Program Coordinator

The Liu Idea Lab for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (Lilie) is seeking a Program Coordinator. This is a unique opportunity to be at the forefront of innovation and help Rice entrepreneurs bring their cutting-edge ideas to market. In this role, you will support Lilie’s program managers and leadership in the coordination and execution of our full suite of programs and events. As a Program Coordinator you will participate in brainstorming and planning at the earliest stages, carry out the day-to-day tactical work, and help bring our events to life day-of. In practice, this means you will support Lilie as an intellectual thought partner (we want you to bring your ideas with you), you will manage the ordering and expensing process for team and programmatic supplies (time management and attention to detail are a must), and you will coordinate logistics amongst the Lilie team and with our partners across campus (teamwork and collaboration are key). 

Lilie is the beating heart of entrepreneurship, innovation, venture capital, and research commercialization for the whole Rice University campus. Our Center combines over 50 for-credit, experiential courses every year with a suite of programs, resources, competitions, and accelerators to help entrepreneurs and innovators at every stage of their journey. Our mission is to serve Rice University students, faculty, and alumni from all majors and degree programs in helping them go from idea to real-world impact. We’ve been ranked as the #1 Graduate Entrepreneurship program in the country for the last 5 years in a row, but need your help to aim even higher in the future.

The ideal candidate works collaboratively and has strong opinions that are adaptable to new information. The ideal candidate is a proactive communicator and service-oriented, through and through.

Special Instructions to Applicants: All interested applicants should attach a resume in the Supporting Documents section of the application, preferably in a PDF format to avoid any formatting issues.

Workplace Requirements

This position is exclusively on-site, necessitating all duties to be performed in-person. At Lilie we meet students where they are. Supporting students on a residential college campus looks a little different than your typical office job. We strive for a healthy work-life balance that also reflects college students as our main constituent. From time to time, work on nights and weekends could be required. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change.

Hiring Range

This is a full-time, benefits-eligible position, and the proposed salary is $59,000 - $65,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications. Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime.

This is a two-year term limited position. Continued employment is contingent on the renewal of funding.

Minimum Requirements

• 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
• Two or more (2+) years of related experience in entrepreneurship, operations, student experience, or work at an early-stage company
  • 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

Skills: 

• Ability to develop and initiate new strategies
• Advanced problem-solving skills
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to work well under pressure and manage projects simultaneously
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team to meet expected deadlines and schedules
• Adept at problem solving, creating contingency plans and handling issues when necessary
• Strong client service orientation and attention to detail
• Ability to develop complex or multiple program partnerships and funding sources
• Knowledge of managing budgets and developing financial plans

Preferences

• Experience working in an institution of higher education
• Experience working with startups and/or entrepreneurs

Essential Functions

• Administers program operations, ensuring efficient, effective and productive operations
• Creates and implements plans to achieve program objectives and mission
• Interprets, implements, and ensures compliance with policies and regulations and recommends changes to procedures and processes
• Analyzes data, identifies trends, develops reports and recommends and implements changes to improve alignment with institutional mission and goals
• Creates and implements outreach plans that may include relationship development, communications, event and conference management
• Provides support in developing relationships with internal and external entities
• Creates budget plans, monitors and approves expenditures, develops reports, conducts analyses and manages and maintains financial records
• For academic programs, may assist in graduate student recruitment and admissions, student records, curriculum support, coordinating the accreditation process, managing scholarships and fellowships, and monitoring student progress
• Performs all other duties as assigned

Additional Functions

• Working alongside the Lilie team to help student and alumni founders with their businesses during Lilie programming.
• Coordinate the management of the physical Lilie spaces including administering our room reservation process and ensuring that the space is appropriately equipped and set up for our classes, events, and programs. 
• Advise student, alumni, and faculty founders during programming and office hours, and when you lack experience or expertise, help facilitate timely and personal connections to other mentors in the Lilie network. 

Rice University HR | Benefits: https://knowledgecafe.rice.edu/benefits 

Rice Mission and Values: Mission and Values | Rice University

Rice University is committed to ensuring Equal Employment Opportunity and welcoming the fullness of diversity into our candidate pools. Rice considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status. Rice also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. If an applicant requires a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please contact Rice University’s Human Resources Office via email at facstaffada@rice.edu for support.

If you have any additional questions, please email us at jobs@rice.edu. Thank you for your interest in employment with Rice University.