"Assistant Director of AI and Education"

Special Instructions to Applicants: All interested applicants should attach a cover letter and resume 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.

About Rice Digital Learning: Rice Digital Learning expands access to Rice University’s academic excellence through flexible digital education that adapts to the diverse needs of modern learners. We partner with faculty to create intentional learning experiences that meet students where they are—recognizing that today’s learners balance multiple responsibilities while pursuing their educational goals. digital.rice.edu

Position Summary: The Assistant Director for AI and Education is a key member of Rice’s Digital Learning and Strategy team, supporting institutional efforts to integrate responsible artificial intelligence into teaching and learning. Reporting to the Associate Provost for Digital Learning and Strategy, this role will co-design and manage faculty-focused innovation pilot programs, lead communications related to Rice’s AI-in-education initiatives, and build a culture of experimentation around AI-powered pedagogy. The Assistant Director will work across departments to identify promising use cases, align projects with Rice’s strategic goals, and collaborate with partners such as the Center for Teaching Excellence and Transformational Technology and Innovation.

Ideal Candidate Statement: The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker and empathetic collaborator who thrives at the intersection of educational innovation, emerging technology, and faculty engagement. They bring experience with instructional design, design thinking, and generative AI tools in academic settings. They are skilled in translating vision into pilot-ready concepts, facilitating partnerships, and guiding faculty from idea to implementation. Comfort with ambiguity and enthusiasm for cross-functional collaboration are essential.

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: $96,000–$106,000 annually. *Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime.*

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree
• 4+ years of professional experience in instructional design, faculty development, academic innovation, or related fields. In lieu of the experience requirement, additional related education above and beyond what is required may be substituted on an equivalent year-for-year basis.

Skills:

• Strong understanding of generative AI tools and their application in teaching and learning
• Experience in design thinking, needs assessment, and prototyping
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and collaboration skills
• Project management across academic and technical teams
• Ability to synthesize diverse stakeholder input into actionable strategies
• Strong knowledge of industry standards and/or regulatory requirements
• Ability to work well under pressure and manage projects simultaneously
• Excellent attention to detail

Preferences:

• Master’s or doctoral degree in education, instructional design, or a related field
• Experience launching pilot programs or innovation initiatives in higher education
• Familiarity with AI platforms (e.g., ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude), LMS platforms (e.g., Canvas), and content platforms (e.g., Coursera, OpenStax)

Essential Functions:

• Manage the administration and evaluation of programs focused on AI in teaching and learning
• Support development of RFPs and pilot programs, including gathering feedback, supporting evaluation, and iterating on pilot outcomes
• Collaborate with faculty to design, test, and assess AI-enabled instructional innovations
• Maintain the university’s central AI education hub in coordination with the RDL communications team
• Partner with the marketing team to develop and implement strategies related to outreach, events, communications, development, partnerships, and fundraising/funding
• Foster a cross-campus network of faculty and staff to explore AI applications in pedagogy
• Perform all other duties as assigned

Additional Functions:

• Represent Rice Digital Learning in AI-related university events or initiatives
• Support grant writing or external partnership development aligned with innovation pilots
• May teach a course, seminar, or workshop

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.