"Executive Director of Federal Government Relations"

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:

Working directly with the Vice President for Public Affairs and the campus, state and local government relations leads, this position will provide strategic and managerial direction for federal relations and Washington D.C. based strategic elevation for Rice. The position is responsible for developing and executing strategies to advance Rice's institutional mission and academic interests. The Executive Director of Federal Government Relations will work with federal elected officials, Executive Branch officials, and their respective staffs; represent Rice in national, regional, and local coalitions and associations to advance Rice's policy interests; develop strong relationships with the Texas congressional delegation, their staff, and other relevant members of Congress and congressional staff; and facilitate campus-based and D.C.-based events and visits. The Executive director will develop strong relationships with Rice senior administrators, deans, institute directors and key faculty members to ensure the Office of Public Affairs (PA) and Government Relations (GR) department is strategically focused, advocating for Rice University's most important federal priorities, and effectively leveraging the PA team's capabilities to amplify the impact of GR's work. The position will have a primary location in Washington, D.C. and will need the ability to travel to Houston and Austin.

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:

Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications. This is an exempt (salaried) position under FLSA and not eligible for overtime.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelors degree
• Five 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 education/experience requirement, additional related education and/or experience, above and beyond what is required, may be substituted on an equivalent year-for-year basis.

Skills:

• Understanding of the federal legislative process--including appropriations--and regulatory rulemaking procedures, demonstrated through the development and execution of strategies advancing policy goals.
• Extensive Capitol Hill and/or executive branch experience and a track record of relevant achievements.
• Exemplary networking ability demonstrated by extensive federal contacts.
• Effective support and advisory leadership capacity.
• Clear, concise, proactive and effective communication and problem-solving, ensuring internal alignment and organizational success.
• Ability to think critically and creatively about public policy.
• Practices professionalism, confidentiality and discretion, within the context of higher education and the federal relations industries.
• Strong interpersonal skills, able to work in a team and effectively manage meetings.
• Broadly computer literate, with specialized capabilities relevant to the nature of the work described.
• Keen attention to detail and organization skills. Able to track and manage numerous projects across multiple issues, client sets and timetables.
• Able to take initiative, problem-solve, and work independently with good judgment about when to seek direction.
• Able to prioritize, focus on priorities and manage or minimize distractions.
• Superior communications skills, with the ability to express complex ideas clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing.
• Comfortable with both public speaking and one-on-one conversations with executive leaders.
• Ability to recognize and protect confidential information and exercise tact, good judgment, and diplomacy in handling sensitive situations.

Essential functions:

In consultation with the Vice President of Public Affairs and campus, state and local government relations leads, the position will develop and execute strategies to advance Rice's institutional missions of university-based research, teaching and innovation in the higher education policy realm.

• Oversee and advocate on legislative and regulatory issues related to higher education; federal research funding and policy; domestic workforce; international visas/immigration; campus safety and free speech; academic freedom and institutional autonomy; athletics; science, arts and the humanities; higher education finances, endowments, taxes and student financial aid programs; and technology transfer and patent issues.
• Support and provide strategic and managerial direction in the development and sustainment of a strategic and tactical federal government relations plan.
• Monitor developments and analyze federal legislation, congressional committee and caucus activities, and executive branch rulemaking and regulations for potential impact on Rice University (mission, students, faculty, staff, reputation).
• Develop, manage and enhance relationships with members of Congress, congressional staff, committee staff, agency leads/senior staff, cabinet officials and University administrators, faculty and staff.
• Represent the university and communicate effectively with relevant constituencies, including providing federal audiences with selected, proactive, and timely information about university news, priorities, accomplishments and interests.
• Working with the Office of the President, Office of the Provost and Development and Alumni Relations, expand and nurture trustee and alumni relationships across the executive branch and Congress--and a particular emphasis on our state delegation.
• Establish and maintain strong working relationships with colleagues at peer institutions; actively participate with associations and coalitions, such as AAU, COFHE, NAICU, NACUBO, Ad Hoc Tax, Presidents Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration and others.
• Working with Rice's chief compliance officer, ensure compliance with all federal lobbying laws and regulations, including timely and accurate filing of federal lobbying activity, expense and contribution reports. Strive to continually improve on transparency and reporting requirements and collaborate with the Office of General Counsel to educate the Rice community about all applicable university policies.

Serve as a key resource for senior administrators, faculty members and staff on federal issues.

• Build and sustain positive working relationships with university leaders, faculty and staff. Elevate the GR and PA joint profile as reliable, trustworthy, responsive resources on campus.
• Support faculty, staff and leadership by drafting briefings, talking points, correspondence, formal comment letters, and other relevant university communications for federal audiences.
• Ensure a thorough and collaborative process to receive input from faculty and staff on legislative and regulatory proposals, as well as association efforts.
• Coordinating with appropriate Rice units, review, research and recommend institutional positions on federal matters to the president and provost.
• Oversee requests for Rice to endorse/sign-on to letters endorsing, opposing or commenting on policy proposals.

Create and identify opportunities that are aligned with and contribute to realizing Rice's research enterprise goals and broader strategic objectives.

• Identify or create legislative opportunities that support Rice's research priorities.
• Develop a federal agency engagement strategy on key research topics, coordinating with the Office of Research, institute directors and deans.
• Oversee and manage the work of any outside consultants retained to assist our research growth endeavors or specific initiatives.
• Support researchers, students and senior administrator visits to Washington, D.C. if it involves federal relations, priorities or testimony.
• Working with university leadership, coordinate support for federal-related events and campus visits from federal officials, agencies and staff.
• Point of contact to advise and support Rice's Baker Institute for Public Policy on federal policy matters, including promotion of their experts with federal audiences and Baker Institute events involving federal offices audiences.

Additional Functions:

Position will have a primary location in Washington, D.C. and will need the ability to travel to Houston and Austin. Significant weekend and evening work may be required.

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