Director, Talent Management

Job Description

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

About Rice:

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.

Position Summary:

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.

Ideal Candidate Statement:

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.

Workplace Requirements:

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.

Minimum Requirements:

• 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

Skills:

• 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

Preferences:

• 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

Essential Functions:

• Leads the division’s talent management strategy in alignment with organizational priorities and goals
• Develops and manages a high-performing talent management team through coaching, accountability, and continuous improvement
• Partners with leadership to assess workforce needs and implement organizational effectiveness and workforce planning strategies
• Develops and executes recruitment strategies to attract, hire, and retain top talent
• Builds and maintains talent pipelines to meet current and future workforce needs
• Advises hiring managers on selection, interviewing, and hiring best practices while ensuring compliance with university policies
• Designs and delivers learning, development, leadership, and team-effectiveness programs
• Utilizes assessment tools and development resources to enhance individual and team performance
• Leads employee engagement and retention initiatives that support an inclusive and high-performing workplace culture
• Guides leaders on performance management, coaching, feedback, accountability, and employee development
• Evaluates organizational structures, career pathways, and talent practices to support growth and mobility
• Oversees process improvements, technology adoption, and system enhancements that increase operational efficiency
• Uses data, metrics, and engagement feedback to evaluate effectiveness and drive continuous improvement
• Serves as a trusted advisor on employee relations, team dynamics, leadership effectiveness, and complex people matters

Additional Functions:

• Ensures accurate and timely personnel actions for new hires and existing employees
• Maintains awareness of industry trends and best practices
• Supports broader division initiatives and strategic priorities
• Ensures alignment with university HR policies and practices
• Is accountable for the professional development and performance of direct reports
• Maintains contact with various administrators across campus, staying up to date on university initiatives and their potential impact on the division

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 get in touch with 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.