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.

About Rice:

Boasting a 300-acre tree-lined campus in Houston, Texas, Rice University is ranked among the nation’s 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 Rice’s 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:

Reporting to the Senior Executive Director for Sustainability, the Assistant Director for Sustainability will play a critical role in advancing Rice’s sustainability efforts. The primary focus areas of the Assistant Director will be leadership of targeted initiatives, support for Living Lab programs, outreach, assessment, and management of all student employees. The Assistant Director will provide support to the Senior Executive Director, including related to strategy development, and at times will act on the Senior Executive Director’s behalf. The Assistant Director will work closely with various campus colleagues and students, helping foster a culture of sustainability at Rice.

Ideal Candidate Statement: 

The ideal candidate is a fully qualified self-starter with an innovative mindset, a passion for helping create a more sustainable world, and a positive attitude and professional demeanor. The ideal candidate will be able to cultivate meaningful relationships while simultaneously coordinating multiple projects and initiatives to help make Rice a recognized leader in sustainability.

Workplace Requirements: 

This position is exclusively on-site, necessitating all duties to be performed in-person within the Office of Sustainability.  Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change.

Hiring Range:  $65,000 – $68,000/annually

Work Requirements:

This position may require the occasional need to work in the evening to support an event or to meet with students

Minimum Requirements: 

Bachelor’s degree  1+ years of directly applicable prior experience (significant sustainability leadership achievements as a student can be applied towards required experience)     

Skills: 

Experience developing, managing, and reporting metrics  Experience coordinating events Experience leading outreach efforts Experience working with college students  Experience with enabling “Living Lab” projects  Experience preparing an AASHE STARS submittal 

Preferences:

An academic background in Sustainability, Environmental Studies, Environmental Science, or a related field. 4+ years of directly applicable prior professional experience, especially at a higher education institution.

Essential Functions:

Engage with university leadership, committees, and staff across the entire enterprise to align sustainability efforts with institutional goals and strategic plans. Serve as the initiative leader for multiple campus sustainability initiatives, including sustainability engagement and zero-waste. Support the transportation office in advancing sustainable transportation initiatives.  Assist the Senior Executive Director for Sustainability in developing and supporting environmental curriculum and campus “living lab” projects, contributing to integrating sustainability principles into academic programs and research initiatives.  Provide guidance and support to sustainability-oriented university student organizations. Supervise all student employees, including the campus EcoRep program and the sustainability intern program. Lead regular sustainability events, including high-profile initiatives such as Campus Sustainability Day, Earth Month Kick-Off Festival, and the annual move-out collection campaign.  Manage campus sustainability communications channels, including social media and website, and prepare content for newsletters Conduct comprehensive campus sustainability assessments, including participation in the AASHE STARS (Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System) program.  Assist the Senior Executive Director in the development of strategy, and assume primary responsibility for the Office’s functions in the absence of the Senior Executive Director, ensuring continuity and effective management

Rice University HR | Benefits: https://knowledgecafe.rice.edu/benefits

Rice 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 University’s Disability Resource Center at 713-348-5841 or adarice@rice.edu for support.

If you have any additional questions, please email us at jobs@rice.edu. Thank you for your interest in employment with Rice University.