CAREER CENTER

Position Summary

The director of State Government Relations develops and implements strategies promoting Rice's interests with the state, proactively identifying opportunities to advance key Rice priorities in collaboration with the university and state partners. As Rice's principal advocate and state government representative, the director is responsible for cultivating enduring relationships with state officials, legislators and staff, policy and opinion leaders, advocacy organizations and relevant associations.

The director of state government relations is part of the Public Affairs team that includes media relations, community and multicultural affairs, creative services, and web development and digital strategy and will work closely with these groups to advance Rice's core mission of education and research.

The director of state government relations monitors, evaluates and anticipates state issues of importance and works with Rice teams, our consultants and allies to advocate for Rice's interests. He/she regularly communicates with and advises Rice leadership and internal teams about state issues and our policy options. The director engages external stakeholders to advance Rice's mission and policy priorities, serving as a strong advocate for Rice, the scientific research community and private, nonprofit higher education in Texas.

The director collaborates with media relations professionals and faculty to promote Rice expertise to the legislature, governor and state agencies. He/she also builds relationships with campus leaders, acting as a trusted, credible source for information, guidance and advice on state government, policy and politics.

Salary:

Starting at $125,000 and up, depending on experience and qualifications.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree.
• Eight years of related governmental affairs professional experience, including service in local, state or federal government or as lobbyist for a university, corporation or nonprofit institution.
  • 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

• Demonstrated success working with elected officials and government agencies to shape public policy and pass legislation.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Maturity, experience and poise to represent Rice University and Public Affairs to internal and external audiences. Must exercise patience, tact and judgment in representing the university with government officials and other internal and external constituencies. Regular contact with a wide variety of people in various levels of the university, including senior leadership team, deans, department chairs and faculty members, the board of trustees, staff and students.
• Candidate must bring to the position a strong set of contacts with local, state and federal elected officials, agencies and their staff.
• Candidate must be a self-starter with excellent organizational and time-management skills and have the ability to take charge of assignments and follow them through with minimal supervision.

Essential Functions

• Provide information and advice to Rice policymakers on government relations issues and provide regular progress reports and final results. Keep university leadership apprised of the progress of Rice legislative and fundraising priorities and other issues requiring their attention.
• Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of the university's legal obligations with regard to governmental advocacy and ensure that Rice remains within the spirit and letter of the law.
• Work with the community relations and university relations directors to build a grassroots and grasstops network and database. Plan and execute a program of engagement and cultivation to help Rice officials and volunteer advocates establish and maintain effective communications and positive relationships with key government contacts. Equip the grassroots and grasstops network advocacy database with informational tools to advocate on behalf of Rice legislative priorities and to serve as Rice ambassadors in their communities and workplaces.
• Arrange and oversee visits by government and other public officials to Rice and by Rice officials to various government bodies. Strengthen existing relationships with legislators, congressmembers and their staffs, and build relationships with newly elected lawmakers and their staffs. Increase Rice's visibility in Austin and Washington through faculty testimony and alumni engagement.
• Help manage contract lobbyists and coordinate with higher education and issue area-specific advocacy organizations in support of Rice's legislative priorities and policy matters of general interest not specifically identified on the university's legislative agenda.
• Assist in the annual process of developing Rice's legislative agenda and strategy, consulting with director of government relations, Rice leaders and faculty to identify and prioritize goals that maximizes Rice opportunities for federal and state funding. Set and achieve state legislative and public policy priorities. This includes developing specific benchmarks that show successes and failures in achieving goals. Identify new funding opportunities in agencies and help organize the multiple Rice institutes and centers to raise both their profile and secure additional funding by adding value to their proposals. When needed, identify and work with other colleges and universities on research funding opportunities that require multi-institutional collaboration that may include leveraging faculty, students, trustees and alumni in a coordinated engagement.

Additional Functions

• Ability to travel to Austin and Washington, D.C. Significant weekend and evening work may be required.

Preferences

• Demonstrated success working with elected officials and government agencies to shape public policy and pass legislation for higher education.

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 with commitment 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.

Faculty and staff are expected (but not required) to have completed a full vaccination series for COVID-19 (currently defined as full course COVID-19 Vaccine (typically two shots of a WHO-approved COVID-19 Vaccine or one J&J) and a COVID-19 booster. Rice does not require documentation for COVID 19 vaccination at this time for faculty and staff. More information can be found here: https://coronavirus.rice.edu/policies