Senior Department Business Administrator

Special Instructions to Applicants:All interested applicants should attach a cover letter and resume 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 nations 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 Rices 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

This position serves as the chief administrative leader for the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE). CEE is a top-ranked program within Rice Universitys School of Engineering & Computing with a strong focus on research excellence academic programs and faculty success.

TheSenior Department Business Administrator (SDBA)provides leadership and oversight for the departments administrative financial and operational functions. Reporting to the Department Chair theSDBAworks closely with faculty and staff to support research teaching and strategic priorities serving as a senior and trusted administrative partner within the department.

As the departments administrative expert theSDBAapplies policy knowledge financial expertise and professional judgment to advance departmental priorities across both the business and academic functions of the department. The role includes leading and managing departmental staff and setting clear expectations for professionalism accountability and service. Success depends on earning trust exercising sound administrative judgment and advancing departmental goals through collaboration and example. TheSenior Department Business Administratorsets the tone for the administrative office and serves as a bridge between staff faculty and students in support of the universitys core mission.

Ideal Candidate Statement:

The ideal candidate is a collaborative and thoughtful leader who serves as the connective tissue of the department. They pair strong relationship-building skills with professional resilience allowing them to maintain a proactive and steady approach while working across the diverse roles ranks and perspectives of a complex academic environment.

Beyond technical expertise they are an approachable partner and creative problem-solver who is confident in their judgment and consistently identifies practical paths forward in complex situations particularly in support of strategic department-level financial and operational decision-making. Successful candidates will understand or quickly adapt to the culture and expectations of research-based academic environments earning credibility through example consistency diplomacy and candid conversation.

Workplace Requirements:This position is primarily on campus with limited flexibility for remote work as appropriate.PerRice policy 440 work arrangements may be subject to change.

This role is classified as an Essential Remote Position. During declared emergencies or crisis events the incumbent is required to continue duties remotely to ensure business continuity. Employees in this role must remain accessible to leadership support critical departmental functions and maintain operations until normal on-site activities resume.

Hiring Range:$87000-$92500 annually commensurate with experience.

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

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelors 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
• Four or more (4) years of experience in an administrative role with significant financial and supervisory management

• Skills:

  • Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office and data and reporting tools to independently complete complex work and guide others in accurate timely execution
  • Experience with enterprise-scale financial HR and administrative systems (e.g. Oracle PeopleSoft or comparable platforms)
  • Strong analytical and data reporting skills with the ability to translate information into clear decision-supporting insights
  • Excellent written verbal and visual communication skills including the ability to communicate effectively with faculty staff and senior leadership
  • Demonstrated sound judgment critical thinking and problem-solving skills in complex or ambiguous situations
  • Proven leadership and project management skills including the ability to prioritize allocate resources and manage competing demands
  • Ability to influence guide and build consensus across roles and perspectives without reliance on formal authority
  • Ability to work independently and lead teams ensuring accountability follow-through and high standards of performance

Preferences:

• Seven or more (7) years of progressively responsible administrative and/or supervisory experience
• Experience supporting research administration including familiarity with sponsor requirements research expenditures and related compliance considerations
• Demonstrated expertise in department-level financial management including development and oversight of complex budgets stewardship of multiple funding sources forecasting and financial decision-making in support of academic and research priorities
• Experience with graduate program administration and graduate student funding models
• Prior administrative experience in a college university or research-based academic setting

Essential Functions:

• Provide leadership and oversight for all departmental administrative operations including supervision and development of staff supporting academic research and student programs.

• Direct and integrate core administrative functions of the department including financial management research administration academic and program administration human resources communications and outreach and compliance.

• Partner with the Department Chair and faculty to plan coordinate and execute administrative and operational initiatives in support of departmental priorities.

• Serve as the departments primary administrative representative coordinating with the school and central university offices and providing guidance on the interpretation and application of university policies sponsor requirements and regulatory frameworks.

• Lead the development implementation and oversight of the departments annual budget and multi-year financial planning serving as the departments primary financial manager and advisor to the Chair.

• Oversee complex financial operations including budget monitoring expenditure review and approval forecasting financial analysis and reporting to support sound decision-making.

• Provide oversight of pre- and post-award research administration ensuring effective coordination compliance and support for faculty research activities.

• Oversee human resources and academic personnel functions including staff hiring and supervision performance management and development faculty appointments and promotion processes and coordination of visa-related matters for international faculty staff and students.

• Provide oversight for graduate and undergraduate program administration including admissions student funding and fellowships curriculum support accreditation activities and coordination with advising functions.

• Guide and support administrative services to faculty ensuring clarity consistency accountability and alignment with university practices.

• Perform other duties as assigned in support of departmental and institutional goals.

Rice University HR Benefits: 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 get in touch with Rice Universitys Human Resources Office via email at for support.

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