Assistant Director of Marketing and Development

Special Instructions to Applicants: In PDF form, applicants should attach a resume and cover letter in the Supporting Documents section of the application.

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 how 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 Rice Synthetic Biology Institute (RSBI) at Rice University seeks a strategic and dynamic Assistant Director of Marketing and Development to lead strategic and integrated communications, marketing, fundraising, and event planning efforts that enhance the institute’s visibility, engage stakeholders, and advance its mission. This role will manage marketing strategies across digital, print, and social media channels, oversee content and web development, plan and execute large-scale events, support donor engagement and fundraising campaigns, and manage budgets. The individual will collaborate with faculty, staff, the office of development and alumni relations, public affairs, and external stakeholders to ensure seamless delivery and alignment with institutional goals.

The Rice Synthetic Biology Institute (RSBI), a newly established initiative, catalyzes collaborative research in synthetic biology and translates it into technologies that benefit society. The institute is led by an Executive Director and supported by a growing team, including a Director of Operations, a Program Manager, an Admin/Events Specialist, and the new Assistant Director of Marketing and Development. With plans for significant expansion, RSBI is focused on strengthening the synthetic biology community at Rice, fostering connections with regional industrial, government, and academic partners, and engaging global leaders in synthetic biology to drive innovation and societal impact. They will also support and assist the executive leadership in securing external funding and building strategic partnerships.

The ideal candidate is a self-starter, collaborative, creative, and detail-oriented professional with demonstrated experience in marketing/communications, donor relations, and event planning with higher education, research institutions, or similarly sized nonprofit organizations. They bring a proven ability to design and execute strategic marketing campaigns, manage high-profile events, and cultivate strong relationships with diverse stakeholders. This role offers an exciting opportunity for growth as the institute expands, allowing the successful candidate to grow their impact and responsibilities alongside the organization’s development.

Workplace Requirements

This position is on-site, requiring duties to be performed in person. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change. The role will not have direct reports. Occasional travel and evening/weekend work may be required to support fundraising events, donor meetings, and marketing efforts.

Hiring Range

This is a full-time, benefits-eligible position, and the proposed salary range is $73,000 - $85,000 annually, depending on qualifications and experience. *Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree
  • In lieu of the education requirement, additional related experience, above and beyond what is required, on an equivalent year-for-year basis, may be substituted
• 3+ years of professional experience in marketing, communications, fundraising, or event planning
  • In lieu of the experience requirement, additional related education, above and beyond what is required, on an equivalent year-for-year basis, may be substituted

Skills: