Director, Publications and Podcast

Rice University•Houston, TX

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

Rice University seeks an accomplished, creative, and strategic Director of Publications and Podcast to lead editorial storytelling across Rice Magazine, Rice Research Review, and a new university podcast. Reporting to the Office of Public Affairs, the Director will oversee editorial vision, strategy, and production, creating compelling content that advances Rice’s reputation as a leading research university and communicates the people, ideas, discoveries, and impact that define the institution. This senior editorial role translates complex ideas and institutional priorities into engaging journalism for sophisticated audiences. The Director will work across the university to identify and develop stories showcasing Rice’s strengths in research, education, innovation, student achievement, faculty excellence, entrepreneurship, community impact, and global engagement. The role will help define how Rice tells its story across disciplines, platforms, and audiences, and evolve the university’s editorial content strategy as audiences increasingly engage through digital, audio, social, and other emerging platforms. The position is based at Rice University in Houston, Texas, and is hybrid, combining in-office and remote work. Regular collaboration with colleagues across campus is required. Occasional evening or weekend work may be required for major university events, interviews, recordings, or publication deadlines. Salary is commensurate with experience and qualifications; the position is exempt and not eligible for overtime.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, English, writing, or a related field; additional related experience may substitute for the education requirement on an equivalent year-for-year basis.
Four years of progressively responsible editorial, journalism, or communications experience, including experience leading a publication, editorial operation, or major content portfolio.
Exceptional writing and editing skills, with demonstrated ability to produce and refine sophisticated narrative journalism.
Proven experience developing and executing editorial strategy.
Demonstrated ability to translate complex subjects into compelling stories for broad audiences.
Experience managing multiple projects, deadlines, and contributors simultaneously.
Strong editorial judgment and commitment to accuracy, fairness, clarity, and high-quality storytelling.
Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills.
Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with senior leaders, subject-matter experts, and creative professionals.
Applicants must submit three writing samples. The cover letter and resume must be saved together as one PDF, and two writing samples as a second PDF; links to writing samples may also be submitted.

Nice To Haves

Six or more years of progressively responsible editorial, journalism, or communications experience.
Experience in higher education, research, science, technology, or another complex institutional environment.
Experience leading a magazine or other high-quality editorial publication.
Experience with podcast development, production, and/or audio storytelling.
Experience managing staff writers, editors, freelancers, and creative vendors.
Experience using audience analytics and digital publishing tools to inform editorial strategy.
Familiarity with emerging approaches to multimedia and AI-assisted content development.
Experience building editorial brands and growing audiences across multiple platforms.

Responsibilities

Develop and lead a cohesive editorial strategy for Rice’s flagship editorial platforms, reflecting university priorities, identity, and voice and connecting stories to broader institutional narratives.
Serve as senior editorial leader for Rice Magazine, Rice Research Review, and the university podcast, maintaining high standards for journalism, storytelling, accuracy, creativity, and production quality.
Develop annual and long-term editorial calendars with Public Affairs colleagues and university leadership.
Identify emerging topics, voices, trends, and opportunities that strengthen Rice’s reputation and distinguish its storytelling.
Ensure content reaches audiences across print, web, email, audio, social media, and other appropriate channels.
Provide overall editorial direction for Rice Magazine; shape issue themes, story packages, and editorial priorities; and assign, edit, and develop feature stories, profiles, essays, news features, and other content.
Work with writers, photographers, designers, and creative partners to produce a distinctive, high-quality Rice Magazine that reflects the breadth of the university.
Lead editorial strategy and content development for Rice Research Review, translating complex scientific, technological, and scholarly work into accurate, compelling stories for broad audiences.
Build relationships with faculty, researchers, students, and research leaders to identify discoveries, emerging scholarship, and human-interest stories.
Collaborate with Rice’s research communications team and other Public Affairs colleagues on coordinated storytelling.
Develop and launch a new Rice University podcast, establishing its editorial concept, voice, format, and audience strategy.
Select topics and guests and oversee podcast episodes from concept and research through scripting, recording, editing, and distribution.
Develop audio storytelling that takes advantage of the medium, work with internal and external production partners, and grow the podcast audience in coordination with Rice’s broader editorial and communications work.
Write, edit, and shape editorial content as needed, including feature stories, profiles, essays, editorials, interviews, and scripts.
Assign work to staff and freelance writers and editors, provide constructive editorial direction, and edit for accuracy, clarity, narrative structure, tone, voice, and audience engagement.
Maintain rigorous journalistic standards, coach contributors, and ensure stories represent the diversity of perspectives, disciplines, experiences, and communities at Rice.
Build working relationships with university leaders, faculty, researchers, staff, students, and alumni to uncover stories and develop sources.
Partner with Public Affairs teams and collaborate with advancement, alumni relations, admissions, academic schools, and other university partners as appropriate.
Serve as a trusted editorial adviser to university leadership and communications colleagues, identifying opportunities to align storytelling with initiatives, milestones, discoveries, and institutional priorities.
Monitor developments in journalism, publishing, digital media, podcasting, and audience behavior and incorporate relevant innovations into Rice’s editorial strategy.
Use audience insights and analytics to inform editorial decisions; explore multimedia, video, interactive features, newsletters, social storytelling, and other emerging formats; and extend the reach and lifespan of major stories across channels.