Director, Publications and Podcast

Job Description

Position Summary:

Rice University seeks an accomplished, creative, and strategic Director of Publications and Podcast to lead the university's editorial storytelling across its flagship publications and emerging media platforms.

Reporting to the Office of Public Affairs, the Director of Publications and Podcast will oversee the editorial vision, strategy, and production of Rice Magazine, Rice Research Review, and a new university podcast, creating compelling content that advances Rice's reputation as a leading research university and communicates the people, ideas, discoveries, and impact that define the institution.

This is a Senior Editorial position for an exceptional storyteller and editorial strategist who understands how to translate complex ideas and institutional priorities into engaging journalism for sophisticated audiences. The Director will work across the university to identify and develop stories that showcase Rice's distinctive strengths in research, education, innovation, student achievement, faculty excellence, entrepreneurship, community impact, and global engagement.

Rice is at an important moment in its evolution as a leading research university. The Director of Publications and Podcast will have an opportunity to define how the university tells that story-across disciplines, platforms, and audiences.

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Applicants are required to submit three writing samples. Please save your cover letter and resume as one PDF file and two writing samples as a second PDF file, attaching both PDF files in the document section of the application materials. You may also submit links for the writing samples.

Ideal Candidate Statement:

The ideal candidate will see editorial content as a key way to shape conversations, illuminate discovery, elevate voices, and demonstrate Rice's impact in Houston, across the United States, and around the world. The successful candidate will bring strong editorial judgment, a sophisticated understanding of audience and voice, and the ability to lead both people and projects from concept through publication and distribution. The Director will also help Rice evolve its editorial content strategy as audiences increasingly engage with journalism through digital, audio, social, and other emerging platforms.

Workplace Requirements:

Hybrid position: 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.

This position is based at Rice University in Houston, Texas, and requires regular collaboration with colleagues across campus. Occasional evening or weekend work may be required for major university events, interviews, recordings, or publication deadlines.

Hiring Range: Salary is commensurate with experience and qualifications.

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

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, English, writing, or a related field.
  • 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.
• Four years of progressively responsible editorial, journalism, or communications experience, including experience leading a publication, editorial operation, or major content portfolio.
• Exceptional writing and editing skills, with a demonstrated ability to produce and refine sophisticated narrative journalism.
• Proven experience developing and executing editorial strategy.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex subjects into compelling stories for broad audiences.
• Experience managing multiple projects, deadlines, and contributors simultaneously.
• Strong editorial judgment and a commitment to accuracy, fairness, clarity, and high-quality storytelling.
• Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with senior leaders, subject-matter experts, and creative professionals.

Preferences:

• Six or more years of progressively responsible editorial, journalism, or communications experience.
• Experience working in higher education, research, science, technology, or another complex institutional environment.
• Experience leading a magazine or other high-quality editorial publication.
• Experience with podcast development, production, and/or audio storytelling.
• Experience managing staff writers, editors, freelancers, and creative vendors.
• Experience using audience analytics and digital publishing tools to inform editorial strategy.
• Familiarity with emerging approaches to multimedia and AI-assisted content development.
• Experience building editorial brands and growing audiences across multiple platforms.

Essential Functions:

Editorial Strategy and Leadership

• Develop and lead a cohesive editorial strategy for Rice's flagship editorial platforms, ensuring that content reflects the university's priorities, distinctive identity, and institutional voice, with the ability to connect individual stories to broader institutional goals and narratives.
• Serve as the senior editorial leader for Rice Magazine, Rice Research Review, and the university podcast, maintaining high standards for journalism, storytelling, accuracy, creativity, and production quality.
• Establish an editorial vision that connects individual stories and issues to larger narratives about Rice's role in higher education, research, and society.
• Demonstrate genuine curiosity and interest in people, ideas, discovery, and the world of higher education and research.
• Identify emerging topics, voices, trends, and opportunities that can strengthen Rice's reputation and distinguish its storytelling from that of peer institutions.
• Develop annual and long-term editorial calendars in collaboration with Public Affairs colleagues and university leadership.
• Ensure content reaches audiences effectively across print, web, email, audio, social media, and other appropriate channels.

Rice Magazine

• Provide overall editorial direction for Rice Magazine, Rice's flagship publication for alumni, parents, students, faculty, staff, and friends of the university.
• Shape issue themes, story packages, and editorial priorities.
• Assign, edit, and develop major feature stories, profiles, essays, news features, and other content.
• Demonstrate exceptional editorial excellence with sound judgment, writing, editing, and storytelling ability.
• Work closely with writers, photographers, designers, and other creative partners to produce a distinctive, high-quality publication.
• Ensure Rice Magazine reflects the breadth of the university while maintaining a clear and compelling editorial identity.

Rice Research Review

• Lead the editorial strategy and content development for Rice Research Review, highlighting the university's research enterprise and its impact on Houston, the nation, and the world.
• Translate complex scientific, technological, and scholarly work into compelling stories accessible to broad audiences without sacrificing accuracy or intellectual rigor.
• Develop strong relationships with faculty, researchers, students, and research leaders to identify breakthrough discoveries, emerging areas of scholarship, and compelling human stories.
• Collaborate with Rice's research communications team and other Public Affairs colleagues to identify opportunities for coordinated storytelling, demonstrating the ability to build productive relationships across a complex organization.
• Maintain a clear understanding of audience focus and knowledge of how to create content that is both intellectually substantive and genuinely engaging.

Podcast Leadership

• Develop and launch a new Rice University podcast, establishing its editorial concept, voice, format, and audience strategy while applying a strong understanding of how to create content that is both intellectually substantive and genuinely engaging.
• Identify compelling topics and guests and oversee episode development from concept and research through scripting, recording, editing, and distribution.
• Develop an editorial approach that takes advantage of the unique possibilities of audio storytelling rather than simply repurposing written content.
• Work with internal and external production partners as appropriate to ensure a polished, distinctive listening experience.
• Develop strategies to grow the podcast audience and integrate podcast storytelling with Rice's broader editorial and communications efforts.

Content Development and Editing

• Write, edit, and shape high-level editorial content as needed, including feature stories, profiles, essays, editorials, interviews, scripts, and other storytelling formats.
• Assign work to staff and freelance writers and editors, providing clear, constructive editorial direction.
• Edit for accuracy, clarity, narrative structure, tone, voice, and audience engagement.
• Maintain rigorous journalistic and editorial standards.
• Coach writers and other contributors to strengthen their storytelling and develop their editorial skills.
• Ensure stories represent the diversity of perspectives, disciplines, experiences, and communities that make up Rice.

Collaboration and Institutional Storytelling

• Build strong working relationships with university leaders, faculty, researchers, staff, students, and alumni to uncover stories and develop sources.
• Partner closely with colleagues throughout the Office of Public Affairs, including marketing and brand strategy, news and media relations, research communications, digital communications, social media, and creative services.
• Collaborate with advancement, alumni relations, admissions, academic schools, and other university partners when appropriate.
• Serve as a trusted editorial adviser to university leadership and communications colleagues.
• Help identify opportunities to coordinate editorial storytelling with major university initiatives, milestones, research discoveries, and institutional priorities.

Innovation and Audience Growth

• Monitor changes in journalism, publishing, digital media, podcasting, and audience behavior, incorporating relevant innovations into Rice's editorial strategy.
• Use audience insights and analytics to understand what content resonates and inform future editorial decisions.
• Explore new storytelling formats, including multimedia, video, interactive features, newsletters, social storytelling, and other emerging platforms.
• Develop strategies for extending the reach and lifespan of major stories across multiple channels.

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