Instructor’s Assistant – Engineering Management Practicum

The Pratt School of Engineering at Duke University is seeking an Instructor’s Assistant to help teach Masters-level engineering management classes. The assistant will help to teach/mentor a graduate-level Engineering Management Practicum [aka the Consulting Practicum Program (CPP)] course for students in the Master of Engineering Management program. This position will be part-time, mentoring approximately 1 to 8 course sections (one project team per section) per academic year largely on-campus at Duke University in Durham, N.C.

This appointment runs from July 1, 2022 to June 31, 2023.

The candidate should have substantial industry experience in one or more life-science and/or engineering domains.  Other preferences include prior experience working with students (individually and/or in teams), leading teams, interfacing with industry clients/executives, and working as a consultant.  Applicants must minimally have a BS in one or more life-science or engineering domains, where MS and Ph.D. experience is preferred (as well as an MBA). 

The successful hire will do the following during the course of a given semester per project team:

·         Follow the requirements set by the faculty instructor/director who has a proven system for successfully harvesting and managing industry-student practicum projects.

·         Help students schedule and successfully execute a client kickoff Zoom call without delay during the first 1-2 weeks of the semester.

·         Meet onsite (or sometimes via Zoom) with a student team for ~1.25 hours per week (aka mentor meeting).

·         Strive to be available during the majority of student-client Zoom update calls (often held every ~2 weeks).  Help students craft an agenda to optimize update-call utility for all parties.

·         During team meetings and on-demand throughout the semester, serve as a coach and mentor resource to the team.  Guidance often includes helping students to listen carefully to clients during kickoff and update calls, translate client needs into action, create project plans, work through mid-semester roadblocks, prevent/solve any team & client issues, produce professional-quality deliverables, propose end-of-course grades, and seek out end-of-semester client feedback.   Be a coach, not a boss (help to optimize team success, but let the team do the work).

·         Balance being customer-oriented to a company sponsor while, most importantly, remaining an advocate for each student and team.  If a student team is falling short in performance, then take part ownership of the situation.  Push the team and provide constructive criticism as needed (like one would in industry), but also be an encourager and part of the solution (not just a critical bystander).

·         Welcome and encourage participation by each student, understanding cultural and individual differences amongst team members.  Help to identify and deal with any unique team dynamics to encourage individual and team success. 

·         Proactively keep the instructor informed on progress and student/client satisfaction throughout the semester.  Draw in the instructor as needed before any student or client problem escalates.

·         Adhere to any Duke University guidelines, including those related to vaccinations, wearing masks, social distancing, and so on.

We seek staff members committed to building a diverse and inclusive community that fosters excellence in research and teaching and welcome applications from women and members of minority groups as well as others who would bring additional dimensions to the university’s research and teaching missions. Applicants should submit a curriculum vitae or resume, cover letter, and a list of the names, addresses, phone numbers, and e-mail contacts of three references. Applications must be submitted electronically through https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/22021 ;

Duke University is an Affirmative Action/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, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran 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.