Special Instructions to Applicants:
- All interested applicants should attach a resume, cover letter and a link to a digital portfolio in the Supporting Documents section of the application, preferably in a PDF format to avoid any formatting issues. Portfolios should demonstrate both conceptual "big idea" thinking and polished, production-ready execution.
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.
Position Summary:
The Office of Public Affairs at Rice University is seeking an agile and highly creative,
Temporary
Creative Designer
to support our Creative Services team.
This position requires a "full-lifecycle" creative thinker—someone who can brainstorm a fresh concept on the fly, pitch it to a client, and manage it all the way through to final production and vendor delivery.
Ideal Candidate Statement:
The ideal candidate thrives
on variety, loves fast-paced problem-solving, and wants to own projects from inception to completion
all while maintaining the integrity of the Rice University brand.
Workplace Requirements:
On campus position:
This position is exclusively on-site, necessitating all duties to be performed in-person at [insert location and schedule]. Per
Rice policy 440
, work arrangements may be subject to change., 20-25 hours per week, (approximately 2 or 3 days a week).
Part-time, project-based role, with an expected duration of 6 months.
Hiring Range:
$35–$40 per hour based on experience
*Non-Exempt (hourly) positions under
FLSA
are eligible for overtime.
Minimum Requirements:
- Portfolio:
A strong portfolio demonstrating both conceptual "big idea" thinking and polished, production-ready execution.
-
Technical Expertise:
-
Mastery of Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign).
High proficiency in
-
Canva
for rapid template creation and agile design needs
-
The "X-Factor":
-
Exceptional communication skills—comfortable presenting ideas to clients and negotiating specs with vendors.
-
A proactive, "hungry" attitude; you don't wait to be told what to do, you look for solutions.
-
Ability to pivot quickly and handle tight turnarounds with a positive attitude.
Preferences:
Experience with
-
Asana
(or similar workflow/project management tools).
Proficient in
-
Google Workspace
for collaboration and presentations.
-
Experience with simple animation creation.
-
Deep knowledge of the print production process
, including file preparation (bleeds, die-lines, color profiles) and a strong understanding of different printing types (digital, offset, large format, etc.).
Essential Functions:
- Inception to Production:
Own the day-to-day creative process from start to finish. Reporting directly to the Creative Director—who will provide overarching creative direction and strategic support—you will take raw briefs, brainstorm concepts on the fly, design the assets, and prep them flawlessly for final production.
-
Client & Vendor Collaboration:
Act as a main point of contact for project execution. You will communicate directly with clients to refine ideas and work closely with print/digital vendors to ensure final deliverables meet our quality standards.
-
Agile Content Creation:
Develop a wide range of creative assets (digital, print, social, presentations) quickly and efficiently without sacrificing quality.
-
Brand Guardianship:
While creating new concepts, ensure all work aligns beautifully with our clients’ established brand identities and guidelines.
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 [email protected] for support.
If you have any additional questions, please email us at [email protected] . Thank you for your interest in employment with Rice University.
