Assistant Vice President of Campus Planning and Design, University Architect

Assistant Vice President of Campus Planning and Design, University Architect

Houston, TX

Posted: 8/26/26
Deadline: 9/25/26
Salary: Salary will be commensurate with experience, qualifications, and demonstrated expertise
Reference Number: 6098

Rice University

The Assistant Vice President of Planning & Design and University Architect will provide strategic leadership for the planning, design, and long-term physical development of Rice University’s campus, serving as the University’s principal steward and internal design authority for its buildings, landscapes, public spaces, and built environment. The AVP will lead campus and master planning; establish architectural, landscape, and urban design standards;

guide facilities programming, consultant selection, and design review for major capital projects; and advise executive leadership on capital priorities, development opportunities, and long‑range campus impacts.

This leader will collaborate across academic and administrative units, Facilities and Capital Planning, the Board of Trustees, consultants, donors, and other stakeholders to build consensus and advance institutional priorities while promoting design excellence, sustainability, accessibility, resiliency, fiscal stewardship, and preservation of Rice’s distinctive campus character. The AVP will also lead and develop staff, oversee planning, design, resources, and budgets, support deferred maintenance and asset stewardship initiatives, and communicate campus development strategies and recommendations to executive and governing bodies.

Candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree in Architecture from an accredited institution, professional licensure as a Registered Architect, and at least four years of professional experience in planning and design involving facilities, grounds, or campus development projects.

The successful candidate will demonstrate strong leadership and team-development capabilities; experience leading complex, high-impact initiatives with diverse stakeholders; exceptional written, verbal, visual, and presentation skills; knowledge of higher education operations and governance; and the diplomacy, judgment, political acumen, and relationship-building skills necessary to influence decisions and develop executive- and board‑level recommendations.

Significant preference will be given to candidates with an advanced degree in Architecture, Urban Planning, Design, Landscape Architecture, or a related field; approximately ten or more years of progressively responsible experience with higher education facilities, campus environments, and major capital projects; and senior leadership experience in campus planning, architecture, facilities, or capital projects within a complex higher education institution. Particularly desirable qualifications include experience leading campus master planning and major institutional development efforts;

active architectural licensure and AIA membership; expertise in design excellence, historic preservation, sustainability, and stewardship of the built environment; proficiency with architectural planning, visualization, and graphic communication tools; and a demonstrated record of successfully advising executive leaders and governing boards.

Rice University is a leading private research university located on a distinctive 300‑acre, tree‑lined campus in Houston, Texas. Known for excellence in research, teaching, and the student experience, Rice combines a highly collaborative academic culture with a strong tradition of interdisciplinary discovery and innovation. Its campus is an essential part of the University’s identity and mission, reflecting more than a century of thoughtful planning, architectural stewardship, and design excellence.

Rice’s Mediterranean Byzantine architectural character, pedestrian‑oriented academic core, interconnected open spaces, mature live oak canopy, and nationally recognized arboretum create a cohesive environment that supports academics, research, residential life, athletics, cultural engagement, and community connection.

Facilities, Planning, and Capital Construction play a central role in preserving and advancing this exceptional physical environment as Rice continues to grow. The University is committed to balancing future development with stewardship of its architectural legacy, landscape framework, open spaces, tree canopy, and residential college system, while advancing sustainability, resilience, accessibility, research capacity, and long‑term institutional priorities. Guided by the Campus Framework Plan, the organization helps ensure that campus planning, facilities, landscapes, infrastructure, and capital investments support Rice’s academic mission and strategic vision for generations to come.

Salary will be commensurate with experience, qualifications, and demonstrated expertise