Director, Talent Management

Director, Talent Management

Houston, TX, United States

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 that supports students intellectually, emotionally, and culturally through social events, intramural sports, student plays, lecture 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. These values guide our decisions and behaviors and shape Rice’s culture. They are reflected in the way we treat each other and in the welcome we extend to our visitors. These values can be recalled simply by our name — RICE — Responsibility, Integrity, Community, and Excellence.

Reporting to the Executive Director, Business Operations, the Director, Talent Management provides strategic leadership, vision, and execution for talent-related initiatives across the Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) division. This role is responsible for designing and implementing programs that enhance recruitment, performance management, professional development, and retention to support a high-performing and engaged workforce. The Director leads a team responsible for talent acquisition and development, partners closely with division leadership, and serves as a trusted advisor on organizational effectiveness, workforce planning, and employee engagement strategies.

The ideal candidate brings a balance of strategy and execution, strong business acumen, and the ability to influence at all levels while fostering a collaborative and inclusive work environment.

This position is offered as a hybrid role, combining both in-office and remote work to provide flexibility and support collaboration. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change.

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

Bachelor’s Degree

4+ years of progressively responsible experience in talent management, organizational development, or human resources

Demonstrated success leading programs or teams that improve employee performance, engagement, and retention

Demonstrated leadership, supervisory, planning, and change management skills

Proven expertise in talent management strategies, including recruitment, performance management, employee development, and retention

Strong leadership and people management skills, with experience coaching and developing teams

Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to influence and advise stakeholders at all levels

High emotional intelligence, with the ability to navigate complex interpersonal dynamics and exercise sound judgment in sensitive situations

Strategic mindset with the ability to assess organizational needs and translate them into actionable talent solutions

Experience designing and facilitating training and leadership development programs, including the use of assessment tools

Experience leveraging, evaluating, implementing, and driving adoption of HR technologies and workflow tools to improve efficiency, operations, and reporting

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to use data to inform decision-making

Excellent organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and initiatives simultaneously

Advanced degree in Human Resources, Organizational Development, or a related field

SHRM, HRCI, or another relevant certification

Experience in higher education or development/fundraising environments

Leads the division’s talent management strategy in alignment with organizational priorities and goals

Develops and manages a high-performing talent management team through…