Assistant Vice President, Housing, Dining, and Hospitality

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 Assistant Vice President serves as the senior executive leader responsible for the vision strategy and enterprise-level execution of Housing Dining and Hospitality operations at Rice University. The role oversees residential and retail dining undergraduate and graduate housing faculty club operations contract services campus bookstore operations and associated support services. The Assistant Vice President of a selfoperated hospitality group is a key institutional leader advancing enrollment growth student experience financial sustainability and capital development aligned with Rice Universitys longterm strategic priorities.

This portfolio represents approximately $60 million in annual operating revenue and a workforce of 270 employees as well as 50 student workers.

The role provides executive oversight of a major capital portfolio exceeding $300 million encompassing new residential colleges major renovations deferred maintenance modernization dining facilities and longrange housing and dining master planning aimed at achieving and sustaining approximately 70% oncampus residency. The Assistant Vice President plays a critical role in integrating capital strategy financial stewardship operational readiness and studentcentered design in close partnership with central finance facilities and senior leadership.

The portfolio continues to expand through the development and launch of new retail and hospitality operations including new concepts at the Moody Center for the Arts the Jones Graduate School of Business Rice Hospitality Catering and strategic expansion into Athletics the Ion Innovation District Rice Memorial Center convenience store operations the new student center wing dining services and other emerging campus and offcampus partnership opportunities. These initiatives require enterpriselevel planning crossfunctional coordination and innovative operating models that extend Rice Hospitality beyond traditional residential settings.

This position is considered essential during a campus emergency. The position is expected to report to campus provide the essential services designated and work under the overall direction of the Incident Management Team for the duration of a campus emergency.

Physical Demands:

Must be able to lift and carry up to 20 pounds several times each day. Requires walking or standing for up to eight hours per day. Other physical requirements include the ability to bend crouch kneel lift see reach climb and balance. Must assist with removing recycling and heavy trash. Must be able to move throughout assigned areas as work is performed both indoors and outdoors. Requires a full range of physical motion to operate manual and electrically powered cleaning equipment.

Working Conditions:

Work Environment: Primarily an indoor environment in various university settings which may include offices serveries and residential facilities. May be exposed to temperature extremes in facilities that are not climatecontrolled.
Work Hazards: Some work may occur at elevated heights on ladders or scaffolding or in wet areas. Possible exposure to toxic or caustic chemicals.
Work Schedule: Weekly schedule will vary and will include weekends and holidays. Must be available to work any required shift. Overtime is required weekly from May through August.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelors degree in a relevant field (e.g. Hospitality Business Administration Higher Education or a related discipline)
• 6 years of progressive leadership experience in housing and/or dining operations within a higher education or similarly complex setting
• Demonstrated expertise in best practices and emerging trends in selfoperated housing and dining services
• Proven ability to develop and execute strategic plans longterm goals and operational initiatives
• Exceptional interpersonal communication and collaboration skills with the ability to engage diverse campus stakeholders
• Strong financial acumen including experience in budget development financial analysis and revenue generation
• Familiarity with federal state and local regulations governing housing dining safety and employment compliance
• Understanding of current challenges and student needs in higher education residential and dining environments
• Deep commitment to equity diversity and inclusion in service delivery community engagement and team development
• Strong problemsolving and decisionmaking skills with a consistent focus on hospitality service quality and student satisfaction

Preferences:

• Masters degree in a relevant field (e.g. Hospitality Business Administration Higher Education or a related discipline)
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive leadership experience in housing and/or dining operations within a higher education or similarly complex setting
• Strong organizational and problemsolving skills including the ability to make sound decisions prioritize tasks and meet deadlines
• Computer proficiency with Microsoft Office and Google Suite
• Strong leadership and peoplemanagement skills with a demonstrated commitment to building and maintaining a strong team and customerserviceoriented organization
• Ability to conduct and lead meetings and train employees

Essential Functions:

Leadership and Strategy

• Serve as the senior executive thought leader and enterprise strategist for Housing and Dining within the Division of Campus Services and Sustainability setting longterm vision and institutional direction aligned with the Universitys mission enrollment growth and strategic priorities
• Lead the development and execution of an integrated multiyear strategic plan encompassing housing dining hospitality and retail operations; capital planning; financial sustainability; and service innovation
• Establish enterpriselevel performance frameworks priorities and success metrics that drive operational excellence accountability and continuous improvement across a complex selfoperated hospitality organization
• Provide visionary leadership that balances strategic ambition with operational rigor ensuring alignment between institutional goals resource stewardship and a highquality studentcentered residential experience

