Job Description

Position Summary:

The Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship ("Rice Alliance") is seeking a Managing Director, Head of Growth, to lead the commercial and revenue strategy for the Rice Alliance across the Ion District and Venture Advantage Platform.

Through the Venture Advantage Platform, we bring together people, expertise, capital, and corporate and community partners into a coordinated system designed to help founders gain advantages and compound impact. By doing so, we seek to strengthen Houston's ability to sustainably launch and grow thriving ventures that deliver local, national, and global impact. Over 25 years, the Rice Alliance has supported more than 3,700 startups that have raised more than $31 billion in capital. That impact is rooted in our belief that when people are activated around meaningful work, it creates an economic engine that generates an abundance of opportunities for our community to prosper. The Rice Alliance exists to help people pursue their life's work, starting by serving entrepreneurs.

The Rice Alliance has a long history of working with corporations and philanthropic partners to advance its mission and create high-value collaborations. Through its role in the Ion District, this work has expanded to include enterprise partnerships and services that connect companies to entrepreneurs, emerging technologies, new networks, Rice University, and Houston's broader innovation ecosystem.

This role comes at a pivotal moment as the Rice Alliance brings its established partnership, sponsorship, and enterprise engagement activities into a more integrated Growth function. The Head of Growth will build on an existing book of business to strengthen and expand enterprise relationships, create a more disciplined commercial strategy, and drive sustainable revenue growth across the Rice Alliance and Ion District.

As a member of the Rice Alliance leadership team, the Head of Growth will be accountable for overall revenue and commercial performance and will lead the Growth function. The Head of Growth will:

• Set and execute the commercial and go-to-market strategy, including integrated pricing and packaging, pipeline development, forecasting, and revenue growth.
• Build on existing relationships and offerings while sourcing, negotiating, and closing significant new enterprise partnerships.
• Lead the Growth team and establish the systems, processes, and operating discipline needed to strengthen partner delivery, retention, renewals, and expansion.
• Translate market and customer needs into new and improved offerings in partnership with teams across the organization.
• Work closely with Rice University and organizational leadership to advance strategic partnerships and support the growth and impact of the Ion District.

Through this work, the Head of Growth will expand the organization's reach, strengthen Houston's innovation ecosystem, and create greater capacity for the Rice Alliance and Ion District to fulfill their missions on a larger scale.

In the First Six Months, Success Looks Like:

• An integrated view of the existing book of business, pipeline, renewals, and growth opportunities, with clear ownership and priorities.
• A disciplined commercial operating rhythm, including CRM, pipeline management, forecasting, and performance reporting.
• Refined pricing and packaging across existing and emerging partnership, sponsorship, and innovation offerings.
• Demonstrated expansion of existing relationships alongside meaningful progress and wins with new enterprise partners.
• A clearly defined and operational Growth function with effective handoffs across business development, partner management, and organizational delivery.

Special Instructions to Applicants:

All interested applicants should attach a resume and cover letter in the Supporting Documents section of the application, preferably in PDF format to avoid any formatting issues. Additionally, please provide a short case study summary of a past project that demonstrates how you grew a team, fixed a broken sales funnel, or achieved significant revenue targets.

Ideal Candidate Statement:

The ideal candidate is a high-performing, mission-driven commercial builder with a track record of developing go-to-market strategies, leading sales and growth functions, and personally closing high-value partnerships with organizations ranging from growth-stage companies to Fortune 500 companies.

You know how to build on an existing foundation while bringing greater commercial discipline, focus, and ambition. You understand customers and markets, know how to create a pipeline and turn opportunities into revenue, and can build the systems and teams required to scale.

You are energized by the opportunity to help grow the Ion District, strengthen Houston's innovation ecosystem, and make other parts of the organization more successful. You can translate vision into execution, lead a high-performing team, and view revenue growth as a means to create greater value for those we serve and expand our impact.

Experience in energy, industrial, hard-tech, or other sectors important to Houston's economy is preferred.

Workplace Requirements:

Work is primarily performed in a professional office and event environment. The position requires regular interaction with corporate executives, external partners, founders, and university leaders. You should expect regular evening activities and occasional weekend events, as well as periodic travel.

Workplace Location:

This position is exclusively on-site, requiring all duties to be performed in person at the Ion District. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change.

Hiring Range: Hiring salary commensurate with experience and qualifications.

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

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree.
• 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.
• Five or more years of related experience in business development, enterprise sales, strategic partnerships, innovation, or a related field, with at least five years of direct leadership experience.

Skills:

• Strong record of identifying, negotiating, and closing business deals, complex partnerships, and multi-year agreements.
• Ability to develop and execute commercial strategy, establish revenue targets, and manage pipelines, forecasts, KPIs, and performance reporting.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to assess markets, customer needs, competitive dynamics, and revenue opportunities.
• Excellent executive communication, proposal development, presentation, negotiation, and relationship management skills.
• Experience using CRM systems, sales reporting, and performance analytics to drive action and accountability.
• Ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and develop a high-performing, customer-focused growth function.

Preferences:

• Ten or more years of experience in business development, enterprise sales, partnerships, sponsorships, or a related field.
• Experience building a commercial or sales function from the ground up or transforming the revenue model of an established organization.
• Experience in venture capital, startup support, corporate innovation, higher education, accelerators, coworking, economic development, or a related innovation environment.
• Established relationships or partnership experience within Houston's corporate innovation ecosystem, particularly in energy, industrial, hard-tech, or climate sectors.

Essential Functions:

• Develop and execute the organization's commercial, business development, and revenue strategy, establishing targets, forecasts, KPIs, and accountability for overall commercial performance.
• Build on the organization's existing book of business while identifying, cultivating, structuring, negotiating, and closing significant new enterprise partnerships and multi-year agreements.
• Develop and continuously refine integrated pricing, packaging, and partnership models across enterprise partnerships, sponsorships, innovation services, and strategic collaborations.
• Lead market and customer discovery to identify opportunities and translate partner needs into compelling offerings, partnerships, and revenue opportunities.
• Build and operationalize the commercial systems and processes required to effectively manage pipeline, forecasting, CRM, account handoffs, renewals, expansion, and performance.
• Lead and develop the Growth team, establishing clear accountability across new business, partner management, and execution while collaborating across platform, marketing, events, programs, operations, and other teams.
• Advise senior leadership on strategic partnerships and growth opportunities and represent the organization in executive-level conversations with prospective partners and other external stakeholders.
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

Additional Functions:

• Support high-priority organizational initiatives, partner events, and external engagements as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

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

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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.