Job Opportunities in Development and Alumni Relations

Explore our current job opening in Development and Alumni Relations spanning multiple departments, from fundraising to alumni relations to communications. This listing will be updated weekly, so check back often.

Director, Alumni Initiatives (4290)

Rice University is seeking a strategic and dynamic Director, Alumni Initiatives to join the Alumni Relations team in the Development and Alumni Relations division to lead initiatives in alumni engagement, parent engagement, and brand building within the Asia-Pacific region. This role is essential for enhancing Rice University’s visibility and engagement within this diverse and rapidly growing market.   
The ideal candidate will have a strong background in alumni and constituent relations, fundraising, and community engagement, along with fluency in Mandarin.

Trust Manager (4258)

The Trust Manager runs the charitable remainder trusts, estates, and other accounts of Rice Trust Inc. (RTI), Rice University’s wholly owned trust company, and other deferred gift accounts of the University, including the charitable gift annuity pool. The role monitors the services performed by the outside investment manager and administrator. RTI is a registered Texas Trust Company under the supervision and review of the Texas Department of Banking.

Associate Athletic Director (Major Gifts) (4126)

Reporting to the Senior Associate Athletic Director of Development, the Associate Athletic Director - Major Gifts will plan, organize and manage the development of complex major gift support for athletic fundraising priorities. This position will also work very closely with and will have a dotted line reporting relationship to the Executive Director of Development (Regional) in the Development and Alumni Relations Division. Specific responsibilities include the identification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of major donor prospects capable of gifts at the $100K to $4.9M level. This position will work directly with the Senior Associate Athletic Director of Development and the Executive Director of Development (Regional), key prospects, the rest of the development team in Athletics, and volunteers, preparing solicitation, cultivation and stewardship strategies. This position will be responsible for developing and executing the fundraising strategy for a specific athletic campaign priority or in conjunction with the Senior Associate Athletic Director of Development, under the direction of the Vice President and Director of Athletics.

Events Specialist (3980)

Under the supervision of the Senior Events Specialist, the Events Specialist is responsible for managing the planning and execution of a portfolio of assigned events for the Development and Alumni Relations division that may include presidential events, development events such as those for cultivation and stewardship efforts, and alumni-focused events such as Alumni Weekend (Homecoming & Reunion), Families Weekend, Association of Rice Alumni Laureates, and regional engagement events. The primary job duties of this position include: contributing to the university’s fundraising and engagement efforts through the development of customized event strategies in collaboration with other teams on special event projects such as regional events for alumni, development campaigns, stewardship events, and events for the President’s Office; working with campus stakeholders to design and execute customized events in furtherance of their program goals; and developing and maintaining relationships with on-campus and off-campus vendors and coordinating with them for multiple events.   

Associate Director, Alumni Networks (Schools and Units) (3979)

Rice University is seeking a dynamic and organized individual to join the Alumni Relations team in the Development and Alumni Relations division as Associate Director, Alumni Networks (Schools and Units). This role is fundamental in a transition toward a more service-model approach, aimed at enhancing our alumni networks through strategic integration with academic and professional schools/units within the university. This position will report to the Senior Director, Alumni Relations and will work alongside a team engaging our regional and affinity networks.   

Director of Marketing and Donor Growth (Annual Giving) (4105)

Reporting to the Executive Director, Annual Giving, the Director of Marketing and Donor Growth (Annual Giving) is a forward-thinking, highly innovative partner who leads a team of professionals to develop and execute sophisticated, university-wide direct marketing fundraising strategies. This role oversees and drives strategy to increase and diversify the number of donors and philanthropic dollars to Rice University, with an emphasis on support of current use funds. Additionally, this person will manage a team of individuals focused on mass highly segmented solicitations, emerging technologies, and overall direct response. The Director of Marketing and Donor Growth (Annual Giving) is key in the shift to use digital components in fundraising to align with the industry trend that identifies digital as the future and will be a key collaborator across campus.   

