About the position
Rice University’s Division of Operations, Finance, & Support (OF&S) provides the critical administrative, financial, and physical infrastructure services that support the university's continuing success in achieving its teaching and research mission. The OF&S Division has recently embarked upon an exciting transformation by implementing a five-year strategic plan to prioritize the customer experience, a community of care, and operational excellence. The Operational Excellence and Engagement team, which reports to the executive vice president of OF&S, plays a key role in driving our culture transformation forward. The team is dedicated to building bridges—connecting ideas with action, data with decision-making, and people with purpose. Our vision is to be a catalyst for innovation, collaboration, and meaningful change. This position will help divisional leaders align, drive, and implement organizational and Board-level objectives, while effectively communicating progress and outcomes. This role plays a pivotal role in transforming big ideas into actionable strategies, navigating complex challenges, and ensuring that Rice remains a place where innovation and excellence thrive. The position will report to the assistant vice president of Strategy, Leadership, and Governance.
Responsibilities
- Work with leaders to develop storylines and presentations that are engaging, persuasive, and translate complex data and concepts into easily understandable and actionable insights for executive-level audiences.
- Guide leaders in translating strategic themes, ideas, and opportunities into tangible outcomes and roadmaps.
- Manage strategic projects, ensuring they are completed on time and aligned with organizational goals.
- Collaborate with stakeholders across various disciplines to identify and address opportunities for organizational improvement.
- Utilize consulting problem-solving frameworks and methodologies to identify problems, recommend solutions, and drive lasting change.
- Gather and analyze qualitative and quantitative data to uncover insights that inform strategic decisions.
- Support the development and implementation of communication strategies tailored for executive-level audiences.
- Collaborate with leaders across departments to identify overlapping work and areas of redundancy, and develop plans to align efforts and eliminate unnecessary duplication.
- Contribute to the development and delivery of tools, frameworks, and engagement experiences that help advance the division’s and university’s strategic plan.
- Design and facilitate opportunities for people to connect, share ideas, and co-create solutions.
- Perform all other duties as assigned.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree
- 5 years of experience in management consulting, strategy, or related field.
- Strong ability to communicate effectively with team members and stakeholders, both verbally and in writing.
- Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build relationships with senior leaders and stakeholders.
- Skilled in navigating differing points of view with care, thoughtfulness, and attention.
- Deadline-driven, meticulously organized, and able to multi-task and manage shifting priorities.
- Comfortable navigating ambiguity and adapting to evolving situations.
- Experience in project management and stakeholder engagement.
- Team player who also excels as a strong independent contributor.
- Self-motivated and proactive.
- Strong analytical skills and experience with data analysis.
- Strong ability to create compelling presentations and develop clear storylines.
- Creative thinker with the ability to develop innovative solutions to complex problems.
Nice-to-haves
- Advanced degree in business, management, public administration, or related field.
- 5+ years of experience in management consulting, strategy, or related field.
- Proven experience and comfort working in a dynamic and ambiguous environment.
- Expertise in applying leading consulting problem-solving methodologies or frameworks.
- Relevant certifications such as PMP, Six Sigma, Lean, or PROSCI.
- Familiarity with business intelligence tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) and other relevant software.
