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Program Manager of Educational Initiatives (Finance)



Special Instructions to Applicants

All interested applicants should attach a cover letter and a resume in the Supporting Documents section of the application, preferably in a PDF format to avoid any formatting issues. Applications are due by 11:59pm on December 8, 2023.

Position Summary

We are seeking a dynamic and visionary Program Manager to facilitate educational/academic initiatives in the Provost's office. The Program Manager for Educational Initiatives will be a critical addition to the successful operationalization of various educational initiatives with a primary focus on the Moody Foundation gift, an extraordinary $100 million commitment to Rice University to support the construction of a new student center and student experiences beyond the classroom. In addition, the Program Manager will support the other student initiatives such as the Take Flight Program, the REU Support Program, student success activities, and other emerging projects.

The Program Manager, reporting directly to the Associate Provost, will collaborate closely with the deans' offices, academic schools, central administration (including development and admissions offices), and external partners to coordinate programs that support strategic undergraduate priorities. As Program Manager for the Moody Foundation gift, they will work closely with the Provost and the Moody fund leads in the units and Development and Alumni Relations to enhance the impact of the gift, ensure alignment with objectives, and communicate the collective impact. This role demands a strategic leader with experience and passion for student programs and the ability to provide operational oversight for various funds and programs involving multiple stakeholders, while also cultivating enduring academic partnerships for the long-term.

The successful candidate will be a strategic thinker with strong relationship building skills and excellent judgment; and a skilled manager able to oversee multiple programs simultaneously and to drive the work of multiple people and units. This is a highly interactive role that requires initiative, problem solving, and creativity in addition to effective communication skills, organization, and strategic planning. This position requires the ability to play an active behind-the-scenes role in leadership to implement and communicate a shared vision.

The ideal candidate will be creative, confident, collaborative, self-motivated, persistent, and comfortable working in, and leading within, a diffuse academic environment.

Salary

Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications

Requirements

  • Bachelor's Degree
  • 5 years' experience working for an institution of higher education or non-profit organization
  • Skills Required
    • Effective written and oral communication skills to address a wide variety of audiences
    • Ability to productively assemble, engage, and lead cross-functional teams
    • Ability to coordinate large-scale programs
    • Demonstrates resilience, diplomacy, influence, relationship building, and problem-solving skills in a variety of situations
    • Keen grasp of interpersonal and impact awareness
    • Depth of knowledge in higher education needed to communicate impact of diverse educational initiatives

Essential Functions
  • Becomes well versed in each of the educational initiatives, the contexts in which they are implemented, and the relevant internal and external stakeholders
  • Convenes regular meetings of relevant stakeholders that facilitate timely achievement of goals
  • Develops and implement systems/processes to evaluate outcomes
  • Represents initiatives at the university level and/or to external/internal stakeholders and constituencies
  • In collaboration with VPPA, oversees strategic communications and marketing initiatives that convey impact of initiatives throughout the year in a variety of media
  • Essential functions for the Moody:
    • Works with Office of the Provost, DAR, and relevant implementing units to ensure funds are properly managed; tracks endowment spending, ensuring alignment with fund objectives and makes recommendations on funding based on fund spend
    • Liaises with finance team to ensure Provost and stakeholders have full visibility over current and historical financial data, including financial investments, program budgets and Moody fund financial reports
    • Works with academic leadership, DAR and Public Affairs to communicate the success and impact of the Moody funds, identifying the priority audiences and determining the key information and messages
    • Partners with the DAR team, campus stakeholders, and students to facilitate fall and spring events that build awareness and narrate collective impact
    • Collaborates closely with DAR to develop and implement systems and initiatives that advance cultivation and stewardship of the Moody Foundation
    • Collaborates with Provost and fund leads to identify the collective impact of the Moody gift, desired outcomes, and indicators and provides reports

Additional Functions
  • Participates in university-wide and/or organization-wide initiatives and cross-functional teams to establish the organization as a strategic partner and thought leader
  • Independently leads and directs projects requiring high levels of functional integration and involving multiple disciplines to be managed
  • Facilitates discussions and negotiations to drive recommendation consensus
  • Develops and helps execute comprehensive change management strategy and communication plan relative to scope of each program and stakeholders
  • Performs all other duties as assigned

Preferences
  • Education and Experience
    • Master's Degree
    • Experience in experiential learning programs in an institution of higher education
    • Experience using Blackbaud CRM or similar alumni/donor database system
    • Experience in a PC Windows environment
  • Skills
    • Ability to take direction and work to meet expected deadlines and schedules
    • Strong Listening skills
    • Strong time management skills
    • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
    • Demonstrated team player
    • Strong Microsoft Office skills
    • Values attention to detail

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

Rice Mission and Values: Mission and Values | Rice University

Rice University is an Equal Opportunity Employer with commitment to diversity at all levels, and considers for employment qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability or protected veteran status.

Faculty and staff are expected (but not required) to have completed a full vaccination series for COVID-19 (currently defined as full course COVID-19 Vaccine (typically two shots of a WHO-approved COVID-19 Vaccine or one J&J) and a COVID-19 booster. Rice does not require documentation for COVID 19 vaccination at this time for faculty and staff. More information can be found here: https://coronavirus.rice.edu/policies.

About Us

Boasting a 300-acre tree-lined campus in Houston, 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. Apply