The Center for African and African American Studies (CAAAS) at Rice University invites applications for the position of Assistant Project Manager and Researcher for Public Histories Research to provide strategic and operational leadership for a new public-facing, community-engaged initiative beginning January 1, 2027. Reporting within CAAAS, this position plays a pivotal role in advancing the Center's mission to serve Black Houston by archiving and preserving the rich oral histories and historic sites of the local community.

Key responsibilities include supporting existing research and community teams, strengthening community partnerships, managing grant operations and budgets, writing and analyzing funding proposals, and leading a high-performing team to deliver impactful research outcomes that contribute directly to the university's academic and community-engagement objectives.

Special Instructions to Applicants:

All interested applicants should upload attachments in the Supporting Documents section of the application, preferably in PDF format to avoid any formatting issues.

In addition to the online application, candidates must submit:

Cover letter

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

One-page statement of community-engaged philosophy

Names and contact information for two references

A 25-30 page writing sample focused on public history research and/or expository writing

Application Deadline: November 16, 2026

Target Start Date: January 1, 2027

Ideal Candidate Statement:

The ideal candidate is a collaborative scholar-administrator with deep expertise in African American history, public humanities, and oral history preservation. The candidate possesses strong administrative skills, a proven track record of building and sustaining authentic partnerships with community stakeholders, and experience managing complex, grant-funded research operations and budgets. Exceptional writing skills for both academic and public audiences, along with a passion for mentoring undergraduate students and amplifying Black Houston's public history, define the ideal applicant for this role.

Workplace Requirements:

This position operates in a professional office and university campus environment, with frequent local outreach to community sites, churches, cemeteries, and historical centers throughout the Houston area. Standard business hours apply, with occasional evening and weekend hours required for community-engagement events.

Workplace Location:

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.

Hiring Range: $63,731 - $70,000 annually

This position may also be eligible for discretionary, research, or travel funds. Therefore, actual compensation paid to the selected candidate may vary from the stated salary range.

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

This position is funded by grant, soft, and/or restricted funds. Continued employment is contingent upon the renewal of funding. The initial appointment is expected to run from January 1, 2027, through December 31, 2027.

Minimum Requirements:

Ph.D. in History, Black Studies, Latin American Studies, Public History, Public Humanities, or a related field

Two years of postdoctoral experience

Skills:

Proficient and comprehensive knowledge of information management, knowledge management, and publication management

Possesses a logical and independent mindset

Strong interpersonal skills, including patience, determination, flexibility, and decisiveness

Excellent listening, verbal communication, written communication, analytical, and research skills

Meticulous attention to detail and accuracy

Ability to work effectively in a team environment, actively participate, collaborate, and motivate others

Strong administrative capabilities within a university or nonprofit setting

Demonstrated expertise in community-engaged methodologies and public history research

Experience overseeing complex operations, project budgets, compliance activities, and staff or team management

Excellent writing skills, particularly in expository writing related to public history

Preferences:

Five to seven years of leadership experience in publicly engaged research projects addressing African American communities, oral histories, and historic sites such as churches, cemeteries, and schools

Strong administrative skills and experience conducting community-engaged work in a university setting

Experience managing teams, budgets, and complex operations

Excellent writing skills

Experience writing for both public-facing and academic audiences

Knowledge of and demonstrated experience working with, supervising, and/or teaching undergraduate students

Research-level spoken and written proficiency in Spanish, Portuguese, or French

Demonstrated track record of building and sustaining long-term community-based partnerships

Essential Functions:

Program and Partnership Development

Partner with faculty to integrate outreach activities into research and educational initiatives, including grant proposals

Partner with university marketing and communications teams to increase the Center’s visibility and support fundraising outcomes

Conduct funding research, proposal writing, and peer-review analysis

Operational Oversight and Staff Management

Manage and assist in developing a diverse team of community stakeholders, institutional partners, and faculty collaborators

Oversee all operational aspects of grant-funded activities, including budgeting, compliance, and reporting

Ensure efficient and effective systems, processes, and infrastructure are in place to support program delivery

Assist in identifying funding opportunities and drafting applications for future grants and funding initiatives

Additional Functions:

Perform other related research and administrative support duties as assigned.

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.