Center Administrator

Special Instructions to Applicants:

All interested applicants should attach a resume and cover letter 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:
The Center Administrator for the Center for Advancing Linguistic Science will provide complex and diversified administrative support to the Center’s director and center operations. Primary duties include maintaining the director’s calendar, making travel arrangements, writing correspondence on behalf of the director, and performing other administrative tasks. They will also be responsible for center outreach, communications, and events. They will anticipate the needs of the director and proactively solve problems. The Center Administrator will provide support to the center director in his multiple roles—that of center director, Rice University faculty member, and public scholar—and will serve as a representative to the campus and broader community.

Ideal Candidate Statement:
The ideal candidate is a highly organized and detail-oriented professional who has experience managing complex calendars, writing and editing professional communications, handling sensitive correspondence with the utmost discretion and professionalism, and is competent in routine budgetary tasks.

Workplace Requirements:

This position is part-time at 20 hours per week, and is offered as a hybrid role, combining both in-office and remote work to provide flexibility and support collaboration. The department currently allows 1 to 2 remote days per week after the probationary period. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change.

Hiring Range: $25.00 – $29.00/hour
*Non-Exempt (hourly) positions under FLSA are eligible for overtime.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree
• 1+ years of experience working in an office environment
  • In lieu of the experience requirement, additional related education, above and beyond what is required, on an equivalent year-for-year basis may be substituted.

Skills:

• Ability to learn new strategies
• Written and verbal communication skills
• Data analysis skills
• Ability to work well under pressure and manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Good organizational and time management skills
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team to meet expected deadlines and schedules
• Attention to detail
• Ability to develop program partnerships and funding sources
• Basic knowledge of managing budgets and developing financial plans

Preferences:

• Experience working with faculty in a college or university setting
• Excellent writing skills
• Experience working with the following style guides: MLA, Chicago, and APA
• Experience using Canva or a similar graphics program to produce programs and flyers

Essential Functions:

• Administers the daily operations of the assigned program with general guidance from a faculty member
• Conducts research, analyzes data, identifies trends, and develops reports
• Plans and monitors annual project budgets; assists in the development of longer-term budget plans
• Composes correspondence to a variety of constituencies and key stakeholders; develops, reviews, and edits presentations and documentation; independently researches and analyzes associated issues and/or compiles materials needed for presentation and/or decision-making purposes
• Manages multiple projects simultaneously
• Manages center outreach, communications, and events
• Anticipates and tracks initial dates, events, and associated action items; follows up with appropriate parties on behalf of the supervisor to ensure deadlines are met
• Provides support to faculty as related to the program
• Performs all other duties as assigned

Additional Functions:

• Provides academic support to the director, including course preparation/administration
• Maintains the director’s personal website by making occasional textual updates
• Manages the center’s social media accounts
• Helps prepare formal remarks and/or PowerPoint presentations for speaking engagements and other high-profile events
• Independently maintains the director’s curriculum vitae by entering updates and following appropriate style guidelines
• Processes PCard expenses and personal reimbursements from travel and other university business
• Assists with publicity efforts for books or other materials by corresponding with book presses, coordinating book orders and mailings, etc.

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 [email protected] for support.

If you have any additional questions, please email us at [email protected]. Thank you for your interest in employment with Rice University.