Communications Strategist

The Communications Strategist leads and coordinates communications for Facilities, Planning & Capital Construction (FP&CC), strengthening how the division engages with campus stakeholders, employees, and external partners. Serving as FP&CC’s primary communications partner, this role works closely with divisional leadership, project teams, and university partners to develop clear, timely, and coordinated messaging across the full range of FP&CC’s work, including facilities operations and services, campus planning and design, capital construction, infrastructure, and environmental health and safety.

The Communications Strategist translates complex project, operational, and technical information into accessible, audience-centered communications that help the campus community understand project impacts, service changes, campus improvements, and long-term priorities. Supporting both day-to-day operations and major campus initiatives, the role advances transparency and stakeholder engagement while increasing awareness of FP&CC’s work to create and maintain a safe, functional, sustainable, and innovative campus environment.

The position also helps establish consistent and sustainable communications practices that strengthen trust, collaboration, and organizational effectiveness across the university.

The ideal applicant is a highly collaborative, proactive communicator with a strong background in change management and project coordination. They possess the unique ability to translate highly technical concepts in facilities, engineering, and construction into clear, actionable messaging for a broad audience. Successful candidates will demonstrate sound judgment, exceptional relationship-building skills, and the capacity to serve as a trusted communications advisor to senior leaders in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

This position is designated as a hybrid, essential on-campus role. The position combines on-campus and remote work and requires at least 3 days per week on campus to support collaboration, stakeholder engagement, and operational effectiveness. Additional on-site presence may be required based on business needs, project demands, or departmental priorities. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change.

As an Essential On-Campus employee, the incumbent must report to campus as directed during emergencies, severe weather events, or other critical situations to support the continuity of university operations. The employee must remain accessible to leadership and available to perform responsibilities necessary to maintain essential institutional functions.

This is a full-time, benefits-eligible position, with proposed salary range of $80,000 to $90,000 annually, depending on qualifications and experience.
* 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 may be substituted on an equivalent year-for-year basis.
• 3+ years of progressively responsible experience in communications, public relations, internal communications, writing, employee engagement, or other closely related fields

• Exceptional writing, editing, and communication skills, with the ability to translate complex engineering, architectural, capital-construction, and operational concepts into clear, concise, and engaging messaging for diverse audiences
• Demonstrated experience developing strategic communications, change-management, and stakeholder-engagement plans that support organizational priorities, operational shifts, capital projects, process improvements, and system implementations
• Proven ability to advise…