical discovery and applications of engineering to medicine. The research and entrepreneurship of the faculty, students, and staff aim to accumulate, generate, and disseminate biomedical engineering knowledge to improve health care for the benefit of the people of North Carolina, the nation, and the world.
Wolfpack Perks and Benefits	As a Pack member, you belong here, and can enjoy exclusive perks designed to enhance your personal and professional well-being. As you consider this opportunity, we encourage you to review our Employee Value Proposition and learn more about what makes NC State the best place to learn and work for everyone. What we offer: Medical, Dental, and Vision Flexible Spending Account Retirement Programs Disability Plans Life Insurance Accident Plan Paid Time Off and Other Leave Programs 12 Holidays Each Year Tuition and Academic Assistance And so much more! Attain Work-life balance with our Childcare benefits, Wellness & Recreation Membership, and Wellness Programs that aim to build a thriving wolfpack community. Disclaimer: Perks and Benefit eligibility is based on Part-Time or Full-Time Employment status. Eligibility and Employer Sponsored Plans can be found within each of the links offered.
Essential Job Duties	The Director for Special Projects, Planning & Strategic Initiatives is a critical, high-impact leadership role, reporting directly to the Department Head/Chair of the Lampe Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering ( BME). This position is responsible for overseeing the strategic planning, structural integrity, and successful execution of high-priority initiatives unique to the BME's dual-campus environment (NC State and UNC-Chapel Hill). The Director will serve as the Department Head's executive project manager, translating the departmental vision into actionable goals, ensuring the unique administrative functions support core academic and research missions, and driving strategic projects to completion. This role is expected to work closely with the College of Engineering at NC State, the College of Arts and Sciences, and the School of Medicine at UNC Chapel Hill Operations Offices to ensure departmental administrative processes are aligned with broader College and School policies and to streamline the resolution of complex, cross-institutional issues. This role is a key steward of the unique inter-institutional knowledge required to maintain the department's operation. Key Responsibilities Departmental Strategic Planning and Implementation (45%) Strategic Execution: Lead the formulation, implementation, and tracking of the department's strategic plan and high-priority initiatives, ensuring alignment with the long-term goals of BME, NC State's College of Engineering, and UNC-CH's School of Medicine/College of Arts and Sciences. Project Leadership: Manages and oversees all special projects assigned by the Department Head/Chair. Projects include, but are not limited to, maximizing the strategic impact and compliance of newly established endowments; leading major facility and spaceutilization projects across both campuses; contributing to the development of new educational or research programs; and participating in hiring committees for development and communications positions. Decision Support: Work with department leadership team and provide strategic decision support to the Department Head/Chair by conducting research, analyzing internal trends (e.g., enrollment, research funding, dual-campus personnel data), benchmarking against peer institutions, and preparing high-level slide decks, reports, letters and presentations to aid in informed decision-making. This includes anticipating threats and opportunities related to BME's growth and financial stability. Structural Stewardship, Operations, and Administrative Efficiency (35%) BME Charter Stewardship: Serve as the definitive steward of the Lampe Joint BME Charter and its associated appendix agreements, which form the unique foundation for a single department administered by two universities and three colleges/schools. This involves assisting in enforcing the Charter's terms with administrative units at both NC State and UNC-CH and assisting in drafting and executing necessary updates to the agreements. Operational Optimization: Streamline and optimize the department's administrative workflows, improve internal communication structures across both campuses, and manage the administrative calendar to ensure key inter-institutional deadlines (e.g., HR, budget, grant submissions) are met efficiently. Policy Implementation & Issue Resolution: Serve as the department's expert on complex institutional policies for both NC State and UNC-Chapel Hill and ensure consistent, accurate application of these policies across all departmental operations. This role proactively resolves issues as they arise and implements necessary policy changes to maintain the department's unique functioning. College Alignment and Strategic Stakeholder Engagement (20%) Inter-Institutional Advocacy: Serve as the primary operational liaison and advocate for BME with leadership at both NC State and UNC-Chapel Hill to maintain the department's special processes required to pursue its endowed mission. Development and Communications Support: Collaborate closely with the College/School Directors of Development and Communications to prepare strategic vision materials, coordinate external engagement, and support outreach to alumni, industry, and friends for philanthropic, collaborative, and research efforts. External Coordination: Coordinate efforts across varied internal and external stakeholders-including faculty at both universities, administrative teams, physician groups, and industry partners-to implement key strategic programs and projects, leveraging the department's unique dual-campus structure.
Other Responsibilities	Other tasks and responsibilities may be assigned based on the needs of the organization and evolving priorities.

Qualifications

Minimum Education and Experience	A master's or advanced degree in a relevant field such as business administration, public administration; or a related discipline with at least 3 years of experience.
Other Required Qualifications	Demonstrated experience in a high-level project management or executive operations role, preferably within a complex academic or research environment that requires navigating multiple institutional policies or systems. Proven ability to manage multiple large-scale initiatives simultaneously and ensure deadlines are met. Excellent communication skills (written and verbal), with a demonstrated ability to serve as a central point of contact and advocate for a specialized unit among varied, high-level stakeholders. Experience in optimizing workflows, improving communication structures, and fostering a positive work environment. Demonstrated ability to provide strategic decision support through research, data analysis, and insightful presentation.
Preferred Qualifications	Knowledge or direct experience managing a joint or inter-institutional administrative unit, proven leadership skills with experience in supervising and leading a team.
Required License(s) or Certification(s)	N/A
Valid NC Driver's License required	No
Commercial Driver's License required	No

Recruitment Dates and Special Instructions

Job Open Date	02/24/2026
Anticipated Close Date	Open until filled
Special Instructions to Applicants	Please include as attachments a resume/CV, cover letter, and contact information for at least 3 professional references. Also include a personal statement (Other Document 1) about the experience relevant to the position description. Please do not use AI for the personal statement

Position Details

Position Number	00062296
Position Type	EPS/SAAO
Full Time Equivalent (FTE) (1.0 = 40 hours/week)	1.00
Appointment	12 Month Recurring
Mandatory Designation - Adverse Weather	Non Mandatory - Adverse Weather
Mandatory Designation - Emergency Events	Non Mandatory - Emergency Event
Department ID	147501 - Lampe Joint Department of BME
EEO	NC State University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal opportunities for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, and veteran status. The University encourages all qualified applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities, to apply. Individuals with disabilities requiring disability-related accommodations in the application and interview process are welcome to contact 919-513-0574 to speak with a representative of the Office of Equal Opportunity. If you have general questions about the application process, you may contact Human Resources at (919) 515-2135 or workatncstate@ncsu.edu. Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. Degree(s) must be obtained prior to start date in order to meet qualifications and receive credit. NC State University participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.