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:

Under the direction of the Provost, the Program Manager will oversee the implementation/execution of Rice University's Momentous strategic plan. This role is responsible for tracking progress, measuring outcomes, and ensuring that timelines are met. The Program Manager will manage cross-functional teams, facilitate communications with stakeholders, and report on activities. Additionally, the Program Manager will engage in campus outreach across various stakeholder groups to ensure broad-based support and collaboration.

Key responsibilities include project management and creating accountability measures to ensure timely project completion. This role is integral in managing strategic planning efforts and providing counsel on strategies to achieve campus goals in collaboration with university partners.

Working closely with the Provost and other key stakeholders, the Program Manager will support the university's plans and objectives by aligning project resources, monitoring efforts, and managing teams to achieve campus priorities and goals.

Ideal Candidate Statement: 

The ideal candidate for this position will have a strong background in strategic planning and project management. They will have experience in overseeing complex projects, ensuring that all milestones are met on time. The candidate will track progress and report activities to senior leadership. Strong interpersonal and communication skills are essential, as is the ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Workplace Requirements: 

This position is exclusively on-site, necessitating all duties to be performed in-person. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change.

Hiring Range: This position is benefits eligible and exempt. It has an expected minimum salary starting at $100,000, depending on experience and qualifications.

*Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime. 

Minimum Requirements: 

Education

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)

Experience

4+ years experience in strategic planning, project management, or related roles, including proven experience in leading teams and implementing change initiatives.  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: 

Demonstrated planning and change management skills Excellent oral and written communication skills Able to influence people, solve problems, troubleshoot, think creatively and resolve conflicts Advanced analytical and problem-solving skills Strategic planning methodologies Operating models & processes Strategic plan creation & execution Strategic planning & roadmap development Project coordination & management Service metric creation and oversight Strong networking skills to connect with and engage different campus groups 

Preferences:

Experience using Asana or similar project management tool

Essential Functions:

Work with leadership and stakeholders to facilitate the development of the new strategic plan based on the desired cadence (3-year, 5-year, 10-year).  Manage and oversee the creation of comprehensive support structures for the strategic plan. Provides support and guidance to leadership regarding the management and coordination of strategic initiatives and special projects. Ensure that all programs and projects align with the university’s strategic goals, particularly in areas like graduate education, research innovation, and student support services. Monitor and report on key performance indicators to measure program success and impact. Prepares reports that keep all stakeholders informed on project progress. Collaborates with leadership to articulate and implement continuous improvement. Support the identification, prioritization, and ongoing maintenance of strategic initiatives, including success tracking based on identified metrics. Serve as the principal project manager for Strategic Initiatives.  Provide strategic guidance and counsel to stakeholders on best practices for current university initiatives. Collaborate with the campus community to ensure strategic planning and projects align with the University's strategic plan.  Manage tasks, track milestones, and establish strategies for assigned projects. Monitor scope, schedule, and performance against objectives. Organize and prioritize critical issues, providing required information to facilitate efficient decision-making.  Provides leadership in executing comprehensive strategies and initiatives around key campus priorities. Performs other duties as assigned

Rice University HR | Benefits: https://knowledgecafe.rice.edu/benefits 

Rice Mission and Values: Mission and Values | Rice University 

Rice University is committed to ensuring Equal Employment Opportunity and welcoming the fullness of diversity into our candidate pools. Rice considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status. Rice also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. If an applicant requires a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please contact Rice University’s Disability Resource Center at 713-348-5841 or adarice@rice.edu for support. 

If you have any additional questions, please email us at jobs@rice.edu. Thank you for your interest in employment with Rice University.