Associate Director of HPRC, Demography - Kinder Institute for Urban Research

Job Description

Special Instructions to Applicants: Applicants should attach a resume and cover letter in PDF format to the Supporting Documents section of the application.

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, lecture 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. These values guide our decisions and behaviors and shape Rice’s culture. They are reflected 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

The Kinder Institute for Urban Research is currently hiring an Associate Director of Demography to join its Houston Population Research Center (HPRC). The HPRC houses the Kinder Institute’s demography and survey work, which includes the Greater Houston Community Panel, and the Kinder Houston Area Survey – the longest-running survey of any major metropolitan area in the nation. Individuals with experience and expertise in designing and programming surveys, cleaning and curating survey data, and developing and conducting survey research projects are encouraged to apply.

The Associate Director will collaborate with the Center Director to lead and work alongside a team of researchers in conducting rigorous, relevant, and innovative research that benefits the Houston area and its residents. To that end, the Associate Director must be comfortable and competent in collaborating with community partners, including nonprofit organizations, government entities, and other local leaders, as well as with residents living in and around the Houston area (and beyond).

The Associate Director will help identify and apply for grant funding opportunities and work toward producing research that is widely accessible, impactful, and used to improve lives. The Associate Director will also help elevate the HPRC’s work through professional conferences and academic, peer-reviewed publications. The Associate Director must be a strong communicator and able to reach a wide array of audiences. The role also includes supervising other researchers on the team.

The Kinder Institute for Urban Research aims to improve lives through data, research, engagement, and action. The institute is currently working to build out five research centers focused on critical aspects shaping the social and cultural landscape of the Houston area. The five centers will research housing, education, community and public health, economic mobility and inequality, and population dynamics. Each center will investigate its topic area and will work across centers.

To achieve this, each center is building interdisciplinary teams specializing in solutions-oriented research using a partnership model. This model works to jointly design, develop, and conduct research that values diversity in expertise and prioritizes the community in identifying and addressing the most pressing questions and challenges facing the Houston area. The goal is for the institute’s research to inform decision-making and bring about systemic change.

The ideal candidate excels in demographic methods, advanced statistical analysis, research methodologies, and data management, with strong communication, collaboration, and project management skills to deliver impactful research.

Workplace Requirements

This position is on-site in the Houston area and may be a hybrid role, combining in-office and remote work to provide flexibility and support collaboration. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change.

Hiring Range

This is a full-time, benefits-eligible position with a salary range of $100,000 to $110,000 annually, depending on qualifications and experience. Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime.

Minimum Requirements

• Ph.D. or other doctoral degree in Demography, Sociology, Political Science, another social science, or a related field
• Minimum of 3+ years of postdoctoral experience in an applied social science research center or organization

Skills

• Possess a logical and independent mind
• Excellent interpersonal skills such as patience, determination, flexibility, and decisiveness
• Excellent listening, verbal, written, analytical, and research skills
• Excellent scientific and numerical skills with meticulous attention to detail and accuracy
• Ability to work in a team environment, participate actively, collaborate, and motivate others

Preferences

• Experience leading a team
• Experience developing and managing research projects, managing data, using demographic methods, and conducting quantitative and qualitative analyses, such as multilevel modeling, causal modeling, quasi-experimental methods, survey design, focus groups, and interviews
• Experience conducting research in collaboration with community partners, such as working in a research-practice partnership
• Experience in grant writing
• Mission-driven, with a passion for using data and research to drive public dialogue and improve the lives of individuals, families, and communities in the Houston area and beyond
• Ability to lead quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-methods research
• Able to oversee multiple research projects simultaneously while managing and mentoring other research staff
• Ability to interact effectively with internal and external stakeholders
• Adaptable to change and able to think creatively to address issues
• Able to work well with many people and diverse personalities

Essential Functions

• Collaborate effectively with the Director of the Houston Population Research Center Demography to advance the mission and vision of the Kinder Institute and the research agenda of the center
• Manage complex research projects
• Perform research by conducting independent studies, facilitating ongoing research, and developing and validating new protocols, methodologies, and/or theories
• Oversee the effective communication of research findings to community partners and other stakeholders through research briefs, papers, presentations, and conferences
• Identify and apply for grant funding opportunities
• Actively work to improve the institute’s reputation and research capabilities
• Contribute to the pursuit of new research grant opportunities
• Mentor, supervise, and train other members of the research team by involving them meaningfully in ongoing research
• Perform all other duties as assigned

Additional Functions

• Effectively communicate research findings to non-research audiences
• Translate research findings into policy or advocacy