Assistant Director, Strategic Initiatives

Special Instructions to Applicants: 

Candidates must submit one PDF in this order:

• a cover letter (maximum one page)
• a resume or curriculum vitae
• names with emails and phone numbers for the three most recent direct supervisors to serve as references

About Rice:

Located in an urban environment on a 300-acre tree-lined campus, Rice University is a private, comprehensive research university located in the heart of the dynamic Museum District in Houston, TX, the most diverse city in the country and home to vibrant Latinx, Asian-American, Black, LGBTQ+, and international communities.  Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the metro area is characterized by a robust civil society with top elected positions in the region held by a diverse group of officials—left, right, and center, and including Asian-American, Black, Latine, and LGBTQ+ leaders. Rice offers undergraduate and graduate degrees across eight schools and has a student body of approximately 4,500 undergraduate and 3,900 graduate students. The university’s undergraduate population has no racial majority.  Rice consistently ranks among the top 20 national universities and the top 10 in undergraduate teaching (US News & World Report); its endowment ranks among the top 20 of US universities.

We welcome the fullness of diversity to Rice. Qualified applicants are considered without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status. Also, in our candidate pools, we seek to attract greater representation of women, scholars of color, people with disabilities, veterans, and others who have historically been underrepresented. We aim to attract applicants from a wide range backgrounds; to accelerate progress in building a staff varied in thought and experience; and to maintain an environment that fosters interaction and understanding within our community.

Position Summary:

The Assistant Director for Strategic Initiatives supports the development and implementation of innovative, equity-centered programs that enhance the Rice student experience. This position is responsible for launching and sustaining new strategic initiatives that address the evolving needs of historically underrepresented student populations.

The Assistant Director will develop and manage equity and access-oriented partnerships with community colleges and collaborate across campus to build strategic partnerships, design impactful programming, and strengthen institutional support for students from a wide range of backgrounds and identities.

Ideal Candidate Statement:

The ideal candidate is a collaborative, student-centered innovator with experience in launching new programs and building partnerships to advance equity and access in higher education. They are energized by the opportunity to create systems from the ground up, especially for student communities that have not been fully supported in traditional university structures. With a generalist mindset and a flexible, strategic approach, they will thrive in a dynamic environment where creativity, initiative, and cross-campus collaboration are essential.

Workplace Requirements:

• This position is exclusively on-site, necessitating all duties to be performed in-person on-campus. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change.
• Office hours are Monday through Friday, from 8am to 5pm with an hour’s lunch
• Frequent evening and weekend work
• This is an exempt position and is not eligible for overtime pay. During some weeks, employees will be required to work more hours to meet their job responsibilities. 

Hiring Range: $60,000 *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
• One year experience in development and implementation of innovative, equity-centered programs
  • 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:

• Ability to learn new strategies
• Written and verbal communication skills 
• Data analysis skills
• Ability to work well under pressure and manage multiple projects simultaneously 
• Good organizational and time management skills 
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office suite