Chief of Staff

Rice University•Houston, TX

12d•Remote

About The Position

The Chief of Staff (COS) reports directly to the President of Rice University, serving as the President’s primary support and supervising staff within the Office of the President. The COS must bring a strong understanding and appreciation for Rice’s distinctive residential college system and liberal arts foundation, while navigating the complexity of a top-tier research university. Operating with the highest levels of discretion, integrity, and judgment, the COS will manage sensitive issues in a dynamic environment. As a trusted advisor and strategic partner, the COS plays a critical role in shaping and advancing Rice’s strategic plan, Momentous: Personalized Scale for Global Impact. The COS is instrumental in facilitating the President’s agenda by coordinating key initiatives, ensuring alignment across the university, and driving progress on institutional priorities. The role requires superb communication skills and the ability to serve as a key liaison between the President and a wide range of stakeholders—including trustees, faculty, staff, students, alumni, government officials, industry leaders, and community leaders—ensuring the President’s vision is conveyed effectively, and organizational alignment is maintained. The COS will also focus on strengthening organizational efficiency, enhancing communication, managing crises, and ensuring the successful execution of Rice’s strategic priorities. In addition, the COS will lead and manage staff within the Office of the President to support long-term goals and ensure seamless daily operations.

Requirements

Advanced degree strongly preferred and minimum of 10 years of experience advising or supporting senior executives in large complex organizations (i.e., president, chief executive officer, provost, dean).
Prior experience and familiarity with board governance, policy development, donor engagement, and institutional accountability.
Demonstrated leadership, organizational, and management skills, preferably in a fast-paced environment.
Strong project management skills, with the ability to perform complex tasks and manage multiple projects simultaneously to drive results.
Experience cultivating relationships across a wide range of constituents.
Excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.
Strong strategic, analytical problem-solving abilities.
Ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders and manage multiple priorities effectively.
A commitment to the mission and values of Rice.
Discreet, calm under pressure, and politically savvy.
Collaborative, not ego-driven; comfortable with ambiguity and resistance.
Ability to exercise good judgment and discretion with highly confidential information.

Nice To Haves

Experience working in higher education is preferred, although not required.
Skilled in communications, including executive positioning and crisis communications preferred.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Institutional Alignment: Partner with the President and cabinet to drive university-wide priorities, anticipate challenges, and coordinate cross-divisional initiatives. Ensure that the president's vision is translated into actionable plans and pursued systematically across the institution.
Presidential Liaison and Representation: Serve as the president’s liaison with senior leadership and represent the president at meetings and external events. The COS collects input and information and provides post-event briefings and summaries to the president.
Board of Trustees Engagement: Act as an advisor and liaison to the board of trustees, preparing executive-level board materials, reports, and records in conjunction with the board secretary.
Policy and Governance Support: Provide input on policy and governance matters,coordinate policy review, and partner with external governing entities as needed.
Executive Communications: Oversee the development and dissemination of high-level messages from the president. Review and refine briefing materials, talking points, executive reports, and correspondence.
Executive Search and Recruitment Support: Collaborate with human resources and external search firms to coordinate leadership searches; oversee coordination of campus visits for candidates; and facilitate engagement between senior administrators, board members, and candidates.
Office Leadership and Staff Development: Supervise office staff, fostering a high-performance culture and promoting professional development. Oversee office operations.
Institutional Performance and Accountability: Track and report on KPIs, support evaluations, and monitor progress toward strategic goals.
Support Development Efforts: In close collaboration with the development office, ensure the president is prepared for development events, handling real-time situational needs and completion of follow-up items.
Executive Performance Review Coordination: Ensure the annual executive performance reviews by gathering feedback, compiling assessments, tracking goals, and coordinating review meetings according to university policy.
Executive Cabinet Operations: Plan and coordinate cabinet meetings and retreats, set agendas, guide discussions, track action items, and ensure follow-through on key initiatives. Provide executive-level administrative support to cabinet functions, decision-making processes, and internal communications efforts.
Strategic Access Management and Time Prioritization: In collaboration with the executive assistant to the President, act as the main gatekeeper for the president’s schedule. Manage and prioritize requests, ensuring the president stays focused on the most important strategic goals, key alumni and donor relationships, and institutional priorities.
Crisis Intervention and Mitigation Support: Play a key role in crisis response teams.
Confidentiality, Diplomacy, and Availability: Uphold the highest levels of confidentiality in handling sensitive university matters. Manage situations with diplomacy, discretion, and professionalism to foster collaboration across the campus community.
Stakeholder Engagement: Cultivate relationships with students, faculty, staff, alumni, donors, trustees, and external partners to enhance institutional engagement and support.
Presidential Events: Work with events team to oversee and plan key presidential events.
Other Duties: Undertake additional executive responsibilities assigned by the president.