Office-based with regular travel to client sites
We are seeking a Project Director to join our US team. This is a client facing professional services role focused on project leadership, advisory delivery, and commercial coordination. It is not a facilitation or training position.
The Project Director brings strong professional services acumen, with deep experience leading high value advisory engagements across multiple geographies. The role requires proven capability in managing complex consulting projects end-to-end, advising senior clients on strategic people and leadership initiatives, and ensuring disciplined delivery across scope, timeline, and financial performance.
A strong understanding of the leadership development and people advisory landscape, combined with rigorous project and financial management capability, is essential.
About Duke Corporate Education
At Duke Corporate Education, we empower leaders at all levels to be catalysts of change in their organizations and, ultimately, in society. By designing and delivering best‑in‑class advisory, leadership development, and change management solutions, we help organizations build for the future.
Our global team has an established track record of delivering large‑scale, impactful, and innovative leadership solutions. With delivery in over 85 countries, we partner with clients to co‑create solutions for leaders at every level, driving sustainable impact at scale and speed.
Key Responsibilities
Client Advisory and Stakeholder Leadership
- Act as a trusted advisor to senior client stakeholders, interpreting strategic business and people priorities
- Translate client needs into clear advisory, leadership development, or change solutions aligned to desired outcomes
- Shape engagement direction and ensure recommendations are grounded in client context and impact
- Build and sustain strong, long term relationships with senior leaders, including multinational and FTSE 500 clients
- Serve as the senior point of accountability for client satisfaction and value delivery
End-to-End Project and Commercial Ownership
- Own the successful delivery of complex client engagements from initiation through close
- Develop and oversee comprehensive project plans, delivery timelines, budgets, and contractual commitments
- Maintain commercial discipline across scope, cost, revenue, and resourcing decisions
- Ensure delivery decisions balance client outcomes with Duke CE’s financial and commercial objectives
Financial Management and Performance Oversight
- Oversee project financials across assigned engagements, including budget tracking and forecasting
- Conduct variance analysis and interpret financial data to assess project performance
- Identify financial risks or trends early and take corrective action as needed
- Ensure financial transparency, disciplined governance, and predictable project outcomes
Cross Functional and Global Team Leadership
- Lead and coordinate cross functional project teams operating across multiple geographies
- Provide clear direction, guidance, and feedback to maintain high delivery standards
- Clarify roles, responsibilities, and decision rights across project teams
- Foster accountability, collaboration, and effective problem solving
- Work closely with internal and external partners to ensure quality, progress, and alignment
Governance, Risk, and Delivery Excellence
- Establish and maintain strong delivery governance across all engagements
- Identify, monitor, and actively manage project risks and issues
- Ensure timely escalation and resolution of delivery, commercial, or client risks
- Prepare and deliver clear, executive level project updates to clients and internal stakeholders
- Ensure progress, risks, and outcomes are clearly understood and decisions are well supported
Insightful Communication and Executive Ready Outputs
- Develop clear, impactful presentations and written materials for senior audiences
- Translate complex information into concise, executive ready insights and recommendations
- Support client decision making through structured analysis and compelling storytelling
- Reinforce Duke CE’s advisory credibility through high quality, professional outputs
Requirements
Experience and Qualifications
- Minimum of 7 years’ experience in strategy consulting, people consulting, organizational transformation, or HR advisory.
- Minimum of 10 years’ experience in project management; formal project management certification required
- Bachelor’s degree in business or a related field
- Demonstrated experience leading high value, multi-geography advisory or consulting engagements
- Strong commercial and financial acumen, with experience managing complex project budgets and contracts
Skills and Capabilities
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and engage senior stakeholders
- Proven ability to lead, motivate, and coordinate diverse project teams
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving capability
- High standard of written and visual communication, particularly in developing clear, impactful client presentations
- Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
- Proficiency with project management tools and delivery governance processes
- Resilient, adaptable, and comfortable navigating ambiguity
Benefits
Compensation:
$95,000 – $130,000 annually (final offer based on experience and qualifications)
