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 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:

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 stakeholdersfrom academia to industry and federal agenciesregionally nationally and internationally

In collaboration with the Institutes Faculty Director and Deputy Director the Executive Director develops plans to achieve the Institutes 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 Institutes administrative workload and programmatic activities

• Nurturing internal and external relationships for continued and expanded support of the Institutes 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 work arrangements may be subject to change.

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

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelors degree (Biological Sciences Bioengineering Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering or related degree)

• 6 years of related professional experience including the following:

  • Effectiveness in working with faculty at research-intensive universities

  • Effectiveness in collaborating with some of the following organizations: corporations government agencies NGOs and research foundations

  • Demonstrated ability to translate strategy into actionable plans and oversee execution

  • Demonstrated ability to attract federal or corporate funding

Skills:

• Track record of innovative thinking analysis and practical activities

• Capacity to think analytically and creatively and to develop new and innovative approaches to external affairs

• Ability to be an effective and coherent leader and the capacity to lead staff in an effective and flexible way

• Exemplary verbal visual and written communication skills

• Ability to build sustainable relationships

• Self-motivated/self-starter

• Ability to work independently and as part of a team to meet expected deadlines and schedules

• Advanced problem-solving skills adept at creating contingency plans

• Ability to work well under pressure and manage projects simultaneously

• Excellent organizational and time management skills

• Attention to detail

• Ability to lead and motivate others

• Strategic skills to craft and implement a fundraising and/or project plan

Preferences:

• PhD or other doctoral degree (Biological Sciences Bioengineering Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering or related degree) or a masters degree and 10 years of experience

• Creative

• Excellent data analysis skills

• Entrepreneurial

Essential Functions:

• Fundraising which includes identifying qualifying and developing potential funding sources and opportunities that will bring additional research funding aligned with the Institutes research directions and developing and writing proposals to leverage these opportunities in collaboration with interested faculty members

• Community-building internally and externally which includes facilitating intersecting research communities within the Institute and connecting them with researchers at other institutions at the local national and international levels

• Establishing long-term strategic relationships and partnerships for RSBI with state and federal agencies industry foundations philanthropic entities and universities

• Collaborates with faculty university leadership and Institute leadership to develop set and execute the strategic goals and objectives of the Institute

• Oversees the administrative and financial operations within the Institute

• Leads and directs the development of programs initiatives and plans to advance the Institutes mission and strategic objectives

• Coordinates fundraising for major programs and projects across all aspects of synthetic biology

• Identifies qualifies and develops potential funding sources

• Leads and directs the development and implementation of strategies and plans related to external relations including fundraising communications events marketing etc.

• Identifies and facilitates opportunities for synergy and collaboration between RSBI and the SSPB graduate program

• Establishes and fosters interdisciplinary research collaborations both domestic and international between the Institute specific industries and other universities

• Prepares reports describing RSBI activities finances and future directions for internal evaluation of RSBI effectiveness

Additional Functions:

• Leads and directs Institute staff and directs key administrative and financial functions including administrative operations human resources budget management and forecasting

• Serves as a key liaison with stakeholders and constituency groups

• Actively supports and coordinates fundraising strategies and efforts and serves as a liaison with Development and Alumni Relations

• Serves as a key liaison with government and industrial partners

• Performs all other duties as assigned

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.