Assistant Director, Events Management

Position Title & Department:

 Assistant Director, Events Management; Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies Posting #

5464

Department Description:

The Kroc School of Peace Studies trains the changemakers and peacebuilders of today and tomorrow.  Kroc is the first stand-alone school of peace in the United States. Innovation in learning and programs is at the center of what we do and who we are. We combine theory and practice not just to understand crises and world issues, but also to imagine new possibilities and develop solutions to humanity’s urgent challenges from increasing inequality and violence to climate change. At Kroc, people discover new ways of building more peaceful and socially just communities through a multidisciplinary lens and experiential learning. We look for passionate individuals who believe in the power of university learning to transform the world for the better.

University Description:

The University of San Diego, an engaged and contemporary Catholic institution, was founded by the Diocese of San Diego and the Society of the Sacred Heart in 1949. Governed by an independent board of trustees since 1972, USD remains committed to a liberal arts education grounded in the Catholic intellectual tradition and the pursuit of truth, goodness and beauty. Inspired by this centuries old tradition of Catholic higher education, the University welcomes people of all faith traditions and any, or no, religious background. The future success of USD relies on the contributions of those who seek to foster the development of engaged global citizens and an earnest confrontation of humanity’s urgent challenges.

Detailed Description:

The Assistant Director, Events Management oversees the Kroc School of Peace Studies’ schoolwide events portfolio, including programs hosted by the Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice (IPJ) and the Center for Restorative Justice (CRJ). The position plans, coordinates, and executes end-to-end delivery of flagship public programs, academic convenings, student and faculty events, donor and VIP engagements, and internal milestones in alignment with School priorities. The role develops event concepts and engagement plans, prepares budgets, manages vendors and contracts, and directs on-site production to ensure high-quality experiences. The incumbent works collaboratively with faculty and staff partners, exercises sound judgment, and maintains excellent service standards in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment. Creativity, diplomacy, and operational excellence are essential to success. 

Duties and Responsibilities:

Strategic Events Planning and Management 

• Leads the design, scheduling, and end-to-end production of major Kroc School, CRJ, and IPJ events (e.g., Distinguished Lecture Series, Kroc Pot discussions, academic convenings). 
• Aligns event objectives with School strategy to elevate reputation and advance engagement goals. 
• Coordinates with the Dean, IPJ Executive Director, CRJ co-directors, Marketing, and Advancement to utilize events for cultivation, stewardship, and alumni/community engagement. 
• Implement and execute pre- and post-event touchpoints (briefing notes, seating charts, talking points, follow-up communications).
• Tracks event-related interactions and outcomes in the University’s CRM to inform nextstep strategies. 
• Establishes and tracks event success metrics (attendance, satisfaction, pipeline/activity generation, etc.) and conducts post-event assessments for continuous improvement. 
• Ensures compliance with University policies, accessibility standards, and risk management protocols. 
• Other duties as assigned by the Dean.

Communications and Branding Integration 

• Partners with University Advancement and Communications to deliver cohesive, onbrand event campaigns across the web, email, social media, and print.
• Oversees creative briefs, invitations, run-of-show content, web pages/registrations, and media coordination.
• Maintains editorial and visual standards; monitors campaign performance and optimizes reac