Director, University Events and Commencement

California State University, Long Beach; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 93,000 - 108,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Time Off

Health Coverage

Retirement Plans

Educational Benefits

EAP

Wellness programs

Job summary

CSULB is seeking a Director of University Events and Commencement to lead the university's signature ceremonies. You will plan, produce, and oversee on-site execution of high-profile events, manage budgets and vendors, and set standards for protocol and accessibility.

You will lead the events team, coordinate with senior leaders, donors, and officials, and ensure safe, inclusive ceremonies. A Bachelor's degree and 5 years of experience producing large events are required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
• 5 years of progressively responsible experience planning and producing large events.
• Experience supervising professional staff.

Responsibilities

• Plan, produce, and oversee on-site execution of high-profile events.
• Manage budgets and vendor relationships; set standards for protocol and accessibility.
• Lead the University Events and Commencement team and coordinate with senior leaders, donors, and officials.
• Drive multi-year event planning and ensure safe, inclusive ceremonies.

Skills

Event leadership

Budget management

Vendor management

Protocol & accessibility

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Director, University Events and Commencement

Job No: 563660

Work Type: Management (MPP)

Location: Southern California: Long Beach

Categories: Bargaining Unit: MPP, Appointment Type: At-Will,Time Basis: Full Time

Join the vibrant community at California State University, LongBeach (CSULB)! Located just three miles from the Pacific Ocean, CSULB offers aninspiring workplace and an exceptional Southern Californialifestyle. Our 322-acre campus-one of the largest in the CSUsystem-serves more than 42,000 students and is known for itscommitment to student success, innovation, and impactful academicand research initiatives. As a member of the CSULB community, you'll experience a dynamicenvironment filled with cultural landmarks, collaborative energy,and opportunities to make a meaningful difference. Work-life balance thrives here. Long Beach blends coastalrelaxation with urban vibrancy, offering miles of beaches,year-round sunshine, a thriving arts and food scene, and convenientaccess to both Los Angeles and Orange County. It's an ideal placeto grow your career while enjoying everything Southern Californiahas to offer. Join the California State University (CSU) and explore careeropportunities that advance student success and strengthenCalifornia's future-offering competitive compensation,comprehensive benefits, and professional growth.

Job Summary

The Director of University Events and Commencement providesstrategic and operational leadership for the university's signaturepresidential, ceremonial, and divisional events and overseesCSULB's commencement ceremonies. The Director personally plans,produces, and leads on-site execution of selected high-profileevents, including presidential receptions, major ceremonies, andevents involving distinguished guests. The Director also leads theUniversity Events and Commencement team, manages its budget andvendor relationships, and sets standards for how the universityhosts graduates, families, donors, elected officials, triballeaders, and community partners. Reporting to the Associate Vice President for University Relations,the Director serves as the university's senior event professionaland primary advisor on ceremony, protocol, and event execution. TheDirector exercises independent judgment on matters that affect theuniversity's reputation and works closely with the Office of thePresident, Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, Administration andFinance, and the seven colleges.

Key Responsibilities

• Presidential and signature university events: Provideleadership for the university's signature events portfolio, settingthe annual calendar and standards in consultation with seniorleaders. Oversee presidential and divisional events, advise onprotocol, and lead on-site delivery for events involving thePresident, trustees, elected officials, and principal donors.Ensure effective guest communications and sponsor recognition, anduse attendance, cost, and feedback measures to guide eventimprovements.
• Commencement oversight: Provide oversight of commencement forthe university's seven colleges, setting direction and approvingthe schedule, venue plan, budget, and major ceremony features. Holdthe staff and planning team accountable for milestones andoutcomes; guide the review committee; ensure consistent protocoland accessible ceremonies; and serve as the senior event officialduring commencement week.
• Team leadership and unit management: Lead the university eventsunit by supervising and developing unit staff and setting goals,priorities, and workloads for the broader team of staff, studentassistants, seasonal volunteers, and commencement ambassadors.Manage event intake and the university calendar, documentprocedures and templates, report on unit goals, and represent theunit on leadership and university committees.
• Budget, contracts, and vendor management: Manage budgets forcommencement, university events, and donor and stewardship events;oversee procurement, contracts, vendors, and compliance with CSUand CSULB requirements.
• Safety, risk, and compliance: Oversee event safety andemergency planning with campus and public safety partners, andensure events meet accessibility, university policy, insurance, andmedia-release requirements.

Department

University Relations

Duration of Appointment

This is a regular, at-will position.

Classification

Administrator II

Compensation

Salary placement is determined by the education, experience, andqualifications the candidate brings to the position, internalequity, and the hiring department's fiscal resources.

Hiring Range: The hiring range for this positionis $8,334 - $9,667.00 per month commensurate with candidate'seducation, experience, skills, and training.

