Special Instructions to Applicants:
All interested applicants should attach a cover letter and resume in the Supporting Documents section of the application, preferably in 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 that supports students intellectually, emotionally, and culturally through social events, intramural sports, student plays, lecture 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. These values guide our decisions and behaviors and shape Rice’s culture. They are reflected in the way we treat each other and in the welcome we extend to our visitors. These values can be recalled simply by our name — RICE — Responsibility, Integrity, Community, and Excellence.
Position Summary:
Reporting to the Executive Director of Admission, the Deputy Director of Admission will be a key leader in the admissions office, with oversight of application evaluation. The Deputy Director will manage the application review process, including overseeing staff review training and development, developing and executing review plans for each application round, and monitoring the overall application process with the goal of enrolling a highly talented incoming class. The Deputy Director will also work closely with admissions systems and operations, financial aid, and other campus partners on projects relevant to the evaluation of undergraduate students.
The Deputy Director will have highly developed skills in process and project management, team management and oversight, strategic planning, budget management, measurement, accountability, admissions practices and policies, and constituent communications. The Deputy Director will be a seasoned admissions professional with a deep understanding of the college admissions field, including holistic application evaluation (preferably committee-based evaluation), targeted recruitment strategies, educational trends in secondary and postsecondary education, and admissions policies and theories in a highly selective admissions environment. The Deputy Director will serve as a thought partner and leader within the enrollment division and supervise a team of admissions officers to support their professional development, including aligning projects, initiatives, and processes with the goals of the division and priorities of the university.
The Deputy Director will engage with constituents within the Rice community and key partners external to Rice. This individual will be expected to represent Rice at professional conferences as a thought leader, sharing best practices within the field. They will manage a specific recruitment territory and engage in all aspects of recruitment, evaluation, selection, yield, measurement, and planning to ensure the development of a geographic pipeline to Rice.
Ideal Candidate Statement:
The ideal candidate for the Deputy Director of Admission, Evaluation will have 6+ years of admissions experience, with an emphasis on highly selective admissions.
Workplace Requirements:
This position is offered as a hybrid role, combining both in-office and remote work to provide flexibility and support collaboration after a probationary period. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change. Travel required.
Hiring Range: $82,000–$88,000 annually, dependent on experience and qualifications. Full-time, exempt.
*Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime.
Minimum Requirements:
Bachelor’s degree
In lieu of the education requirement, additional related experience beyond what is required may be substituted on an equivalent year-for-year basis
4+ years of experience in admissions
Valid driver’s license
Skills:
Strength in admissions evaluation and training staff to use individualized, professional judgment when evaluating candidates
Strong analytical skills and familiarity with enrollment reporting
Familiarity with the multiple work areas of a modern admissions office, including CRM systems; reporting and analytics; recruitment; evaluation and selection; marketing, including social media; access and inclusion; on-campus programming; staff training; budget management; and staff development
Strong process and project management skills required; proven ability to develop these skills in staff members so they can manage work areas independently with appropriate levels of management input
Experience developing and implementing innovative solutions and processes to respond to the ever-changing field of admissions and the information consumption habits of the undergraduate prospective student market
Demonstrated ability to use admissions and enrollment data to make data-driven decisions, measure and assess progress toward strategic goals, present data, and revise practices as needed
Demonstrated ability to effectively collaborate with cross-functional teams and develop partnerships with key internal and external constituents and stakeholders
Strong staff management skills
Ability to delegate projects and processes with an appropriate level of oversight
High level of proficiency in Google and MS Office suites; excellent verbal and written communication, presentation, and customer service skills
Ability to exercise independent judgment
Preferences:
6+ years of experience in admissions
Master’s degree or equivalent
Experience with committee-based evaluation is highly desired
Knowledge of Rice University and/or experience in a higher education environment is desired
Familiarity with the evaluation and selection process in a selective admissions environment
Demonstrated ability to lead staff through change management
Proficiency with Slate by Technolutions
Demonstrated leadership, communication, marketing, planning, and public speaking skills highly desired
Essential Functions:
Serves as a key member of the admissions leadership team, working with the Executive Director of Admission to develop strategies and initiatives to achieve the goals of the division aligned with university priorities
Manages the review and evaluation process of a freshman applicant pool of over 35,000 for an incoming freshman class of 1,250–1,350 annually
Coordinates initial and ongoing training for admissions staff who review and evaluate applications using a committee-based evaluation process
Works closely with the Deputy Director of Access & Institutional Excellence to manage QuestBridge evaluation and application-based fly-in visit programming
Supervises, manages, and develops a team of highly skilled admissions professionals, including the development of process and project management skills, year-over-year planning, budget management, measurement and accountability, and admissions practices and policies
Manages a recruitment and travel territory, conducts information sessions, and builds relationships with students, families, school counselors, and community-based organizations
Serves as a thought leader within the division and in the field on best practices for college admissions, recruitment, selection, accountability, and measurement
Manages a budget and seeks to improve efficiency and effectiveness in the use of staff and financial resources
Ensures compliance with federal and state laws concerning college admissions and FERPA
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 [email protected] for support.
If you have any additional questions, please email us at [email protected]. Thank you for your interest in employment with Rice University.