South Midwest HERC

Special Instructions to Applicants: All interested applicants should attach a resume and cover letter in the Supporting Documents section of the application, preferably in a PDF format to avoid any formatting issues.

About Rice:

Boasting a 300-acre tree-lined campus in Houston, Texas, Rice University is ranked among the nation's top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has a 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio, and a residential college system, which supports students intellectually, emotionally and culturally through social events, intramural sports, student plays, lectures series, courses and student government. Developing close-knit, diverse college communities is a strong campus tradition, which is why Rice is highly ranked for best quality of life and best value among private universities.

Rice is also a wonderful place to work. Rice faculty, staff and students share values that are essential to our success as a healthy community. Those values guide our decisions and behaviors and shape Rice's culture. They come through in the way we treat each other and the welcome we extend to our visitors. These values can be recalled simply by our name -- RICE -- Responsibility, Integrity, Community and Excellence.

Position Summary:

The Director of Corporate Partnerships leads university-wide strategy to research, identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward corporate partners in support of Rice University's institutional priorities. This role develops high-level partnerships that generate philanthropic and strategic support, positioning Rice as a premier research, innovation, and talent partner, while providing strategic guidance, cross-campus coordination , and oversight of corporate partnership and engagement efforts.

Ideal Candidate Statement:

The ideal candidate is a strategic relationship builder who can translate academic excellence into compelling partnership opportunities for corporations. They are comfortable engaging senior leaders, faculty, and external executives, and can manage complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives. The candidate also provides leadership and mentorship to Corporate Relations Officers, guiding the execution of strategic engagement plans and ensuring alignment with institutional priorities.

Workplace Requirements:

This position is offered as a hybrid role, combining both in-office and remote work to provide flexibility and support collaboration. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree
• Four or more (4+) years of experience in fundraising, corporate relations, business development, or strategic external engagement

Skills:

• Ability to develop and execute strategic engagement plans
• Advanced problem-solving and analytical skills
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including proposal development
• Ability to manage multiple high-priority projects and deadlines simultaneously
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and fundraising/prospect management systems
• Strong data analysis and reporting skills
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively across diverse stakeholder groups
• Demonstrated experience with fundraising or external partnership development in higher education or a comparable environment
• Strong client service orientation and attention to detail, with the ability to quickly understand and remember details about alumni, donors, and assigned projects
  

Preferences:

• Master's degree or advanced degree in business, public administration, communications, or a related discipline
• Demonstrated success in securing substantive philanthropic support from corporations
• Experience cultivating relationships with senior corporate executives

Essential Functions:

• Develops and manages comprehensive strategies for corporate engagement aligned with institutional priorities
• Provides strategic leadership to a team of Corporate Relations Officers, providing mentorship, guidance, and oversight
• Cultivates, solicits, and stewards a portfolio of high-level prospects, including research, strategy development, meetings, and proposal preparation
• Builds and maintains productive relationships with faculty, deans, and school-based development officers to align funding opportunities with academic priorities
• Organizes events, meetings, and campus visits for corporate representatives, faculty, and staff
• Oversees the creation of written communication for internal and external audiences, including proposals, letters of inquiry, and reports
• Assists with university-wide coordination and communication regarding corporate engagement
• Performs all other duties as assigned

Additional Functions:

• Contributes to development of internal processes and tools that support corporate engagement across campus
• Supports stewardship efforts including reports, impact communications, and ongoing relationship management
• Represents Rice University at external meetings, conferences, and industry events to advance corporate partnerships
• May supervise staff or student workers

Rice University HR | Benefits: https://knowledgecafe.rice.edu/benefits
Rice Mission and Values: Mission and Values | Rice University

Rice University is committed to ensuring Equal Employment Opportunity and welcoming the fullness of diversity into our candidate pools. Rice considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status. Rice also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. If an applicant requires a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please get in touch with Rice University's Human Resources Office via email at facstaffada@rice.edu for support.

If you have any additional questions, please email us at jobs@rice.edu . Thank you for your interest in employment with Rice University.