Position Summary:

The Assistant Vice President of Strategy, Leadership, and Governance will play a leadership role in supporting the Division of Finance and Administration’s culture transformation by leading a team of organizational development generalists, provides leadership to support a culture of and climate conducive to high-impact teamwork. This position will work closely with the Associate Vice President to facilitate cross-departmental collaboration to advance strategic projects and initiatives, monitor the progress of key initiatives and projects, and provide regular updates to the Executive Vice President. The Assistant Vice President of Strategy, Leadership, and Governance will oversee the process, the preparation, and the coordination of board materials, ensuring accuracy and timeliness. The incumbent will work closely with divisional leaders to shape and execute strategies that enhance relations with the Board of Trustees, ensuring effective communication and alignment with the division's goals and transformation initiatives. This leadership position requires a dynamic individual who excels in executive partnership, strategic thinking, leadership development, management of functional committees, data analysis, and team management.

The Assistant Vice President of Strategy, Leadership, and Governance should be a skilled strategist who can manage diverse perspectives and balance the desires and wishes of board members and executives. The ideal candidate will have strong leadership skills, the ability to manage and be responsive to executive needs and concerns, and the capability to facilitate productive collaboration across teams.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field.
• Six (6) or more years of combined progressively responsible experience in strategic planning, project management, process improvement, org design, change management, or related roles, including proven experience in leading teams and implementing initiatives.
• Competencies/Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
  • Proactive Leader: Demonstrates a self-starter attitude, driving projects forward with minimal direction, and is adept at operating in ambiguous environments. This individual brings a sense of urgency to their work, with a track record of delivering results efficiently and effectively.
  • Strategic thinker: The ability to anticipate future consequences and trends, creating relevant and timely strategies and plans.
  • Effective communicator: Able to effectively communicate at all levels within the organization, including with senior management.
  • Strong team leader: Capable of recruiting, motivating, and managing a diverse team, holding members accountable for timely, high-quality results.
  • Customer-focused: Committed to meeting the expectations and requirements of internal and external stakeholders.
  • Exceptional personal qualities: A reputation for integrity and the highest ethical standards, sound judgment, ability to establish strong relationships, and a keen desire to be an integral part of the community.

Essential Functions:

Strategic Alignment

• Work closely with strategic plan owners across the University to understand short and long-term priorities.
• Collaborate with the Executive VP of Finance and Administration, Associate VP of Operational Excellence, and the Assistant VP of Strategic Initiative Support to ensure strategic alignment of F&A priorities, goals, and initiatives.
• Work with leaders across F&A to provide strategic guidance on their portfolios in conjunction with the needs and goals of the Board of Trustees as well as the University’s broader strategic plan.
• Serve as a thought partner to campus leaders as they progress through their organizational maturity model and accomplish goals in support of their vision, assisting in identifying and planning new goals, priorities, and continuous improvement efforts.
• Provide support and strategic insight to key departments within Finance and Administration, including HR, Budget and Finance, Real Estate & Facilities, Campus Safety, Campus Services & Sustainability, and OIT in their individual strategic initiatives, fostering alignment and coherence with the goals of university leaders and the Board of Trustees.
• Collaborate within the Department of Operational Excellence and Engagement, fostering a cooperative work environment to drive strategic goals.

Executive Partnership

• Collaborate closely with divisional leaders, their teams, and the executive office to understand strategic priorities, oversee coordination, and assist as needed in developing board and subcommittee engagement strategies.
• Ensure relevant information and connections between board committees and administration are shared and acted upon.
• Serve as the primary liaison between the division's leadership and the Board of Trustees, fostering productive relationships and ensuring open lines of communication. Assist divisional leaders in developing strategy, execution, and articulation of progress.
• Support the AVP of Operational Excellence and Engagement in driving operational excellence and creating a culture of accountability and data-informed decision-making.
• Work closely with and support the AVP of Operational Excellence and Engagement in building capacity across the division in the areas of project management, change management, process improvement, analytics, and strategy.

Oversight of Subcommittee Management

• Participate in the nine subcommittees of the Board of Trustees, representing the division's interests and providing strategic guidance.
• Assist unit leaders in formulating strategies to effectively communicate their transformation stories.
• Serve as the connective tissue between the nine subcommittees, identifying synergies and complementary work and areas of opportunity for greater efficiencies while simultaneously identifying risks and issues related to the portfolio and developing mitigation plans in partnership with divisional leaders.
• Organize, conduct, and manage internal subcommittee pre-meetings to ensure materials are prepared, polished, and effective in conveying an areas transformation story.

Leadership Development

• Identify opportunities for leadership development within the division and collaborate with leaders to support their growth and engagement with the Board of Trustees.
• Provide mentorship and coaching to divisional leaders and their teams on effective board engagement and communication.
• Provide leaders with direction and guidance on Finance and Administration’s strategic plan in conjunction with the priorities and goals of the Board of Trustees so that interdependencies are readily understood and conveyed.

Data Insights:

• Leverage data and analytics to identify trends, insights, and key performance indicators that inform board engagement strategies and decision-making.
• Collaborate with the team to develop data-driven presentations and reports for board materials.

Team Management:

• Lead and manage a team of generalists, including business analysts and support staff, ensuring their professional development and performance. Ensure the successful execution and articulation of business strategy, goal and initiative progress.
• Oversee the development of visually appealing presentations, content, and data analysis for board materials.
• Foster a collaborative and results-driven team culture.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree.
• Experience working within administration or an institution of higher education.

Rice University HR | Benefits: https://knowledgecafe.rice.edu/benefits

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Rice University is an Equal Opportunity Employer with commitment to diversity at all levels, and considers for employment qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability or protected veteran status.

Faculty and staff are expected (but not required) to have completed a full vaccination series for COVID-19 (currently defined as full course COVID-19 Vaccine (typically two shots of a WHO-approved COVID-19 Vaccine or one J&J) and a COVID-19 booster. Rice does not require documentation for COVID 19 vaccination at this time for faculty and staff. More information can be found here: https://coronavirus.rice.edu/policies