Assistant Director, First Year Programs

Special Instructions to Applicants:
All interested applicants should attach a resume and cover letter in the Supporting Documents section of the application, preferably in PDF format to avoid any formatting issues.

About Rice:

Boasting a 300-acre, tree-lined campus in Houston, Texas, Rice University is ranked among the nation’s top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has a 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio and a residential college system, which supports students intellectually, emotionally, and culturally through social events, intramural sports, student plays, lecture series, courses, and student government. Developing close-knit, diverse college communities is a strong campus tradition, which is why Rice is highly ranked for best quality of life and best value among private universities.

Rice is also a wonderful place to work. Rice faculty, staff, and students share values that are essential to our success as a healthy community. Those values guide our decisions and behaviors and shape Rice’s culture. They come through in the way we treat each other and the welcome we extend to our visitors. These values can be recalled simply by our name — RICE — Responsibility, Integrity, Community, and Excellence.

Position Summary:

The Assistant Director of First Year Programs supports First Year Programs (FYP) under the Office of Student Success Initiatives. The assistant director participates in the planning, implementation, and assessment of Rice’s undergraduate orientation programming while also providing support in the form of advising and training to 33 O-Week Coordinators and two Student Directors.

Ideal Candidate Statement:

The ideal candidate has at least three (3) years of experience facilitating the planning, organization, and execution of undergraduate orientation programs and activities that support the successful transition of new undergraduate students by including parents and family members in the campus community. Experience as a supervisor, including providing guidance and support to student leadership teams, is also preferred.

Workplace Requirements:

This position is exclusively on-site and full-time, necessitating that all duties be performed in person at Rice University. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change. Responsibilities occasionally may require an adjusted work schedule and evening/weekend hours over the summer to meet the needs of program development.

Hiring Range: $58,000–$61,500 annually, contingent upon qualifications and experience
*Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree

• 2+ years of experience in a four-year college or university setting, with some previous experience working in orientation or event planning specific to undergraduate students in a postsecondary academic setting

  • In lieu of the experience requirement, additional related education above and beyond what is required may be substituted on an equivalent year-for-year basis

Skills:

• Knowledge of theories including student development, learning, and identity development, and experience applying those frameworks professionally

• Ability to problem-solve and support/advise students in personal and/or academic crisis

• Strong communication and rapport-building skills, and experience collaborating with faculty, staff, students, families, and administration

• Ability to multitask and manage multiple projects with competing deadlines