Marketing Director

Position Summary:

This role comes at a pivotal moment for both the organization and Houstons innovation ecosystem. The Rice Alliance is building and launching Houstons Venture Advantage Platform in the Ion District creating a unique opportunity for an entrepreneurial marketer to help shape the narrative grow and engage the audience and bring to life one of the most ambitious innovation initiatives in the region.

Through the Venture Advantage Platform we will bring together people expertise capital and corporate and community partners into a single coordinated system activated through helping founders gain advantages and compound impact. By doing so we will strengthen Houstons ability to sustainably launch and grow thriving ventures that deliver local national and global impact. Over 25 years the Rice Alliance has supported more than 3714 startups that have raised more than $31 billion in capital. That impact is rooted in our belief that when people are activated around meaningful work it creates an economic engine that generates an abundance of opportunities for our community to prosper. The Rice Alliance exists to help people pursue their lifes work.

The Marketing Director will:

• Lead the strategic narrative positioning and communication direction
• Develop and deliver our demand generation and audience growth strategies
• Evolve and build the marketing tech stack to deliver against a cohesive user journey
• Maximize experiential engagements to amplify the Ion District narrative increase audience engagement and advance sponsorship and partnership opportunities
• Collaborate with Ion District stakeholders to support District development leasing activity and ecosystem visibility

Success will look like our stories reaching and resonating with key audiences and turning that into participation partnerships and organizational growth. It means clear repeatable marketing systems that allow a lean team to work efficiently with AI and automation embedded throughout our marketing operations.

The Marketing Director will be responsible for collaborating and aligning marketing strategies and outcomes with stakeholders across Rice University and the broader Houston innovation ecosystem.

Special Instructions to Applicants:

In addition to a resume and cover letter all applicants must submit an executive summary (no more than two pages) describing how theyve used AI to solve a problem and create meaningful advantage. This should demonstrate both clear communication and thoughtful use of AI.

Submit these materials in the Supporting Documents section of the application preferably in a PDF format to avoid any formatting issues.

Ideal Candidate Statement:

You have likely spent most of your career in an agency startup or other fast-paced environment where you were responsible for building demand creating systems and leveraging earned and owned media to drive results. You are skilled at turning complex initiatives into clear priorities and actionable plans.

You understand that some of the most powerful marketing comes from the experiences organizations create the relationships they build and the advocates they empower. Naturally curious about people and what motivates action you know how to uncover the insights that lead to compelling stories memorable experiences and effective campaigns.

The ideal candidate will bring structure clarity and momentum to enable the marketing team to perform consistently and effectively. You are energized by the win of delivering meaningful impact with limited resources. You can build capacity beyond traditional headcount through partners freelancers vendors volunteers technology and AI-enabled tools.

If you are drawn to the startup ecosystem and curious about solving for the needs of founders investors and entrepreneurial organizationswith an enthusiasm for Houstonthis will be an opportunity to help elevate one of the nations most dynamic innovation ecosystems. Familiarity with real estate events higher education or mission-driven organizations is a plus.

Workplace Requirements:

This position is exclusively on-site necessitating all duties to be performed in-person at the Ion. Some nights and weekends are expected. PerRice policy 440 work arrangements may be subject to change.

Hiring Range:Hiring salary commensurate with experience and qualifications.

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

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelors Degree

• 5 years ofprogressively responsible experience inmarketing communications or similar role

• Experience leading teams and managing agencies freelancers contractors or other external partners

Preferences:

• 7 years ofprogressively responsible experience inmarketing communications or similar role
• Experience leading marketing functions in a startup agency or mission-driven organization
• Proven success in demand generation audience growth customer journey optimization and campaign performance analysis
• Channel strategy and execution experience with measurable success across organic social media earned media SEO/GEO/AEO
• Demonstrated history with marketing tech including CRMs automation email marketing platforms CMS and other AI-enabled tools
• Proven success shaping organizational positioning and building alignment
• Ownership over budget allocation across channels and initiatives
• Experience working directly with executive leadership and with startups and entrepreneurs
• Interest in entrepreneurship innovation economic development and Houstons growing innovation ecosystem
• Familiarity with marketing efforts for large-scale events conferences programs or community initiatives
• Excellent written verbal and presentation communication skills

Essential Functions:

• Develop and execute integrated marketing and communications strategies that support organizational priorities audience growth and demand generation

• Lead the strategic narrative for the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship and support the Ion District communication strategy

• Develop the brand platform for the Venture Advantage Platform

• Build and optimize customer journeys that convert awareness into engagement participation sponsorship and other organizational outcomes

• Oversee content digital marketing events media relations partnerships and community engagement

• Lead marketing strategy for the organizations event portfolio to increase attendance and engagement

• Manage the marketing technology stack reporting systems and AI-enabled workflows

• Analyze marketing performance audience insights and market trends

• Establish departmental Rocks budgets and success metrics supporting the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS).

• Extend capacity and capabilities through freelancers contractors volunteers and other external partners

• Collaborate with Rice University stakeholders Ion District partners and external organizations to align marketing efforts and amplify organizational visibility.

• Support sponsorship partnership and revenue-generating initiatives through marketing strategy and activation.

• Lead and develop the marketing team through its next stage of development aligned with our values of Relentless Curiosity Purposeful Stewardship Take Ownership Excellence is a Habit and Enjoy the Journey Together

• Perform all other duties as assigned.

Additional Functions:

• Represent the organization at events and within Houstons innovation ecosystem as needed.
• Serve as a thought leader and trend manager in marketing for ventures in our network
• Support public relations and media initiatives working with Rice Public Affairs and partner agencies

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.