Corporate Relations Specialist

Rice University Minimal Template External Career Site•Houston, TX

18h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations (OCFR) manages all corporate and foundation partnerships on behalf of Rice University, directing strategy for stewarding and expanding existing partnerships while identifying and pursuing new opportunities. The Corporate Relations Specialist is a member of the corporate relations team within OCFR, working with team members, staff, faculty, and corporate contacts to support the university-wide effort to maintain and advance strong relationships with corporations to achieve the goals of Rice University. The ideal candidate exhibits a high degree of organization and professionalism and works well independently and as part of a highly collaborative team.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree
In lieu of the education requirement, additional related experience, above and beyond what is required, may be substituted on an equivalent year-for-year basis
One or more (1+) years of professional experience in an administrative position and extensive professional interaction with all levels of staff and leadership that are internal and external to an organization
In lieu of the experience requirement, additional related education, above and beyond what is required, may be substituted on an equivalent year-for-year basis
Ability to prioritize work and multi-task in a fast-paced and dynamic environment
Excellent organizational and time management skills
Ability to take initiative, work independently, and collaborate effectively within a team
Advanced written and verbal communication skills
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills and attention to detail
Ability to exercise sound judgment in making decisions
Excellent customer service and interpersonal skills
Relevant subject matter knowledge

Nice To Haves

Two or more (2+) years of professional experience described above
Experience working in a university setting
Experience administering grants and proposals
Experience interfacing with corporations
Familiarity with fundraising database software and recordkeeping
Experience in a PC Windows environment
Strong Microsoft Office skills, particularly with Microsoft Excel

Responsibilities

Supports holistic corporate engagement at Rice by assuring smooth administrative processes between Rice and corporate contacts, and maintaining awareness of university policies and procedures
Executes stewardship reporting for corporate partners
Processes corporate gifts and grants by tracking grant agreements, processing payments, creating and distributing gift memos and approvals, creating and updating plans and opportunities in the Development and Alumni Relations CRM (OwlConnect, powered by Blackbaud CRM), entering stewardship/reporting information, and filing related materials
Liaises with department administrators and faculty to assure that corporate gifts have appropriate documentation.
Coordinates with team members on annual reporting processes for corporate partners
Communicates with faculty, staff and students about report deadlines and assists in the preparation of report materials
Supports the corporate relations team in the preparation of corporate campus visits, execution of events and meetings, and communications
Compiles data for corporate relations reporting
Manages and distributes internal resources in support of training, reports, proposals, meetings, events, and web content
Interfaces with Development and Alumni Relations teams, including Constituent Relations, Communications, and Data Services
Performs all other duties as assigned
Frequent contact with corporate representatives related to appointments and funding/reporting information
Frequent contact with administrators in academic units and in research accounting
Maintain data integrity for corporate records in the OwlConnect system, reviewing records for accuracy
Understanding of various funding streams for companies engaged at Rice
Familiarity with Cayuse (Rice’s database for sponsored projects) to track corporate sponsored projects and grants
Manage day-to-day operations of the corporate relations team
Occasional work on special projects