Assistant Dean of Academic Programming and Student Experience (Finance)

Special Instructions to Applicants: The search for this posting is being conducted by WittKieffer. To be considered for the position, candidates should submit an application through the WittKieffer applicant portal directly - https://wittkieffer.com/positions/200578

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:

Rice Business, a premier institution known for its outstanding education and commitment to cultivating the next generation of business leaders, is seeking an experienced leader to serve as the Assistant Dean of Academic Programs and Student Experience.

In this pivotal role, you will have the unique opportunity to shape and elevate the academic and co-curricular experience of our diverse student body. Reporting directly to the Associate Dean of Degree Programs, you will play a crucial role in the experiential quality of six MBA programs, the undergraduate business major and minor, as well as our specialized master programs. This individual is responsible for providing visionary leadership, strategic planning, and operational oversight to ensure the delivery of high-quality academic programs and a transformative student experience. In addition, this position will lead the student experience and engagement strategy, academic support and advising, budget and resource management, stakeholder engagement, assessment and reporting, and all leadership and staff development for the teams they manage.

This position requires excellent interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to build and maintain strong relationships with a wide range of stakeholders. Expert skills in consensus-building and conflict resolution, ensuring that all voices are heard and valued in the decision-making process, are critical to this role.

If you are a leader with a passion for leading a team into a shared vision of a created future brought to life by the team's efforts, we invite you to join Rice Business in shaping the future of business education.

Ideal Candidate Statement:

The ideal candidate for the Assistant Dean of Academic Programs and Student Experience at Rice Business is a visionary leader with a demonstrated ability to manage managers, inspire teams, and foster a collaborative environment. With a strategic mindset, this individual has a proven track record of developing and executing plans to achieve a shared vision of the future.

This candidate brings an exceptional ability to navigate complex organizational structures and drive change. They are adept at building and leading high-performing teams, empowering managers to excel in their roles and contribute to the collective success of the institution.

Workplace Requirements

This position is a full-time, in-person, Monday-to-Friday role, with frequent evening and/or weekend commitments. The schedule will allow for compensating days off when working outside of the traditional M-F schedule. An expectation, at minimum, will be one weekend/monthly and one evening/weekly. The primary expectation is to be on campus in alignment with the student academic and programming schedule - flexibility in schedule is available when needed and where appropriate. Travel requirements are minimal, almost exclusively at the discretion of the employee.

Per Rice policy 440 , work arrangements may be subject to change.

Proposed Hiring Range:

• Commensurate with education and experience.

Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor's Degree
• 6+ years of experience in managing teams, strategic planning, policy development, forecasting, resource analysis and management, and budgeting to meet unique goals
  • In lieu of the experience requirement, additional related education, above and beyond what is required, on an equivalent year-for-year basis may be substituted.
• Skills
  • Ability to align initiatives and overarching goals
  • Strong leadership skills, specifically managing teams
  • Advanced skills in strategy development, systems planning, and change management
  • Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and persuasively in sensitive situations; skills in conflict management techniques
  • Expert communication skills, particularly the ability to communicate as a leader
  • Exceptional problem-solving and analytical skills

Preferences:

• 10 years of corporate and/or higher education professional work experience
• Master's Degree
• Extensive professional experience supervising teams and/or managers
• Experience working in student services at the graduate education level

Essential Functions:

• Develop and implement strategies to create a vibrant, inclusive, and supportive community for all students.
• Oversee student organizations, events, and activities that enhance the student experience and foster a sense of belonging.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with faculty, staff, and alumni to enhance the academic programs and student experience. Serves as a key liaison with stakeholders and constituency groups and is responsible for managing external relations (public, donors, industry)
• Meets as needed with faculty teaching in the student program to ensure consistency of policies and procedures.
• Ensure that students have access to robust academic advising and support services. Oversee the development and implementation of academic policies and procedures.
• Develops, maintains, and executes student communication plan for the program and directs outreach, including communications, marketing, and events
• Leads, directs and supervises the administrative functions and activities of the department, including hiring, performance reviews, development, and training. Provide leadership and direction to the staff within the Academic Programs and Student Experience Office. Foster a culture of excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Oversees the annual fiscal budget and manages resources efficiently, including expenditure approval.
• Regularly assess the effectiveness of academic programs and student services. Provide reports and recommendations to the Dean and other stakeholders.
• Performs all other duties as assigned

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

Rice Mission and Values: Mission and Values | Rice University

Rice University is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to diversity at all levels and considers for employment qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status.

Rice University is committed to ensuring Equal Employment Opportunity and the full inclusion of all qualified persons in the workplace. This commitment includes providing reasonable accommodations to persons with disabilities. For applicants with disabilities who require a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please contact Rice University's Disability Resource Center at 713-348-5841 or adarice@rice.edu for support.