Assistant Project Manager and Researcher for Public Histories

Job Description

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

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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.