Director of Strategy & Continuous Improvement (Finance)

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, 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. 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 University's Division of Operations, Finance, & Support (OF&S) provides the critical administrative, financial, and physical infrastructure services that support the university's continuing success in achieving its teaching and research mission. The OF&S Division has recently embarked upon an exciting transformation by implementing a five-year strategic plan to prioritize the customer experience, a community of care, and operational excellence. The Operational Excellence and Engagement team, which reports to the executive vice president of OF&S, plays a key role in driving our culture transformation forward. The team is dedicated to building bridges-connecting ideas with action, data with decision-making, and people with purpose. Our vision is to be a catalyst for innovation, collaboration, and meaningful change.

This position will help divisional leaders align, drive, and implement organizational and Board-level objectives, while effectively communicating progress and outcomes. This role plays a pivotal role in transforming big ideas into actionable strategies, navigating complex challenges, and ensuring that Rice remains a place where innovation and excellence thrive. The position will report to the assistant vice president of Strategy, Leadership, and Governance.

Ideal Candidate Statement:

The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker, innovative problem solver, and passionate about driving transformational change. They bring strong analytical and project management expertise and have experience serving as a trusted advisor to senior leaders. This individual is skilled at distilling complex ideas and information into clear and compelling presentations, can navigate shifting priorities with ease, is comfortable with ambiguity, and can thrive as both an independent contributor and a member of a project team.

Workplace Requirements

Hybrid position: 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.

Hiring Range: $140,000-$160,000 annually

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree
• 5 years of experience in management consulting, strategy, or related field.

Skills:

• Strong ability to communicate effectively with team members and stakeholders, both verbally and in writing.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build relationships with senior leaders and stakeholders.
• Skilled in navigating differing points of view with care, thoughtfulness, and attention.
• Deadline-driven, meticulously organized, and able to multi-task and manage shifting priorities.
• Comfortable navigating ambiguity and adapting to evolving situations.
• Experience in project management and stakeholder engagement.
• Team player who also excels as a strong independent contributor.
• Self-motivated and proactive.
• Strong analytical skills and experience with data analysis.
• Strong ability to create compelling presentations and develop clear storylines.
• Creative thinker with the ability to develop innovative solutions to complex problems.

Preferences:

• Advanced degree in business, management, public administration, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in management consulting, strategy, or related field.
• Proven experience and comfort working in a dynamic and ambiguous environment.
• Expertise in applying leading consulting problem-solving methodologies or frameworks.
• Relevant certifications such as PMP, Six Sigma, Lean, or PROSCI.
• Familiarity with business intelligence tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) and other relevant software.

Essential Functions:

• Work with leaders to develop storylines and presentations that are engaging, persuasive, and translate complex data and concepts into easily understandable and actionable insights for executive-level audiences.
• Guide leaders in translating strategic themes, ideas, and opportunities into tangible outcomes and roadmaps.
• Manage strategic projects, ensuring they are completed on time and aligned organizational goals.
• Collaborate with stakeholders across various disciplines to identify and address opportunities for organizational improvement.
• Utilize consulting problem-solving frameworks and methodologies to identify problems, recommend solutions, and drive lasting change.
• Gather and analyze qualitative and quantitative data to uncover insights that inform strategic decisions.
• Support the development and implementation of communication strategies tailored for executive-level audiences.
• Collaborate with leaders across departments to identify overlapping work and areas of redundancy, and develop plans to align efforts and eliminate unnecessary duplication.
• Contribute to the development and delivery of tools, frameworks, and engagement experiences that help advance the division's and university's strategic plan.
• Design and facilitate opportunities for people to connect, share ideas, and co-create solutions.
• Performs all other duties as assigned.

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

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 contact Rice University's Disability Resource Center at 713-348-5841 or adarice@rice.edu for support.

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