Chief of Staff

The Search Process:

Rice University is being assisted in this process by Spencer Stuart and welcomes nominations or expressions of interest. If you wish to submit your application materials or nominate someone to serve as Chief of Staff to the president of Rice University please send an email message with supporting materials to:

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 Chief of Staff (COS) reports directly to the President of Rice University serving as the Presidents primary support and supervising staff within the Office of the President. The COS must bring a strong understanding and appreciation for Rices distinctive residential college system and liberal arts foundation while navigating the complexity of a top-tier research university. Operating with the highest levels of discretion integrity and judgment the COS will manage sensitive issues in a dynamic environment. As a trusted advisor and strategic partner the COS plays a critical role in shaping and advancing Rices strategic plan Momentous: Personalized Scale for Global Impact. The COS is instrumental in facilitating the Presidents agenda by coordinating key initiatives ensuring alignment across the university and driving progress on institutional priorities. The role requires superb communication skills and the ability to serve as a key liaison between the President and a wide range of stakeholdersincluding trustees faculty staff students alumni government officials industry leaders and community leadersensuring the Presidents vision is conveyed effectively and organizational alignment is maintained. The COS will also focus on strengthening organizational efficiency enhancing communication managing crises and ensuring the successful execution of Rices strategic addition the COS will lead and manage staff within the Office of the President to support long-term goals and ensure seamless daily operations.

Workplace Requirement:

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:Salary Commensurate with Experience and Qualifications

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

Key Responsibilities:

Rices COS will serve as a strategic advisor to the President and work to advance his goals through coordinating the Presidents team supporting presidential committees and overseeing the operational and financial affairs of the Office of the President.

Key responsibilities include the following:

1. Strategic Leadership and Institutional Alignment: Partner with the President and cabinet to drive university-wide priorities anticipate challenges and coordinate cross-divisional

initiatives. Ensure that the presidents vision is translated into actionable plans and pursued systematically across the institution.

2. Presidential Liaison and Representation: Serve as the presidents liaison with senior leadership and represent the president at meetings and external events. The COS collects

input and information and provides post-event briefings and summaries to the president.

3. Board of Trustees Engagement: Act as an advisor and liaison to the board of trustees preparing executive-level board materials reports and records in conjunction

with the board secretary.

4. Policy and Governance Support: Provide input on policy and governance matterscoordinate policy review and partner with external governing entities as needed.

5. Executive Communications: Oversee the development and dissemination of high-level messages from the president. Review and refine briefing materials talking points executive

reports and correspondence.

6. Executive Search and Recruitment Support: Collaborate with human resources and external search firms to coordinate leadership searches; oversee coordination of campus

visits for candidates; and facilitate engagement between senior administrators board members and candidates.

7. Office Leadership and Staff Development: Supervise office staff fostering a high-performance culture and promoting professional development. Oversee office operations.

8. Institutional Performance and Accountability: Track and report on KPIs support evaluations and monitor progress toward strategic goals.

9. Support Development Efforts: In close collaboration with the development office ensure the president is prepared for development events handling real-time situational needs and

completion of follow-up items.

10. Executive Performance Review Coordination: Ensure the annual executive performance reviews by gathering feedback compiling assessments tracking goals and coordinating

review meetings according to university policy.

11. Executive Cabinet Operations: Plan and coordinate cabinet meetings and retreats set agendas guide discussions track action items and ensure follow-through on key initiatives.

Provide executive-level administrative support to cabinet functions decision-making processes and internal communications efforts.

12. Strategic Access Management and Time Prioritization: In collaboration with the executive assistant to the President act as the main gatekeeper for the presidents schedule. Manage and prioritize requests ensuring the president stays focused on the most important strategic goals key alumni and donor relationships and institutional priorities.

13. Crisis Intervention and Mitigation Support: Play a key role in crisis response teams.

14. Confidentiality Diplomacy and Availability: Uphold the highest levels of confidentiality in handling sensitive university matters. Manage situations with diplomacy discretion and

professionalism to foster collaboration across the campus community.

15. Stakeholder Engagement: Cultivate relationships with students faculty staff alumni donors trustees and external partners to enhance institutional engagement and support.

16. Presidential Events: Work with events team to oversee and plan key presidential events.

17. Other Duties: Undertake additional executive responsibilities assigned by the president.

Ideal Experience:

• Advanced degree strongly preferred and minimum of 10 years of experience advising or supporting senior executives in large complex organizations (i.e. president chief executive officer provost dean). Experience working in higher education is preferred although not required.
• Prior experience and familiarity with board governance policy development donor engagement and institutional accountability.
• Demonstrated leadership organizational and management skills preferably in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to perform complex tasks and manage multiple projects simultaneously to drive results.
• Experience cultivating relationships across a wide range of constituents.
• Skilled in communications including executive positioning and crisis communications preferred.

Other Personal Characteristics:

• Excellent organizational communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong strategic analytical problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders and manage multiple priorities effectively.
• A commitment to the mission and values of Rice.
• Discreet calm under pressure and politically savvy.
• Collaborative not ego-driven; comfortable with ambiguity and resistance.
• Ability to exercise good judgment and discretion with highly confidential information.

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.