Benefits

• Paid Time Off: Up to 24 vacation days per year(based on employee group and/or length of service), 14 paidholidays, and 12 sick days annually with unlimited accrual.
• Health Coverage: A variety of medical, dental,and vision plans.
• Retirement Plans: Participation in the CalPERSdefined benefit plan, along with voluntary savings options such as403(b), 401(k), and 457 plans.
• Educational Benefits: Tuition fee waiverprograms for eligible employees; dependent eligibility varies byemployee group and bargaining unit.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP):Confidential counseling and support services for employees andtheir families.
• Additional Benefits: Wellness programs,professional development opportunities, and insurance optionsincluding life, disability, and pet insurance.

Candidates are encouraged to review the appropriate CSU Employee Benefits Summary for details specific to their position. Additionally, the CSU Total Compensation Calculator is available to help prospective employees understand the full value of the CSU benefits package and how it complements base salary.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

The ideal candidate will have thorough knowledge of eventproduction, including staging, audiovisual, seating, crowd flow,ticketing, catering, and livestream including knowledge of academicceremony traditions and protocol, including processionals, regalia,platform party order, and order of precedence. Should also haveknowledge of accessibility requirements for public events and theability to design for them from the start. The ideal candidate willalso have the ability to lead, coach, and hold a team accountableduring sustained periods of high demand, the ability to manage amulti-year planning calendar and many concurrent projects withoutloss of detail, the ability to build consensus among deans,faculty, students, and administrators who hold different views ofthe same ceremony. The will also have the ability to read acontract, identify risk, and negotiate terms that protect theuniversity. Must have sound judgment and composure under pressure,including during disruptions, medical incidents, and weatherevents. Clear, direct writing and speaking, including briefings forthe President and Cabinet, discretion with confidential informationand with matters involving donors, officials, and honored guests,commitment to serving a diverse community of graduates andfamilies, many of whom are the first in their family to attend acommencement, and proficiency with Microsoft 365 and with eventregistration, guest management, and project management tools. Ability to communicate with an ethnically and culturally diversecampus community. Ability to follow all university policies,procedures, and guidelines including but not limited to safety,civility, information security, and non-discrimination policies andprocedures. Ability to contribute to a positive universityexperience for each and every student and assist in achieving theuniversity's commitment to a "vision of excellence."

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
• 5 years of progressively responsible experience planning andproducing large, complex events, including ceremonies or publicevents with audiences in the thousands. 3 years of experiencesupervising professional staff.

Licenses

• Driver license required.

Physical Summary

Medium work - Job involves lifting heavy weightobjects (20-40 pounds) and/or 20% - 40% of the job involvesstanding, squatting, kneeling, or walking. May require pushing orpulling objects within the weight limits.

Additional Information

CSULB is not a sponsoring agency for staff and management positions(i.e. H-1B Visas).

A background check (including a criminal records check) must becompleted satisfactorily and is required for employment. CSULB willmake a conditional offer of employment, which may be rescinded ifthe background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or itis discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsifiedinformation. Failure to satisfactorily complete the backgroundcheck may affect the continued employment of a current CSU employeewho was conditionally offered the position.

Due to the nature of this position, current CSULB employees aresubject to a criminal record check unless they have successfullycompleted a criminal background check through CSULB within the past12 months.

The person holding this position is considered a 'mandatedreporter' under the California Child Abuse and Neglect ReportingAct and is required to comply with the requirements set forth inCSU Executive Order 1083 Revised July 21, 2017 as a condition ofemployment.

Conflict of Interest

Conflict of Interest: The duties of this position will includeparticipation in decisions that may have a material financialbenefit to the incumbent. Therefore, the selected candidate will berequired to file Conflict of Interest Form 700: Statement ofEconomic Interest on an annual basis, complete ethics trainingwithin 6 months of appointment, and attend this training everyother year thereafter.

Equal Employment Statement

Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, CSULBprovides equal opportunity in employment without unlawfuldiscrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color,ethnicity, national origin, or other protected status. CSULBcomplies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX ofthe Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with DisabilitiesAct (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the CaliforniaEquity in Higher Education Act, California's Proposition 209 (Art.I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), other applicablestate and federal anti-discrimination laws, and CSU'sNondiscrimination Policy. We prohibit discriminatory preferentialtreatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status,and all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in alluniversity programs, policies, and practices.

California State University Long Beach expects respectful,professional behavior from its employees in all situations. Acts ofharassment or abusive conduct are prohibited. Demonstratedappropriate professional behavior, treating others with civilityand respect, and refusing to tolerate abusive conduct is expectedof all employees.

Accommodations

We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employeeswith disabilities. Applicants with questions about access orrequiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of theapplication or hiring process should [e-mail].

Out of State Employment Policy

As of January 1, 2022 the https://calstate.policystat.com/policy/10899725/latest/ CSU Out-of-State Employment Policy prohibits the hiring of employees to perform CSU-related work outside the state of California.

Application Closes: 15 November 2026