Administrative Operations Specialist II (Finance)
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
Reporting to and under the supervision of the Director of Operations and Partnerships, the administrative operations specialist II oversees the financial management and advanced administrative support for the Center for Civic Leadership (CCL) and its staff. This position develops and manages all processes related to the department's budget and finances, human resources, and facilities, coordinates departmental events, and supports a collaborative work environment. The person in this position also supervises student workers in supporting the operational, communication, and/or assessment needs of the center. The CCL collaborates with faculty and community partners to provide undergraduate educational programs that advance social justice on campus and in the community in line with its larger strategic goals. The department seeks candidates who are committed to the CCL's mission, enjoy working with students, and possess excellent organizational skills.
Ideal Candidate Statement
The ideal candidate for the Administrative Operations Specialist II role at Rice's Center for Civic Leadership is a detail-oriented and highly organized professional with direct experience in budget management, administration, and supervision. They excel at building relationships among staff, students, and visitors to the center; supporting multiple projects with different program leads; and developing processes for finances, event planning, and student worker engagement. The candidate thrives in both independent and collaborative environments, is comfortable with learning and adapting to work software and technologies, and can manage the logistics of center-wide events.
Workplace Requirements
This position is exclusively on-site, necessitating all duties to be performed in-person at Rice Memorial Center, Monday-Friday 9am-5pm. Per Rice policy 440 , work arrangements may be subject to change.
Hiring Range : $56,000 to $58,000 annually, contingent upon experience and qualifications
Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime.
Minimum Requirements
- Bachelor's Degree
- In lieu of the education requirement, additional related experience, above and beyond what is required, on an equivalent year for year basis may be substituted
- 2+ years experience in administrative operations and and civic engagement related activities
- 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 establish and manage priorities and handle numerous time-sensitive projects with conflicting and varied deadlines
- Ability to accomplish goals working through formal and informal channels, with diplomacy and tact
- Demonstrated creativity, problem solving, critical analysis, initiative, judgment and decision-making skills
- Demonstrated ability to develop and meet budget goals
- Excellent planning and organizational skills
- Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills
- Strong knowledge of relevant subject matter
Preferences
- Experience in diversity, equity, and inclusion priorities for a center/office
- Administrative experience in higher education
- Demonstrated commitment to justice-based frameworks
- Experience supervising student employees
Essential Functions
- Leads the planning and operations for a department, function or program that may have significant business, regulatory and technical challenges requiring subject matter expertise
- Manages unit budgets, human resources and facilities functions
- Organizes, manages, and completes special projects
- Evaluates programs, policies and procedures
- Identifies issues, and develops alternative solutions which may include changes to programs, policies and procedures
- Reviews and analyzes trends to advise and develop recommendations to achieve or modify the goals of the department, program or function
- Develops and implements outreach strategies that may include relationship development, communications and compliance
- Assesses training needs and may develop associated training
- Performs all other duties as assigned
Additional Functions
- Manages and coordinates the human resource function for both staff and students, including processes for hiring, payroll, and employee relations
- Supports program leads in budget development and maintenance
- Develop and implement stipend and disbursement processes for programs, fellowships, and center-wide initiatives
- Maintains the center's space, developing processes for maintenance, updates, and office needs
- Leads center-wide event planning including reservations, orders, and logistical oversight
- Leads the student worker program through a student development approach, including meetings, delegation of tasks, and professional development goal-setting
- Collaborates with DOU and other campus offices to maintain current processes and procedures as they relate to HR, finances, and university policies
- Collaborates with the operations team in advancing best practices, refining processes, and problem-solving to support center-wide operations
Rice University HR | Benefits: https://knowledgecafe.rice.edu/benefits-overview
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.
If you have any questions, please email us at jobs@rice.edu . Thank you for your interest in employment with Rice University.
