Department Administrator

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.

The Department Administrator serves as the chief administrative and financial leader for the Department of Modern and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Cultures (MCLLC). This position reports to the Department Chair and serves as the primary business manager of the department s fiscal, academic, and administrative functions.

The Department Administrator provides financial and operational oversight while serving as a trusted partner to the Dean s office and the department chair, as well as to the departmental faculty, staff, and students. This role manages the departmental staff and budgets, directs administrative functions, and ensures effective operations in support of teaching, research, and the interdisciplinary goals of the department. The role requires strong leadership, presence, and collaboration to foster a supportive and high-performing departmental community.

The ideal candidate will be an experienced administrative leader with strong financial and organizational management skills, particularly overseeing budgets in academic or research settings. They will demonstrate a collaborative and hands-on leadership style, working closely with the department chair, staff, faculty, and the Dean s office. Successful candidates will thrive in complex academic settings, balancing day-to-day operational demands with long-term planning.

They will be detail-oriented, adaptable, and solutions-focused, with the proven ability to navigate challenges calmly and effectively while maintaining trust and engagement across the department and school. A proven ability to work with people of diverse backgrounds, skills, and perspectives is essential.

This position is exclusively on-site, necessitating all duties to be performed in person at Rice University. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change.

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

• Bachelor’s Degree
• 3+ years of related experience in one or more of the following:
• Business management/administration/operations
• Human resources administration/training and development
• Supervisory experience
• Research administration, grants, and contracts with federal or state agencies
• Strategic planning
• In lieu of the education/experience requirement, additional related education and/or experience, above and beyond what is required, may be substituted on an equivalent year-for-year basis

• Demonstrated leadership, staff supervision, and team-building skills
• Skilled at navigating complex interpersonal dynamics and interacting with people of varied temperaments in a calm and diplomatic manner
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and financial/data management systems
• Strong financial acumen with experience in budget oversight and research funding
• Excellent data reporting skills
• Excellent communication skills (written, verbal, and interpersonal)
• Strong critical thinking, decision-making, and problem-solving abilities
• Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail
• Proven ability to see projects through from beginning to end