Position Description

Duke University

Sanford School of Public Policy

Adjunct Instructor Positions in Master of International Development Policy (MIDP) Program

With top-ranked graduate degree programs, the Sanford School of Public Policy aspires to be a leading school of public policy for the 21st Century and to be recognized in the region, in the nation, and throughout the world as a leader in the policy field. Sanford’s vision for what it means to be a great public policy school derives from its core values and from its mission statement: “The Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University educates tomorrow's leaders and improves the quality of public policymaking through teaching, research, professional training, and policy and community engagement.”  As such, the Sanford School is committed to research that matters, teaching that empowers and inspires, deep engagement with the policy world, and building a diverse and inclusive community.

The MIDP targets globally diverse and qualified mid-career professionals from the public sector, civil society, and those interested in changing careers. As mentioned, the program aims to enhance the knowledge and skills of mid-career professionals primarily from low and middle-income countries. The MIDP also educates those from high-income countries who plan to dedicate their lives to sustainable international development that focuses on peace and prosperity for all. MIDP’s student population is 90%-95% international students. Students have at least 5 years of professional, development-related experience. The average number of years of work experience is 13.

Adjunct Instructor Position in International Development: Project Management for International Development

The Sanford School is seeking applicants for an adjunct instructor position to teach a seminar on Project Management for International Development in the Master of International Development Policy (MIDP) Program. The course should be taught at a level suitable for mid-career professionals with some experience in the topic.

Course Description:

A significant proportion of international development assistance is offered in the form of complex projects. The management of such projects is challenging and quite different from the management of repetitive day-to-day operations. In addition, the environment for international development projects presents further challenges for the project manager. We will explore in some detail three of the most important phases of the project life cycle-project identification, project design, and implementation planning-before considering how the project manager builds and leads the project team, manages risk, and monitors and controls implementation towards a successful conclusion.

This is a non-regular-rank, non-tenure-track position intended to bring qualified practitioners to the MIDP classroom to provide students with knowledge about practical applications of development policy and to build students’ skills in applying knowledge to real-world circumstances. Candidates must have a PhD, J.D. or other terminal degree in their academic discipline to be able to teach a graduate-level course. Candidates with an MA plus 20 years of relevant experience will also be considered. Specifically, candidates should have experience in the development world and be able to teach a graduate course on project management. Preferred candidates will have university teaching experience, a strong commitment to working with students in the classroom and on projects, and high personal motivation and responsibility for maintaining the integrity of the learning environment and process.  

Important note: This is a temporary adjunct position for the fall 2026 semester only.

The Adjunct Instructor will:

• Teach a full-semester graduate-level course
• Prepare a syllabus that includes course objectives, readings, and assignments
• Grade assignments and provide written and verbal feedback on a timely basis
• Respond to student questions and issues related to the class; hold office hours
• Distribute MIDP required course evaluations to students at the middle and end of the semester
• Provide final course grades within the University required timeframe
• Supervise teaching assistant(s), as necessary
• Use Duke University email address for course/Duke related correspondence
• Follow Duke University parking regulations
• Abide by Duke professional standards, including Duke's Harassment Policies and the Consensual Relationship Policy
• Protect the confidentiality, privacy, and security of student, staff, business, and other confidential, sensitive, electronic or proprietary information of Duke University from any source and in any form (spoken, paper, electronic, etc.) that is created, accessed, used, or disclosed by/to you

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.