**This position posting requires a cover letter, resume and three writing samples . The writing samples can be submitted as links in the document section.**

Position Summary

We are seeking a full-time Director of Communications for the Provost division to guide and manage communication strategies for the Office of the Provost and Office of the Vice President for Research. The provost is the chief academic officer of the university and working with other senior leadership promotes and supports excellence in all of the university, overseeing the academic enterprise. The vice president for research oversees the internal and external research ventures, partnering with leadership to bolster the university’s research infrastructure and propel productivity. The provost and vice president for research work closely together.

The key objective for this role is to develop and implement effective communications strategies, activities, programs and services to ensure effective communications of these activities and university academic goals. The versatile director produces newsletters, talking points, speeches, campus wide announcements, features, brochures, press releases, and other types of materials. The director is also charges with planning and managing web pages and social media accounts. In addition, the director creates unique messages and copy to advance the brand and marketing, and edits copy for accuracy, effectiveness and Rice style.

In addition to these roles, this person is a core member of the provost’s cabinet and a part of academic and research planning.

Salary

Annual salary: $95,000 - $105,000

Essential Functions

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree
• 5 years related experience in communications, public relations, writing, or related field
• Demonstrated writing skills that translate complex subjects into understandable, accurate and concise laypersons terms
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Ability to work in a deadline-driven, results-oriented environment with a wide variety of team members, such as graphic designers, web developers, media and PR professionals, marketers and publication producers, and with a wide variety of clients, including the administration, faculty, students, alumni, donors and the news media
• Organizational skills and creativity
• Analytical problem-solving skills
• Knowledge of AP style
• Ability to coordinate projects, determine priorities, set deadlines and complete projects accordingly
• Proven ability to create engaging written content across platforms

Preferences

• Bachelor's degree or higher in English, liberal arts, communications, journalism, or related field
• Work experience in higher education

Rice University HR | Benefits

https://knowledgecafe.rice.edu/benefits

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.

Current Rice University COVID policies, which include vaccination, face mask, testing, gatherings, occupancy limits, and travel policies can be found here: https://coronavirus.rice.edu/policies

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.