Marketing & Communications Specialist (Finance)

Special Instructions to Applicants:

All interested applicants should attach a resume and cover letter 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.

Position Summary:

The Center for Career Development (CCD) at Rice University seeks a dynamic, creative, and detail-oriented Marketing and Communication Specialist to join our team. This role is pivotal in shaping and sharing the CCD's story-promoting career development programs, services, and events to students, employers, alumni, and the campus community. Under the guidance of senior leadership, the specialist will plan and execute comprehensive marketing and communication strategies across digital, print, and social media platforms.

Ideal Candidate Statement:

The ideal candidate must be extremely organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple concurrent projects in a fast-paced environment. The candidate should also have strong verbal and written communication skills and the ability to quickly learn concepts and make them actionable, as well as the ability to collaborate with diverse stakeholders to amplify impact.

Workplace Requirements:

This position is offered as a hybrid role, combining both in-office and remote work to provide flexibility and support collaboration. Occasional evening and weekend work is required for events, workshops, or employer engagement. Per Rice policy 440 , work arrangements may be subject to change.

Hiring Range: $52,000 - $56,000 annually, contingent upon qualifications and experience.

*Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in marketing, communications, public relations, or a related field
  • In lieu of the education requirement, additional related experience, above and beyond what is required, may be substituted on an equivalent year-for-year basis
• 1+ years of relevant experience, ideally in higher education or career services
  • 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:

• Proficiency in graphic design tools (Canva, Adobe Creative Suite)
• Demonstrated ability to write and edit high-quality content across media formats
• Exceptional attention to detail, organization, and time management
• Strong writing, editing, and content creation skills for web and social media
• A customer service mindset and the ability to build professional relationships
• Professional demeanor and strong collaboration skills

Preferences:

• Two years of proven experience in developing and managing digital and print communication
• Experience with social media platforms, email marketing tools, and CRM systems
• Experience with data analytics and reporting
• Enthusiasm, integrity, and a creative approach to problem-solving
• Familiarity with Rice University culture and branding is a plus
• Deep understanding of graphic design principles and tools (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, Photoshop)

Essential Functions:

• Develop and execute integrated, multi-channel marketing campaigns (email, web, social, video, and print) to promote CCD offerings
• Create compelling content that showcases student success, employer engagement, and the CCD's impact
• Design branded collateral, including flyers, reports, digital graphics, and presentations aligned with university brand standards
• Manage CCD's website and social media accounts, ensuring content is timely, engaging, and consistent in tone and style
• Create and distribute newsletters and communications calendars for students and employer partners
• Track, analyze, and report engagement metrics to evaluate campaign effectiveness and drive continuous improvement
• Lead marketing and promotional efforts for high-visibility events such as Career Expos, Career Treks, Career Nights, and more
• Collaborate with CCD staff and campus partners to increase event attendance and visibility
• Coordinate with vendors and manage budgets for marketing materials and promotional items (e.g., CCD swag)
• Supervise and mentor student interns supporting marketing and communication efforts
• Build and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders to extend CCD's reach
• Performs all other duties as assigned

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

Rice Mission and Values: Mission and Values | Rice University

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. If an applicant requires a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please contact Rice University's Disability Resource Center at 713-348-5841 or adarice@rice.edu for support.

If you have any additional questions, please email us at jobs@rice.edu . Thank you for your interest in employment with Rice University.