Executive Director

Special Instructions to Applicants:

All interested applicants should attach a resume and cover letter in the Supporting Documents section of the application, preferably in a 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, lectures 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 Rice Synthetic Biology Institute (RSBI) seeks to catalyze collaborative research in synthetic biology and its translation into technologies that benefit society. This Institute serves to strengthen the synthetic biology community at Rice by coordinating activities related to synthetic biology across Rice schools. RSBI also seeks to connect the Rice synthetic biology community with regional industrial, government, and academic partners, and to engage with global leaders across all areas of synthetic biology. Research at RSBI focuses on living therapeutics, living materials, and living electronics, as well as foundational work in synthetic biology. To achieve its mission, RSBI seeks to:

• Host programming and events that support, enhance, and strengthen the multifaceted synthetic biology community at Rice University

• Identify, connect, and support interdisciplinary teams to apply for and execute center-level grants

• Partner with the Rice SSPB graduate program to develop the next generation of leaders in synthetic biology

• Establish long-term strategic partnerships with a broad range of stakeholders—from academia to industry and federal agencies—regionally, nationally, and internationally

In collaboration with the Institute’s Faculty Director and Deputy Director, the Executive Director develops plans to achieve the Institute’s mission and strategic priorities and is responsible for directing the implementation of these plans.

The Executive Director develops, initiates, and monitors all business development activities, including but not limited to:

• Managing and supervising Institute staff

• Overseeing the Institute’s administrative workload and programmatic activities

• Nurturing internal and external relationships for continued and expanded support of the Institute’s programs

• Building sustainable relationships with Rice faculty, university leaders, and domestic and international experts

• Serving as a key liaison between internal and external constituents, including industry, foundations, and government

• Identifying, qualifying, and developing potential funding sources and opportunities that will bring additional research funding to the Institute and the broader Rice community

The Executive Director reports to the Faculty Director of RSBI and represents the Institute as needed. The Executive Director will work closely with Institute leadership and associated faculty, postdoctoral scholars, and graduate students to fulfill the mission of the Institute.

Workplace Requirements:

This position is offered as a hybrid role, combining both in-office and remote work to provide flexibility and support collaboration. Per Rice policy 440