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Company: Rice University, TX - Remote
Job Title:

JDHuntr - Assistant General Counsel $175K - $205K - Hybrid (Apply by:9.2.2026)

Job Category: General Corporate / Education [ View All General Corporate Jobs ]
Job Reference: 88918
Job description:
In the Office of General Counsel, we serve a preeminent research university whose excellence is established and whose ambitions are courageous, transformational, and global. To help us serve the university's bright future, we are expanding the office to add an Assistant General Counsel who will provide legal advice and trusted counsel on philanthropic gifts, donations, contracts, and policies to development leadership, fundraisers, and other colleagues, and who will communicate on the university's behalf with prospects, advisors, donors, and donor families. Reporting to the Vice President and General Counsel, with a dotted-line relationship to the Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations (DAR), the attorney will advise across the campus-wide fundraising enterprise, collaborating with frontline fundraisers and leadership in DAR and with each school, institute, and unit. The attorney will also develop and maintain relationships within the Office of the General Counsel, the university's Treasury Office, and the university's Management Company, the university's endowment office.

Assistant General Counsel 6094
Location: Houston, TX
Job Type: Full time

Essential Functions:
Drafts complex pledge and gift agreements and liaises with RMC.
Supports the work of development officers in closing complex gift arrangements and works with external advisors and Rice officials to complete gift documents.
Drafts endowment agreements when donor interests or gift situations require unique or complex solutions, especially those involving restrictions on use or designation.
Assists in responding to donor, advisor, and fundraiser questions regarding the Long-Term Pool, including the timing of additions, distributions, taxes and assessments, investment returns, and other related matters.
Provides advice regarding fund accounting and reporting.
Liaises with RMC regarding acceptance and appropriate liquidation strategies for gifts of complex business interests.
Enhances campus-wide risk management as it relates to development activities.
Oversees and manages a reputational risk assessment and review process.
Creates, oversees, and manages a standardized gift agreement template and review process across the university.
Provides gift planning, estate, and trust administration support.
Assists in drafting charitable remainder trust and charitable gift annuity agreements and related documents and negotiates those agreements with donors and their advisors.
Provides advice regarding potential tax implications to donors and the university associated with gifts that have complex or unusual structures.
Represents the university in routine probate and trust administration matters.
Provides strategic advice for charitable trust and deferred-giving programs.
Assists in developing, refining, and interpreting gift-planning guidelines and policies.
Reviews marketing materials as needed to ensure technical accuracy and appropriate clarity regarding the role of gift planners versus professional advisors.
Leads the Gift Policy Committee.
Conducts due diligence on proposed gifts of privately held assets and other intangible personal property.
Assists the Real Estate Office in conducting due diligence on proposed gifts of real estate.
Assists the Executive Director of Gift Planning with evaluating proposed gifts of life insurance, intellectual property, and outdoor objects.
Works closely with colleagues in the Office of General Counsel (OGC).
Successfully communicates and translates the interests of fundraising and alumni offices across campus to colleagues in OGC.
Collaborates with colleagues in OGC to establish, review, and update university policies and procedures that affect development efforts, such as naming approval requirements, memorial gift policies, and gift acceptance and disposition procedures.
Works closely with the Data Services team in DAR.
Coordinates and oversees the drafting and revision of gift receipt templates and other donor-facing materials and assists in revising policies and procedures.
Assists in determining how to receive, liquidate, record, value, and process gifts of complex assets.
Collaborates regarding international fundraising.
Provides advice to fundraisers regarding international gifts, identifying potential issues and solutions.
Oversees the creation and management of appropriate entities and/or vehicles for the receipt of offshore gifts and oversees engagement with third parties to accept offshore gifts as needed.
Collaborates regarding fundraising campaigns.
Drafts campaign-counting guidelines and interprets their application.
Drafts matching gift rule sets.
Performs all other duties as assigned, including, for example, the negotiation, drafting, and revision of contracts and proposed contracts in the interest of the university.

Additional Functions:
Requires extensive contact within the university at all levels, including senior administration
Requires extensive contact outside the university with donors, alumni, parents, and friends of Rice University, as well as financial advisors, accountants, and attorneys
Some travel may be required, typically not exceeding 5% and very unlikely to exceed 10% of work time.

Minimum Requirements:
J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school
2+ years of experience as a practicing attorney
Demonstrated experience in major, planned, and principal gift fundraising, including experience working with financial advisors, accountants, and attorneys
Either: (a) An active license to practice law in Texas, or (b) an active license to practice law in another U.S. jurisdiction and the ability to become licensed in Texas at the earliest opportunity

Skills:
Commitment to Rice University’s mission
Demonstrated ability to handle multiple complex fundraising activities simultaneously and coordinate solicitation strategies in a decentralized environment
Collegiality, a willingness to support colleagues, and a commitment to the multicultural, multinational environment of a major research university
Commitment to providing expeditious, high-quality service to clients and dedication to working the hours required to meet those expectations
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Strong attention to detail
Advanced problem-solving skills
Strong organizational and time management skills
High level of creativity, initiative, and motivation
Ability to work well under pressure and manage projects simultaneously
Team orientation and willingness to set an example through effective leadership
Ability to work independently and as part of a team to meet expected deadlines and schedules
Adept at problem-solving, creating contingency plans, and handling issues when necessary
Strong interest in and commitment to sharing knowledge with colleagues through effective training programs

Preferences:
MBA degree
3+ years of experience in major, planned, and principal gift fundraising with an institution of higher education and/or a mission-oriented nonprofit organization
Ability to demonstrate good judgment in dynamic situations
High emotional intelligence and the ability to think strategically
Demonstrated experience with Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint)
Proficiency with a fundraising CRM and a strong data-driven orientation

Hiring Range
This is a full-time, benefits-eligible position, and the hiring salary is $175,000 - $205,000, contingent on experience and qualifications. Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime.

Assistant General Counsel
$175,000 - $205,000

Rice University

88918
Company: Rice University
Skills:
Employment type: Full Time, Remote
Salary: $175,000 - $205,000
 
Other Information
 
Degree: JD
Experience (year): Unspecified
Job Location: Houston, TX - Remote USA
Zip/Postal Code: 99694
Post Date: 08/19/2026
 
More Details: Click here to read more about this job.
 
Contact Information
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