Rice 360 Director of Education

Position Summary

The Rice360 Institute for Global Health Technologies (Rice360), a multidisciplinary institute at Rice University, is a leader in global health technology education, research, and implementation, with a distinctive focus on experiential and problem-based learning. Rice360's 43 faculty members from 15 departments and five schools collaborate to develop highly effective, low-cost medical technology solutions addressing critical healthcare needs in underserved communities and educating a cadre of future leaders to continue to innovate and implement solutions.

Rice360 offers a number of award-winning experiential education programs, including a Global Health Technologies (GLHT) undergraduate minor and graduate certificate, international bidirectional internships and design competition, and post-baccalaureate fellowships. GLHT program participants engage directly in the design, prototyping, benchtop testing, clinical evaluation, and implementation of innovative new technologies.

The Director of Education, under the supervision of the Rice360 Co-Directors and Rice360 Executive Director, leads the Rice360 GLHT education programs and is responsible for the GLHT graduate certificate and GLHT undergraduate minor, notably teaching the introductory and capstone courses, curriculum development and maintaining accreditation, design project scoping and team mentorship, overseeing the international bidirectional internships, design competition, and research awards, and managing educational outreach efforts and partnerships across the invention education network.

Ideal Candidate Statement

The ideal candidate has an advanced degree in engineering, with experience in global health, and deep experience with the implementation, management, and assessment of an undergraduate and/or graduate-level education program, with a focus on project-based learning, engineering, and/or global health; teaching undergraduate and/or graduate-level courses; organizing and facilitating faculty training seminars or workshops; and planning and executing undergraduate student-targeted learning exchanges and/or international scientific conferences. They have a working knowledge of developing and translating technologies for low-resource settings. They have demonstrated resilience, diplomacy, influence, relationship-building, and problem-solving skills in a variety of situations, including supervising a team and engaging with an international education network. They have experience with grant writing and reporting. They are experienced with travel to Africa and have a willingness and ability to travel nationally and internationally.

Workplace Requirements

This is a full-time position (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.) based in Houston, TX, with occasional early morning, evening, or weekend work required to accommodate special events, time zone differences for important meetings with partners, and periodic domestic and international travel to partner sites across sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or physical sciences, preferably bioengineering/biomedical engineering. Experience may not be substituted for the education requirement.
• 4+ years of experience with the implementation, management, and/or assessment of an undergraduate and/or graduate-level education program and courses; experience managing small- to medium-sized projects, including project planning, scheduling, tracking, and budgeting.

Skills

• Ability to develop complex or multiple program partnerships and funding sources
• Knowledge of managing budgets and developing financial plans
• Ability to develop and initiate new strategies
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to work well under pressure and manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Excellent organizational and time management skills
• Excellent knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite
• Excellent data analysis skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team to meet expected deadlines and schedules
• Adept at problem solving, creating contingency plans, and handling issues when necessary
• Excellent client service orientation
• Ability to lead and motivate others
• Strategic skills to craft and implement project plans
• Excellent attention to detail

Preferences

• Master's or doctoral degree in engineering, with a Master's degree in public health, global health, or a related field
• Experience teaching undergraduate and/or graduate-level courses, preferably with a focus on project-based learning, engineering, and/or global health
• Experience teaching an engineering design capstone course
• Experience facilitating faculty training seminars or workshops
• Working knowledge of developing and translating technologies for low-resource settings
• Experience with grant writing and reporting
• Previous supervisory experience
• Experience working in a multicultural environment
• Demonstrated resilience, diplomacy, influence, relationship-building, and problem-solving skills in a variety of situations
• Experience with travel to Africa
• Willingness and ability to travel nationally and internationally

Essential Functions

• Leads the development and implementation of major programs
• Collaborates with faculty and/or staff leadership to design programs and establish long-range strategic and operational plans
• Oversees the operations, administration, and evaluation of programs
• Identifies and implements program changes to ensure alignment with mission and program effectiveness
• Develops and implements strategies related to outreach, events, communications, development, partnerships, and fundraising/funding
• Develops and manages financial and budgetary plans for the program(s); approves and monitors expenditures
• For academic programs, may be responsible for graduate student recruitment and admissions, student records, curriculum support, coordinating the accreditation process, managing scholarships and fellowships, and monitoring student progress
• May be responsible for grant preparation and submission or research administration
• May teach a course, seminar, or workshop
• May supervise small staff (up to three full-time staff members)
• Performs all other duties as assigned

Additional Functions

• Teaches the introductory and capstone courses of the Global Health Technologies (GLHT) minor to undergraduate students at Rice University, including the creation, design, and modification of instructional materials, student recruitment strategy, and advising students
• Oversees implementation of the Rice360 bidirectional international internship program, including serving as the primary liaison to established and potential collaborators to develop and maintain effective partnerships at sites throughout the world; travel to, assessment of, and development of international internship sites; leading international internship cohort, site, and project selection and assignments; and ensuring that Rice University international travel policies and procedures are followed
• Oversees implementation of the Rice360 international design competition
• Leads implementation of the GLHT graduate certificate program, including teaching and/or coordinating instructors for graduate-level courses, seminar series, research awards, student recruitment strategy, and advising students
• Leads Rice360 engagement in the international invention education (IvE) network, including serving as the Rice360 primary liaison to invention education partner institutions and funding agencies; guiding collaborators on the integration of invention education curriculum and activities, as well as the planning and installation of innovation design studios at IvE partner sites; and supporting cross-site faculty IvE training and workshops
• Represents Rice360 at university events, professional conferences/meetings, and public events
• Serves as the Rice360 primary liaison to the Rice University Office of the Registrar and the Office of International Programs