Director of Development - Parents and Families (3837)

Reporting to the Executive Director of Development, the Director of Development – Parents and Families will be a strategic leader within Rice University’s Development Office and will be responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major gift prospects for a regional portfolio, with a focus on parents of current and former students who are capable of making gifts at the $100K to $4.9M level. Additionally, the Director of Development – Parents and Families will oversee specific constituent fundraising and volunteer management, leveraging these relationships to enhance fundraising efforts, and will play a crucial role in achieving the university’s fundraising goals by developing and executing comprehensive fundraising strategies to secure significant financial support. The role will require extensive travel and will involve building a strategic plan for the region, integrating cultivation of prospects by the President, Provost, Deans and other high-level partners.

Systems Analyst (3802)

Reporting to the Senior Director, Development Information Services, the Systems Analyst works at an experienced level supporting Rice University’s alumni/development system (OwlConnect, powered by Blackbaud CRM) and related applications, including the integrations to and from other campus systems. The Systems Analyst has expertise in a combination of technical and business application areas and actively participates in new technology initiatives. This position is responsible for working with OwlConnect users to develop queries, reports, automated business processes, integrations to third party systems and data warehouse solutions to support their business.

Senior Director of Development - Gift Planning (3851)

Reporting to the Executive Director of Gift Planning, the Senior Director of Development - Gift Planning is responsible for securing planned and complex asset gifts and/or blended gifts; i.e., a combination of annual, outright, revocable and irrevocable deferred gifts. Primary responsibilities include the identification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of alumni, parents and friends, with particular attention to those capable of gifts valued at $250,000 or more. The Senior Director of Development - Gift Planning values collaboration and partners in fundraising activities with a portfolio of school and regional major gift and annual gift officers. This person assists in providing technical expertise to development officers and university administrators. With oversight from the Executive Director of Gift Planning, the Senior Director of Development - Gift Planning participates actively with the rest of the gift planning team in the design and implementation of the gift planning marketing and communications. The Senior Director of Development - Gift Planning mentors, coaches and participates in formal training of fellow gift planning team members, development professionals and volunteers in blended and planned gift fundraising to further the fundraising and donor engagement goals of the organization.   

Director of Development - Undergraduate and Graduate Programs

Reporting to the Executive Director of Development (Schools), with dotted-line reporting to the Dean of Undergraduates and the Dean of Graduate and Post-Doctoral Studies, the Director of Development – Undergraduate and Graduate Programs will plan, organize, and manage the development of complex major gift support for each of the Deans, as well as their constituent departments and centers. Specific responsibilities include helping identify, develop, and promote fundraising priorities that complement each Dean’s strategic plan, as well as identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major donor prospects capable of gifts at the $100K to $4.9M level. All activities are coordinated closely with the appropriate manager in the Development and Alumni Relations Division. In conducting the work, this person will apply knowledge and understanding of Rice University, including its traditions, programs, campus issues, needs, and priorities. The Director of Development – Undergraduate and Graduate Programs will need to grow the graduate prospect portfolio while still maintaining and growing prospects for undergraduate programs, with a goal to manage a combined portfolio of 80-100 prospects with a capacity of $100,000.

Senior Director of Development – Shepherd School of Music (3838)

The Director of Development – Shepherd School of Music will serve as the chief development officer for The Shepherd School of Music and will plan, organize, and manage the development functions of the school including complex major gift support within a university setting. The Director of Development will provide critical strategic leadership for an advancement program that incorporates development and external relations goals. The Director of Development will manage development staff; oversee the membership and annual fund function for the school; and identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major donor prospects capable of gifts at the $100,000 to $4.9 million level. The Director of Development will be knowledgeable of the performing arts and classical music philanthropic landscape and an excellent relationship builder that has experience developing and implementing fundraising strategies to secure major operational and programmatic commitments for special initiatives.

Staff Assistant (Alumni Relations) (4040)

The Staff Assistant (Alumni Relations) provides overall administrative support for a group of alumni relations professionals at Rice University. Typical duties include managing calendars, collecting data and producing periodic reports, assisting with data entry, arranging for travel and business meetings and managing expense reports.