Rice360 Associate Director of Technology Development, Clinical Evaluation & Translation

Position Summary:

The Rice360 Institute for Global Health Technologies (Rice360), a multidisciplinary institute at Rice University, is a leader in global health technology education, research, and implementation, with a distinctive focus on experiential and problem-based learning. Rice360 develops highly effective, low-cost healthcare solutions that address critical healthcare needs in underserved communities and educates future leaders who will continue to innovate and implement these solutions.

Rice360 offers award-winning experiential education programs, including a Global Health Technologies Minor, international internships, and Global Health Technologies post-baccalaureate fellowships. Program participants engage directly in the design, fabrication, evaluation, deployment, and global scaling of innovative technologies.

Rice360 works closely with partners in underserved communities throughout the world, including low- and middle-income countries and communities in the United States. Rice360 collaborators can be found within Rice University, the Texas Medical Center, and other educational and medical institutions throughout the United States and around the globe. Rice360 has staff permanently located in Blantyre, Malawi; Nairobi, Kenya; Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; and Lagos, Nigeria, who support in-country education and research partnerships.

Rice360 is seeking an Associate Director for Technology Development, Clinical Evaluation, and Translation to expand the impact of medical device innovation projects. This position reports to the Director of Technology Development and works closely with the Director of Education to achieve the institute’s research and educational goals. The Associate Director provides oversight and leadership to the Global Health Fellows (GHF) cohort, managing day-to-day activities related to design, prototyping, bench testing, clinical evaluation, regulatory and ethics compliance, transition to manufacturing, regulatory approval submissions, and reporting.

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.

Ideal Candidate Statement:

The ideal candidate has extensive skills and experience in project management related to medical technology research and development, including design, prototyping, clinical evaluation, and transition to production, along with strong organizational skills to manage complex workflows and ensure the timely, high-quality delivery of program components. The candidate has significant experience in bioengineering and biomedical innovation for low-resource settings.

The ideal candidate possesses strong quantitative and analytical abilities, as well as excellent written and verbal communication skills, and demonstrated strengths in coordination, team leadership, and mentorship. The candidate has experience working on grant-funded programs and projects within a research university and/or international development environment. Additionally, the candidate has experience working in multicultural environments, demonstrates sensitivity to low-resource settings, and is passionate about advancing healthcare access through medical technology innovation. A strategic mindset, strong problem-solving abilities, and a commitment to healthcare innovation are critical for success in this role.

Workplace Requirements:

This is a full-time position that may require occasional early morning, evening, or weekend work to accommodate time-zone differences for important meetings with collaborators in the United States, Central America, and across sub-Saharan Africa. The position may also require periodic domestic and international travel to support work with global partners. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change.

Hiring Range: $100,000-$120,000 annually, contingent upon qualifications and experience.

*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 ongoing need and the renewal of funding.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field

  • Experience may not be substituted for the education requirement

• Four (4+) years of related experience in program administration, project management, or a related field

  • In lieu of the experience requirement, additional related education above and beyond what is required may be substituted on an equivalent year-for-year basis

Skills:

• Ability to develop complex and/or multiple program partnerships and funding sources

• Knowledge of budget management and financial planning

• Ability to develop and implement new strategies

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

• Ability to work effectively under pressure and manage multiple projects simultaneously

• Excellent organizational and time-management skills

• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite

• Strong data-analysis skills

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively to meet expected deadlines and schedules

• Strong problem-solving skills, including developing contingency plans and addressing issues as they arise

• Excellent customer-service orientation

• Ability to lead and motivate others

• Strategic planning and project implementation skills

• Strong attention to detail

• Must demonstrate support for Rice360 Core Values: Innovation, Equity, Community, Integrity, Accountability, Empowerment, and Transformation

Preferences:

• Strong preference for a Ph.D. or other doctoral degree in Bioengineering, Mechanical Engineering, Global Health, Bioinnovation, or a healthcare-related discipline

• Four (4+) years of experience working in higher education

• Experience mentoring engineering design projects in healthcare innovation or related fields

• Experience with medical technology design for settings with limited resources and underserved populations

• Experience transitioning medical technologies from research and development through clinical evaluation to production

• Experience with medical technology development and evaluation supporting regulatory approval processes

• Experience working on grant-funded programs and projects

• Experience working in a highly collaborative and multicultural environment

Skills:

• Ability to prioritize and manage complex workflows and reprioritize as needs change

• Exceptional attention to detail and deadline

• Ability to work under tight deadlines with flexibility, tact, sound judgment, discretion, and initiative

• Willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally

• Demonstrated sensitivity to low-resource settings and underserved communities

Essential Functions:

• Leads the development and implementation of major programs

• Collaborates with faculty and/or staff leadership to design programs and establish long-range strategic and operational plans

• Oversees the operations, administration, and evaluation of programs

• Identifies and implements program changes to ensure alignment with mission and program effectiveness

• Develops and implements strategies related to outreach, events, communications, development, partnerships, and fundraising

• Develops and manages financial and budgetary plans for programs, approves expenditures, and monitors spending

• For academic programs, may be responsible for graduate student recruitment and admissions, student records, curriculum support, accreditation coordination, scholarship and fellowship administration, and monitoring student progress

• May be responsible for grant preparation, submission, and research administration

• May teach a course, seminar, or workshop

• May supervise a small staff of up to three full-time employees

• Performs all other duties as assigned

Additional Functions / Information:

• Supports the strategic planning and development of the GHF technology portfolio, including:

  • Synchronizing plans for the clinical evaluation of projects

• Provides oversight and leadership to the Rice360 Global Health Fellows (GHF) cohort, including:

  • Managing the day-to-day activities of the GHF cohort

  • Supporting fellows in scheduling and preparing for clinical trials and partner-site visits, including coordination with the Rice360 IRB Administrator, to evaluate technology prototypes under development

  • Facilitating fellows’ use of best practices in project data collection and management

  • Providing fellows with guidance on data analysis and the documentation and synthesis of results

  • Providing fellows with guidance on planning, editing, and refining presentations, documentation, papers, and related materials

  • Preparing reports and analyses to assess the impact of program activities and recommending improvements

• Supports the administrative activities of the Rice360 Global Health Fellows (GHF) Program, including:

  • Assisting with showcasing technologies during Rice360 visitor tours, including preparing fellows for presentations and demonstrations

  • Assisting with event planning and logistics for workshops, boot camps, and training sessions

• Contributes to periodic technical reporting for granting agencies and sponsors, ensuring submissions are prepared well in advance and submitted by required deadlines

• May teach a course, seminar, or workshop

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