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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, lecture 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 how 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 Rice Synthetic Biology Institute (RSBI) at Rice University seeks a strategic and dynamic Assistant Director of Marketing and Development to lead strategic and integrated communications, marketing, fundraising, and event planning efforts that enhance the institute's visibility, engage stakeholders, and advance its mission. This role will manage marketing strategies across digital, print, and social media channels, oversee content and web development, plan and execute large-scale events, support donor engagement and fundraising campaigns, and manage budgets. The individual will collaborate with faculty, staff, the office of development and alumni relations, public affairs, and external stakeholders to ensure seamless delivery and alignment with institutional goals.

The Rice Synthetic Biology Institute (RSBI), a newly established initiative, catalyzes collaborative research in synthetic biology and translates it into technologies that benefit society. The institute is led by an Executive Director and supported by a growing team, including a Director of Operations, a Program Manager, an Admin/Events Specialist, and the new Assistant Director of Marketing and Development. With plans for significant expansion, RSBI is focused on strengthening the synthetic biology community at Rice, fostering connections with regional industrial, government, and academic partners, and engaging global leaders in synthetic biology to drive innovation and societal impact. They will also support and assist the executive leadership in securing external funding and building strategic partnerships.

The ideal candidate is a self-starter, collaborative, creative, and detail-oriented professional with demonstrated experience in marketing/communications, donor relations, and event planning with higher education, research institutions, or similarly sized nonprofit organizations. They bring a proven ability to design and execute strategic marketing campaigns, manage high-profile events, and cultivate strong relationships with diverse stakeholders. This role offers an exciting opportunity for growth as the institute expands, allowing the successful candidate to grow their impact and responsibilities alongside the organization's development.

Workplace Requirements

This position is on-site, requiring duties to be performed in person. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change. The role will not have direct reports. Occasional travel and evening/weekend work may be required to support fundraising events, donor meetings, and marketing efforts.

Hiring Range

This is a full-time, benefits-eligible position, and the proposed salary range is $73,000 - $85,000 annually, depending on qualifications and experience. *Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's degree
  • In lieu of the education requirement, additional related experience, above and beyond what is required, on an equivalent year-for-year basis, may be substituted
• 3+ years of professional experience in marketing, communications, fundraising, or event planning
  • 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 simultaneously manage complex timelines, projects, and competing priorities
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, including editing, fundraising messaging, grant writing, and donor relations
• Advanced problem-solving skills and sound judgment in decision-making
• Expertise in Microsoft Office Suite, Google Drive, and project management tools
• Knowledge of website management platforms (e.g., Drupal, WordPress) and marketing tools (e.g., HubSpot, Adobe Creative Suite)
• Familiarity with survey creation and evaluation to gather feedback effectively
• Strong data analysis skills to assess marketing effectiveness and fundraising performance
• Adaptability to changing priorities and a fast-paced work environment
• Strong organizational skills with attention to detail and creativity
• Must demonstrate support for RSBI Core Values: Collaboration, Growth Mindset, Innovation, Excellence, Psychological Safety, Adaptability

Preferences

• Advanced degree preferred
• Science background strongly preferred
• Experience working in higher education, large nonprofit organizations, or development roles
• Demonstrated ability to engage and cultivate relationships with high-level donors, alumni, and institutional stakeholders
• Experience in grant writing, fundraising analytics, and donor recognition programs
• Familiarity with major gift fundraising, planned giving, and capital campaigns
• Proven experience managing fundraising campaigns, donor relations, and development strategies
• Experience with donor management and fundraising platforms (e.g., Raiser's Edge, Salesforce)

Essential Functions

Marketing and Communications

• Develop and implement integrated marketing strategies across digital, print, and social media channels to support RSBI's goals and priorities
• Oversee day-to-day marketing and communications operations, ensuring consistent branding and message alignment with Rice University's standards
• Manage and regularly update the RSBI website to optimize engagement, accessibility, and content accuracy
• Design and produce newsletters, brochures, and digital marketing materials
• Conduct market research and evaluate campaign effectiveness

Event Planning and Management

• Plan, coordinate, and execute events of varying sizes, including scientific symposia, advisory board meetings, fundraising gatherings, and community engagement programs
• Oversee logistics and vendor management for events, including venues, catering, and AV needs
• Manage event budgets, timelines, and stakeholder coordination to ensure high-quality execution

Fundraising and Development

• Support the design and execution of fundraising campaigns aligned with RSBI's mission and institutional advancement priorities
• Assist in identifying, cultivating, and stewarding donor relationships with individuals, foundations, and corporate partners
• Write, edit, and manage grant proposals and donor solicitations to secure funding
• Keep grant funding information from various sources up to date and tailor funding opportunities into accessible formats for RSBI leadership and stakeholders
• Other duties as assigned

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.