Director of Parking Operations

Rice University•Houston, TX

7d•$80,000 - $92,500•Onsite

About The Position

The Director of Parking Operations (DPO) provides leadership and operational oversight for a high-demand campus parking system, ensuring safe, efficient, and customer-focused service for students, faculty, staff, and visitors. This role blends people leadership, parking operations expertise, facilities knowledge, and strong campus partnership to support daily operations, major events, and long-term parking initiatives. The ideal candidate is a people-first leader who knows parking operations inside and out and earns trust by being present, knowledgeable, and consistent. They are equally comfortable picking up trash, resetting barricades, and having strategic conversations with senior leaders. This individual is a motivator who builds a strong team culture with low turnover, sets clear expectations, recognizes great work, and isn’t afraid to make tough people decisions when needed. They are service-conscious, technologically savvy, and experienced in managing facilities, systems, and projects from concept through completion. This position is exclusively on-site, necessitating all duties to be performed in person at the Central Parking Office. Per Rice policy 440 , work arrangements may be subject to change. Exposure to various weather conditions is possible. This role is classified as an essential position, requiring on-site presence to effectively carry out its vital functions.

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
4+ years of experience in parking operations to include strong supervisory experience 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
Valid Texas Driver's License (or ability to obtain within 30 days of employment) required with no more than three moving violations within the past 36 months and no convictions or deferred dispositions for Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) or Driving Under the Influence (DUI) within the past three years.
Strong knowledge of parking operations and facilities, including the maintenance, operation, design, and layout of surface lots and parking structures; ability to apply planning and analytical techniques such as research, problem definition, program development, and implementation
Proficiency with parking and revenue systems, including fee-based parking technologies, traffic and parking control devices, accounting and revenue control procedures, visitor operations, and event parking management
Working knowledge of industry standards and applicable federal, state, and local laws related to parking, traffic, and enforcement
Exceptional customer service skills, with the ability to handle sensitive or high-pressure situations professionally, consistently, and with sound judgment
Strong financial management skills, including the ability to develop, manage, and monitor capital and operating budgets
Effective people leadership skills, including the ability to supervise, train, motivate, coach, direct, and evaluate staff performance
High level of technical and computer proficiency, including comfort working with spreadsheets, databases, and multiple parking-related software systems

Nice To Haves

Higher ed experience
Experience managing parking projects from planning through execution (e.g., new garages or lots)

Responsibilities

Manages contract and visitor/event parking facilities.
Produces system reports for all metrics needed for parking planning and operations.
Works closely with the Business Manager to ensure that parking data, receipts, assignments, and expenditures are readily available for analysis, reconciliation, and recordkeeping.
Teamwork and cooperation among all Campus Services managers and assistant managers are primary requirements for the success of all sections of the department
Develops short- and long-term plans outlining methods to meet the goals and expectations of parking operations. The DPO will be expected to remain several steps ahead of predictable, observed, or experienced problems
Develops and maintains a superior level of customer service and colleague cooperation in all aspects of parking operations and in areas that interface internally with transportation operations, the registration office, the business office, and the Executive Director. Similar goals shall be developed for interoffice and interdepartmental service and cooperation. Demonstrable customer service and satisfaction will continue to indicate success in this position
Serves as the primary liaison to all University leadership on parking-related matters, including scheduling and coordinating parking lot and structure maintenance and construction projects
Performs space utilization studies to maximize parking facility resources and revenue
Under the direction of the Executive Director, prepares annual operating and capital budgets correlated with revenue generated from parking fees. Provides effective budget management and operations by establishing cost controls and measuring performance relative to the budget
Recruits, hires, and supervises department personnel.
Provides special project support and assists with special projects as assigned by the Executive Director of Campus Services and Sustainability Administration
Performs all other duties as assigned