Assistant Vice President of Campus Planning and Design, University Architect

Position Summary

The Assistant Vice President of Planning & Design and University Architect (AVP) serves as Rice Universitys primary steward of campus buildings landscapes public spaces and the built environment. Reporting to the Associate Vice President of Facilities Planning & Capital Construction the AVP leads the planning and design organization and serves as the Universitys internal design authority providing strategic leadership for campus planning architecture landscape stewardship facilities programming design governance and long-range physical development.

The AVP serves as Rice Universitys principal advisor on matters related to campus planning and public realm design architecture landscape stewardship land use site development and the long-term evolution of the campus while leading the implementation and ongoing stewardship of the Campus Framework Plan. The AVP partners closely with senior university leadership academic and administrative stakeholders facilities leadership project management space management public affairs development and alumni relations and the Buildings and Grounds Committee of the Board of Trustees to align planning design space utilization campus landscape and capital investment decisions with institutional priorities long-term physical development strategy and the Universitys capital governance process.

The AVP establishes and maintains planning design and development standards; leads design review and consultant selection processes; oversees planning studies and campus development initiatives; and promotes excellence sustainability accessibility resiliency fiscal stewardship and design continuity across the Universitys physical environment. The position also serves on the campus Arboretum Committee and provides oversight of the related tree canopy landscape public realm and open-space stewardship initiatives.

The ideal candidate is a strategic collaborative and design-oriented leader with deep expertise in architecture campus planning design governance landscape stewardship and higher education capital planning. They will have a demonstrated ability to translate academic research student life residential athletics and institutional priorities into long-range campus plans capital investments and design standards that advance Rice Universitys mission and strengthen its distinctive campus identity.

This leader will serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership and the Board of Trustees providing vision sound judgment and strategic guidance on campus development and stewardship. Success in this role requires exceptional communication relationship-building and consensus-driving skills with the ability to engage effectively across a diverse range of stakeholders including faculty staff students deans project teams consultants and external partners.

The successful candidate will balance design excellence fiscal responsibility operational needs and long-term institutional stewardship while navigating complex organizational environments. They will possess a deep appreciation for Rice Universitys architectural heritage landscape framework open spaces tree canopy and pedestrian-focused campus experience recognizing the campus as a critical asset that supports teaching research student success community engagement philanthropy and the universitys long-term aspirations.

About Rice and Facilities Planning and Capital Construction

Rice University is a world-class private research university located on a distinctive 300-acre tree-lined campus in Houston Texasone of the nations leading centers for medicine energy technology entrepreneurship and innovation. Consistently ranked among the nations top universities Rice is renowned for excellence in research teaching and the student experience. Through a highly collaborative academic environment and a culture that fosters interdisciplinary discovery Rice advances creativity innovation and solutions to complex global challenges.

The universitys physical campus serves as a fundamental asset in achieving its mission. Widely recognized as one of the most beautiful and distinctive university environments in the United States the campus reflects more than a century of thoughtful planning architectural stewardship and design excellence. Originating from the 1909 General Plan by Cram Goodhue & Ferguson Rice has maintained an exceptional sense of architectural continuity landscape cohesion and human-scaled design while evolving to meet the needs of a modern research university. Its distinct Mediterranean Byzantine architectural vocabulary pedestrian-oriented academic core interconnected open spaces mature live oak canopy and nationally recognized arboretum create a setting that honors Rices history while supporting its future aspirations.

Rices campus buildings and master planning are also highly decorated with the universitys historic architecture and contemporary additions earning prestigious local national and international design recognition. Several Pritzker Architecture Prize laureates and internationally significant architects have shaped Rices built environment and planning legacy reinforcing the campus as both a functional academic setting and an enduring work of design. This tradition of architectural ambition and contextual excellence continues to distinguish Rice among leading research universities and elevates the importance of careful stewardship design governance and long-range campus planning.

Today the campus functions as an integrated environment that supports academic excellence research innovation residential life athletics cultural engagement and community connection. Academic buildings cutting-edge research facilities residential colleges cultural venues public spaces utility infrastructure mobility systems and ecological landscapes work together to create a vibrant and supportive university experience. The campus also plays a critical role in student recruitment faculty attraction and retention philanthropy partnerships and Rices national and international reputation.

A defining characteristic of Rice is its close-knit community. The universitys 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio and unique residential college system foster meaningful relationships and support students intellectually socially emotionally and culturally. Through student government lectures performances intramural sports and community traditions Rice cultivates a strong sense of belonging and engagement contributing to its national recognition for quality of life and value among private universities.

As Rice continues to grow the university remains committed to preserving the defining qualities that make it unique while advancing sustainability resilience accessibility research capacity and long-term institutional development. The Campus Framework Plan envisions significant future growth while reinforcing the architectural legacy residential college system landscape framework arboretum setting and culture of interdisciplinary collaboration that distinguish Rice. Stewardship of this exceptional physical environment is essential to advancing the universitys academic mission and strategic vision for generations to come.

Rice is also an exceptional place to work. Faculty staff and students share a commitment to the values that define the universitys culture and community. These valuesResponsibility Integrity Community and Excellence (RICE)guide decisions shape behaviors and influence how members of the Rice community support one another and welcome visitors. Together these principles sustain a thriving academic environment and reinforce Rice Universitys commitment to excellence in all that it does.