Operations Management

• Oversee all facets of housing and dining operations at an enterprise scale including residential life retail and residential dining faculty club operations service level agreements with custodial and maintenance major renovations and longrange capital initiatives. Ensure daily operations service models and infrastructure investments align with institutional priorities financial sustainability and a worldclass student experience
• Lead the planning launch and ongoing oversight of new retail food and beverage concepts in academic arts athletic and innovation environments requiring adaptable service models brand alignment and financial rigor
• While certain service functions have transitioned under the Facilities organizational umbrella as part of the Facilities Reimagine and Service Level Commitment (SLC) model Housing and Dining retains executive responsibility for the execution oversight and performance of these services within residential environments. This includes stewardship of room fees to ensure bestvalue service delivery clear accountability for service outcomes and alignment between service levels cost structures and the residential student experience. The Assistant Vice President serves as the institutional steward ensuring SLCs deliver on agreedupon standards responsiveness and longterm value for students and the University
• Lead multidisciplinary teams to foster a collaborative highperforming culture grounded in hospitality responsiveness and continuous improvement
• Oversee major construction and renovation projects in coordination with Facilities and Capital Planning ensuring functionality sustainability and studentcentered design
• Ensure the delivery of highquality costeffective services that meet the needs of a diverse student population. Leverage performance metrics and feedback to drive excellence and innovation
• Develop and oversee multimilliondollar operating budgets. Implement financial controls forecasting tools and diversified revenue strategiesincluding expanded retail catering and summer housingto support fiscal health and reinvestment in services
• Lead emergency personnel response teams within residential environments and coordinate crisis response efforts. Serve as a departmental liaison to the Universitys Incident Management Team (IMT) ensuring alignment with institutional emergency protocols and continuity planning
• Maintain regulatory compliance and oversee vendor contracts resource planning and operational readiness to ensure uninterrupted and impactful student services

Student Experience

• Foster a welcoming and inclusive living and dining environment that supports student engagement wellbeing and academic success. Ensure services reflect the diverse needs and identities of the student community
• Collaborate with student leaders college governments and campus partners to cocreate solutions address concerns and enhance the residential and dining experience continuously
• Lead the development of programs that promote mental health nutrition sustainability and intercultural connection within student spaces
• Partner with Student Affairs Access and Equity and Wellness offices to integrate cocurricular learning and inclusive communitybuilding into housing and dining services
• Cultivate meaningful traditions and shared experiences that deepen students connection to their residential colleges and the broader Rice community

Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement

• Collaborate with university departmentssuch as Admissions Student Affairs Dean of Undergraduates Finance HR Facilities and Capital Planning Office of Access and Institutional Excellence Office of the General Counsel Office of Information Technology Disability Resource Center and Campus Safetyto ensure alignment and coordination of services
• Establish strong partnerships with faculty staff and student leaders to integrate housing and dining programs seamlessly with academic initiatives
• Engage with the local community and external vendors to enhance services foster positive relationships and explore potential partnerships

Compliance and Safety

• Ensure compliance with Policy 803: Housing and Dining (H&D) is the point of contact for all retail and vending considerations on campus
• Ensure compliance with all relevant federal state and local regulations as well as university policies and procedures including OSHA guidelines
• Develop and implement safety protocols and emergency preparedness plans to ensure a secure living and dining environment
• Oversee the proper implementation of health and sanitation standards including regular inspections and audits in accordance with Houston Health Department regulations

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Provide executive leadership and oversight to directors senior managers and unit leads across housing dining and hospitality operations fostering a culture of accountability collaboration and excellence
• Develop human capital across the organization by empowering staff through mentorship emotional intelligence and valuesbased coaching. Establish clear performance expectations and leadership standards that enable teams to innovate execute complex initiatives and deliver measurable results across operations capital planning and service innovation
• Recruit develop and retain top talent to support a growing and increasingly complex portfolio. Build highperforming leadership teams capable of managing enterprisescale operations major capital initiatives and evolving hospitality models while maintaining a strong studentcentered focus
• Collaborate with senior leadership to develop and advance forwardlooking policies procedures and operational standards that elevate housing and dining quality sustainability outcomes and the overall residential experience
• Lead comprehensive training efforts for dining and hospitality teams ensuring staff are equipped to recognize student wellbeing and mental health cues and to follow appropriate university protocols in coordination with campus partners
• Monitor and evaluate performance across operational units using KPIs feedback tools and goalsetting processes. Address performance gaps constructively recognize excellence and create clear pathways for professional growth and leadership readiness
• Serve as a key advisor to senior leadership on matters related to organizational structure staffing models leadership development and succession planning ensuring longterm institutional capacity and continuity

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.