Douglas is Director of the Research Services Division at the Australian National University reporting to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research; an appointment he took up in July 2013.
Douglas started in the field of University Research Administration and Support at the University of Leeds, UK in 1983. This was then followed by a period as Contracts Manager at the University of Strathclyde, UK from 1987 to1993.  In 1994 Douglas was appointed as Director of Research Business Development at Nottingham University, UK with responsibilities covering research, procurement, insurance, conferences and technology Transfer.  In 2003 Douglas assumed the role of Director of Business Development at Newcastle University, UK with wide ranging responsibilities covering all aspects of externally funded project activity including research support, regional economic development and technology transfer.  Major projects included project direction of a significant museum refurbishment project and part of the senior team responsible for initiating development of overseas campuses in Malaysia and Singapore and development of an entirely new city centre property development in Newcastle, UK focusing on co-location of university and industry activities.