Special Instructions to Applicants:All interested applicants should attach a resume in the Supporting Documents section of the application preferably in a PDF format to avoid any formatting issues.

Workplace Requirements

This position requires the ability to effectively manage stressful situations and critical issues with diplomacy prioritize and organize work to meet demanding deadlines and collaborate successfully within a team environment while receiving direction from multiple leaders.

• The role also requires the ability and willingness to access all university spaces including tunnels rooftops and construction sites.
• This role is considered an Essential On-Campus position the incumbent must maintain a consistent on-site presence to perform critical job functions and during emergencies or crises must report to campus as directed and remain accessible to leadership to support institutional continuity and essential operations. PerRice policy 440 work arrangements may be subject to change.

Hiring Range

This is a full-time benefits-eligible position and the salary will be commensurate with experience qualifications and demonstrated expertise.Exempt (salaried) positions underFLSA are not eligible for overtime.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelors degree in Architecture from an accredited institution
• Professional licensure as a Registered Architect
• 4 years of professional experience in planning and design including facilities grounds and campus development projects with a demonstrated commitment to design excellence stewardship of the built environment and alignment with institutional planning objectives.

Skills:

• Demonstrated ability to lead develop and mentor high-performing teams while fostering collaboration accountability and professional growth.
• Proven ability to lead complex high-impact projects and initiatives involving diverse stakeholders and competing priorities.
• Exceptional written verbal visual and presentation communication skills with the ability to effectively engage audiences from frontline staff to executive leadership and governing boards.
• Comprehensive understanding of higher education operations governance and institutional priorities with the ability to align planning and design decisions accordingly.
• Demonstrated success in building relationships influencing outcomes and leading cross-functional teams to achieve strategic objectives.
• Ability to develop and deliver executive- and board-level materials by synthesizing complex technical financial and strategic information into clear actionable recommendations.
• Demonstrated political savvy diplomacy resilience and sound judgment with the ability to navigate complex organizational dynamics and drive consensus among diverse stakeholders.

Preferences

• Advanced degree in Architecture Urban Planning Design Landscape Architecture or a related field.
• Ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in the planning design and development of higher education facilities campus environments and major capital projects.
• Demonstrated leadership experience within a complex higher education institution preferably serving in a senior campus planning architecture facilities or capital projects role.
• Active architectural licensure and membership in the American Institute of Architects (AIA) preferred.
• Demonstrated experience leading campus master planning efforts and guiding the physical development of a major institutional campus.
• Strong understanding of design excellence historic preservation sustainability and stewardship of the built environment.
• Proficiency with architectural design planning visualization and graphic communication tools with the ability to effectively convey complex concepts to diverse stakeholder groups.
• Proven ability to partner with executive leadership governing boards academic leaders and external consultants to advance strategic institutional objectives.
• Experience developing and presenting recommendations analyses and project updates to executive leadership and governing boards.

Essential Functions

• Lead the continued evolution of the Campus Planning and Design program establishing governance standards processes and partnerships that support the Universitys long-term physical development strategy and institutional mission.
• Serve as the Universitys principal steward for the planning design and physical development of campus facilities grounds and landscapes ensuring alignment with institutional priorities architectural standards and the campus master plan.
• Direct the development implementation and periodic update of the campus master plan ensuring alignment with the Universitys strategic priorities enrollment growth research objectives and capital investment strategies.
• Establish and maintain architectural landscape and urban design standards that promote design excellence sustainability stewardship of the built environment and preservation of the Universitys character and identity.
• Lead consultant selection design review and planning processes for major capital projects ensuring consistency with University standards project objectives regulatory requirements and master planning principles.
• Provide strategic leadership and expert guidance to executive leadership deans academic and administrative units and project teams regarding campus planning facilities programming design excellence and development opportunities.
• Collaborate with executive leadership and Facilities & Capital Planning partners to evaluate and advise on five- and ten-year capital plans including project prioritization sequencing campus impacts and long-range development implications.
• Build trusted relationships and influence decision-making across all levels of the organization effectively communicating complex planning architectural and development matters to audiences ranging from frontline staff and operational teams to executive leadership trustees donors and the broader campus community.
• Convene influence and lead cross-functional teams to resolve complex planning and development challenges build consensus among diverse stakeholders and facilitate informed decision-making.
• Serve as a visible ambassador for campus planning and development initiatives by regularly communicating plans priorities and project outcomes through campus-wide forums presentations and stakeholder engagement opportunities.
• Lead develop and mentor staff while fostering a culture of collaboration accountability innovation service excellence and continuous improvement.
• Monitor emerging trends industry best practices regulatory requirements and innovations in higher education planning architecture sustainability and campus development to inform strategic decision-making and continuous improvement.
• Performs all other duties as assigned.

Additional Functions

• Partner closely with Facilities Operations and Deferred Maintenance leadership to identify prioritize and advance projects that support the strategic reduction of deferred maintenance liabilities and the long-term preservation of the Universitys physical assets.
• Provides financial leadership for the Campus Planning and Design function including oversight of departmental operations budgets resource planning and operating financial performance.
• Develop and present planning recommendations campus development strategies master plan updates and project analyses to executive leadership the Buildings and Grounds Committee the Board of Trustees and other governing or advisory bodies.
• Collaborate with Public Affairs and Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) to support communications fundraising donor engagement and external relations activities related to campus development facilities grounds and capital projects.

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 contact 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.