Housekeeper - Wiess President's House

Rice University is a prestigious private research university located in Houston, Texas, renowned for its rigorous academic programs and close-knit community. Situated on a sprawling 300-acre tree-lined campus, Rice is consistently ranked among the top 20 national universities by U.S. News & World Report. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 6-to-1, the university fosters personalized academic engagement and offers a unique residential college system. This system supports students intellectually, emotionally, and culturally through diverse social events, intramural sports, theatrical productions, lecture series, a wide array of courses, and active student government. The community spirit and commitment to quality of life have earned Rice high rankings among private universities for both living standards and value.

Rice University extends its values—Responsibility, Integrity, Community, and Excellence—to everyone on campus, including faculty, staff, and students. This shared value system helps create a welcoming, respectful, and supportive environment for all members of the Rice family and its visitors.

The Housekeeper position at Rice University involves a multifaceted role based at the Wiess President’s House, the official residence of the University President. This unique role combines the responsibilities of maintaining a pristine and orderly private home environment with the demands of supporting professional university events held at the residence. The Housekeeper ensures that the President’s home upholds the highest standards of cleanliness, presentation, and hospitality at all times.

This role is ideal for an individual who is detail-oriented, discreet, and committed to excellence. The Housekeeper is responsible for the careful upkeep of the home’s fine furnishings and delicate surfaces, as well as providing support for event preparations and hosting. The ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise excellent judgment is imperative, given the high-profile nature of the residence and the President’s family. Flexibility is essential, as the position requires adapting to the variable schedule associated with hosting university events, including evening, weekend, and holiday functions.

This part-time, benefits-eligible role offers an hourly wage range of $24.00 to $26.00, depending on qualifications and experience, and is classified as non-exempt with eligibility for overtime. The standard work schedule consists primarily of Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, with precise shift timings set by the President and Mrs. DesRoches. Due to the essential nature of this role, all duties must be performed in person at the residence.

The Housekeeper is an integral member of the household staff, working collaboratively to maintain the organization of supplies and inventory, assist with laundry including care of fine linens, and support event setup and cleanup. Additional responsibilities include assisting catering staff during events, seasonal decoration duties, and inventory reporting. Physical demands include standing, walking, bending, and lifting up to 30 pounds, necessitating good physical stamina and adherence to safety protocols.

This is a unique opportunity to join a vibrant academic community and contribute to maintaining the prestigious official residence in a role that blends high standards of residential housekeeping with hospitality and event support. Rice University values diversity and inclusiveness, offering reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities and committing to equal employment opportunity for all qualified candidates.