Research Information Systems Specialist (RISS)

Rice University•Houston, TX

16h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Kinder Institute for Urban Research seeks a full-time Research Information Systems Specialist (RISS) to serve as the systems and workflow enablement partner for the PM & Compliance function and KIUR teams. The RISS designs, maintains, and improves technical workflows and knowledge systems that support project management and operational processes across KIUR. This role helps ensure that tools such as Monday.com, Box, Adobe, and related cloud-based systems are organized, usable, aligned with approved processes, and capable of supporting institute reporting and team execution. The Kinder Institute for Urban Research aims to improve lives through data, research, engagement, and action. The institute consists of five research centers focused on critical aspects shaping the social and cultural landscape of the Houston area. The five centers research housing, education, community and public health, economic mobility and inequality, and population dynamics. Each center investigates its particular topic area and works across centers to build interdisciplinary teams specializing in solutions-oriented research. The centers use a research-practice partnership (RPP) model to jointly design, develop, and conduct research that values diversity in expertise and prioritizes the community in identifying and addressing some of the most pressing questions and challenges facing greater Houston. We strive for our research to inform decision-making and bring about systemic change. The ideal candidate will possess a commitment to KIUR's mission and be able to work and communicate effectively with others to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines. They must be adaptable to change, possess the ability to prioritize competing deadlines, and have excellent organizational skills.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree
1+ years of experience supporting cloud-based systems, workflow platforms, business process improvement, or related operational systems
Strong technical aptitude, training ability, and customer-service orientation
Problem sensitivity: the ability to recognize when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong; it does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem
Verbal and written communication skills, including report preparation and presentation
Documentation and specification skills to share information in a clear and concise manner

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's or Master’s degree related to business, management information systems, technical workflow/process support, or design
Experience with document management and collaboration tools such as Box, SharePoint, Google Drive, or similar systems
Experience with Adobe tools, e-signature workflows, or form development
Experience with Monday.com, Asana, Smartsheet, Airtable, or similar workflow/project management systems
Experience working in higher education, research administration, nonprofit, or other complex matrixed environments
Experience building dashboards, reports, forms, templates, automations, or intake systems
Experience translating process requirements into usable technical workflows and user guidance
Experience supporting file governance, records organization, or knowledge management

Responsibilities

Build, maintain, and optimize Monday.com boards, workflows, automations, dashboards, forms, and related structures that support PM and KIUR operational processes
Partner with Senior Project Managers and the Director of PM & Compliance to ensure systems align with approved PM methods, reporting expectations, and process changes
Clean, organize, and help govern Box.com folders and related file systems to improve access, consistency, archiving, and institutional knowledge management
Create and maintain Adobe forms, e-signature workflows, templates, and process-support materials for PM and KIUR operational needs
Develop, refine, and maintain user guidance, templates, training materials, and standard configurations for PM-related tools and systems
Provide training and user support to PM staff and KIUR teams related to Monday.com, Box, Adobe, and other approved systems
Build or support boards and workflows for KIUR teams seeking process-support structures in collaboration with those teams and the appropriate PM leadership
Support reporting needs by developing dashboards, extracting information, and helping staff use systems consistently enough to support meaningful reporting
Manage permissions, user setup, and routine maintenance tasks within approved systems, as assigned
Perform all other duties as assigned
May support intake systems for PM or operational requests
May audit system usage and recommend opportunities to improve adoption, structure, or governance
May assist with the technical organization of documentation supporting PM, compliance, and cross-functional workflows