Rice University is a top-tier private research university located on a 300-acre, tree-lined campus in Houston, Texas, one of the most diverse cities in the nation. Consistently ranked among the top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report, Rice combines academic rigor with an uncommon sense of community, supported by a 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio and a distinctive residential college system. This model fosters intellectual engagement, cultural exchange, and close-knit relationships that define the Rice experience for students, faculty, and staff alike.
Rice’s culture is grounded in shared values that guide decision-making and behavior across the institution. Those values are captured in the university’s name: Responsibility, Integrity, Community, and Excellence. They are reflected in Rice’s commitment to quality of life, academic distinction, and inclusive excellence. As a workplace, Rice offers an environment where collaboration, care, and ambition coexist, supporting faculty and staff who are dedicated to advancing the university’s mission.
As a leader in research and discovery, Rice is home to world-class institutes driving advancements in nanotechnology, artificial intelligence, sustainability, and more. With over $100 million in annual research funding, the University’s impact extends globally, aligning its philanthropic efforts with bold academic and societal ambitions.
Looking to the future, Rice’s strategic plan, Momentous, is set to propel the University into its next era of growth and distinction. This visionary initiative aims to solidify Rice’s position as a premier institution for teaching and research by fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, investing in groundbreaking health and sustainability initiatives, and expanding its role as a hub for innovation in Houston and beyond.
The Opportunity
As Rice University enters a bold new chapter of philanthropic growth and prepares for a comprehensive campaign, it is creating an inaugural Assistant General Counsel role to strengthen the legal and strategic foundation of its fundraising enterprise. This is a moment of opportunity to help shape the infrastructure that will support increasingly complex, transformative gifts and long-term stewardship.
Reporting to the Vice President and General Counsel, with a dotted-line relationship to the Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations, the Assistant General Counsel will serve as a trusted partner across Development and Alumni Relations, the Office of General Counsel, academic units, and key institutional offices including the treasury and the Rice Management Company. The role is designed for a collaborative legal leader who can provide expert guidance on complex gifts, charitable planning, policy interpretation, and risk management, while enabling fundraisers and institutional leaders to pursue ambitious philanthropic goals with confidence.
This position offers the chance to work at the intersection of law, strategy, and philanthropy within a preeminent research university whose ambitions under President Reginald DesRoches are transformational and global. The Assistant General Counsel will help Rice navigate complexity with clarity, creativity, and responsible stewardship, contributing directly to the university’s future impact.
The salary range for this position is $175,000–$200,000 annually.
