Program Administrator II

Job Description

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.
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, which supports students intellectually, emotionally and culturally through social events, intramural sports, student plays, lectures 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. Those values guide our decisions and behaviors and shape Rice's culture. They come through in the way we treat each other and the welcome we extend to our visitors. These values can be recalled simply by our name - RICE - Responsibility, Integrity, Community and Excellence.
About George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing:

The George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing ranks among the top 20 undergraduate engineering programs (US News & World Report) and is strongly committed to nurturing the aspirations of faculty, staff, and students in an inclusive environment. We seek greater representation of women, minorities, people with disabilities, and veterans in disciplines in which they have historically been underrepresented; to attract international students from a wider range of countries and backgrounds; to accelerate progress in building a faculty and staff who are diverse in background and thought, and we support an inclusive environment that fosters interaction and understanding within our diverse community.
Position Summary:

The Program Administrator II supports the administrative and operational activities of the Tomson Research Group within the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Rice University and the Tomson Research Group. This position is responsible for coordinating day-to-day lab and administrative operations, including budget tracking, purchasing, reimbursements, financial documentation, scheduling, and general operational support. The role works closely with faculty, students, vendors, and university administrative offices to help ensure efficient and organized research operations while exercising sound judgment and maintaining a high level of professionalism.
Ideal Candidate:

The ideal candidate will be organized, dependable, and interested in supporting a research and academic environment. Prior experience with budgeting, expense tracking, purchasing, reimbursements, procurement, grant support, or project financial administration is strongly preferred, though the lab will provide training on Rice-specific systems and processes. A background in finance, accounting, business administration, or a related field is desirable, but equivalent practical experience will also be considered.

Workplace Requirements: This position is exclusively on-site, necessitating all duties to be performed in-person. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change.

Hiring Range: $36,890 - $45,600 annualized salary range, prorated based on a 30-hour-per-week work schedule (0.75 FTE).

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


Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, business administration, or a related field
• One or more (1+) years related experience
  • In lieu of education requirement, additional related experience above and beyond what is required, on an equivalent year for year basis may be substituted.

Skills

• Strong organizational and administrative coordination skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities with attention to detail and accuracy
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and spreadsheet-based financial tracking
• Ability to interpret and apply university administrative and financial procedures
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively with faculty, students, staff, and external partners

Preferences:

• Prior experience with budgeting, expense tracking, purchasing, reimbursements, procurement, grant support, or project financial administration.

Essential Functions:

• Coordinates administrative and operational activities for the research group
• Tracks budgets, expenses, purchasing activity, reimbursements, and related financial documentation
• Assists with procurement, vendor coordination, and purchasing processes in accordance with university procedures
• Maintains organized financial and administrative records for projects and lab operations
• Supports scheduling, meetings, communications, and general faculty administrative needs
• Coordinates with departmental and central administrative offices regarding operational and financial matters
• Assists with onboarding coordination, visitor logistics, and general lab support activities
• Uses independent judgment to prioritize tasks and manage multiple ongoing responsibilities
• Helps develop and improve administrative workflows and organizational processes to support efficient lab operations
• Performs all other duties as assigned.

Rice University HR | 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 View email address on click.appcast.io for support.

If you have any additional questions, please email us at View email address on click.appcast.io . Thank you for your interest in employment with Rice University.