Department​/Center Administrator

Department/Center Administrator

Houston, TX, United States

Job Description

The Department/Center Administrator serves as the chief administrative and financial leader for the Department of Transnational Asian Studies and the Chao Center for Asian Studies. This position reports to the Department Chair/Center Director and serves as the primary business manager of the department’s fiscal, academic, and administrative functions.

The Department/Center Administrator provides financial and operational oversight while serving as a trusted partner to the Dean’s Office, the Department Chair/Center Director, and affiliated faculty, staff, and students. This role manages staff and budgets, directs administrative functions, and ensures effective operations in support of teaching, research, and the interdisciplinary goals of the department. The role requires strong leadership, presence, and collaboration to foster a supportive and high-performing departmental community.

The ideal candidate will be an experienced administrative leader with strong financial and organizational management skills, particularly in overseeing budgets in academic or research settings. They will demonstrate a collaborative and hands-on leadership style, working closely with the Department Chair/Center Director, staff, faculty, and the Dean’s Office.

Successful candidates will thrive in complex academic settings, balancing day-to-day operational demands with long-term planning. They will be detail-oriented, adaptable, and solutions-focused, with a proven ability to navigate challenges calmly and effectively while maintaining trust and engagement across the department and school. A proven ability to work with people of diverse backgrounds, skills, and perspectives is essential.

This position is exclusively on-site, requiring all duties to be performed in person at Rice University. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change.

This position is benefits eligible and exempt. It has an expected minimum salary of $75,000, dependent on experience and qualifications.

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

• Bachelor’s degree
• In lieu of the education requirement, additional related experience, above and beyond what is required, on an equivalent year for year basis may be substituted
• 3+ years of related experience in one or more of the following:
• Business management, administration, or operation
• Human resources administration, training, and development
• Supervisory experience
• Research administration, grants, and contracts with federal or state agencies
• Strategic planning
• In lieu of the experience requirement, additional related education, above and beyond what is required, on an equivalent year-for-year basis may be substituted

• Demonstrated leadership, staff supervision, and team-building skills
• Skilled at navigating complex interpersonal dynamics and interacting with people of varied temperaments in a calm and diplomatic manner
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and financial/data management systems
• Strong financial acumen with experience in budget oversight and research funding
• Excellent data reporting skills
• Excellent communication skills (written, verbal, and interpersonal)
• Strong critical-thinking, decision-making, and problem-solving abilities
• Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail
• Proven ability to see projects through from beginning to end

• Seven years of related experience
• Expert knowledge of word processing, spreadsheet, email, and database software programs to either complete work assignments or direct the completion of work assignments
• Excellent data reporting skills
• A…