Director, University Events and Commencement

Join the vibrant community at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB)!

Located just three miles from the Pacific Ocean, CSULB offers an inspiring workplace and an exceptional Southern California lifestyle. Our 322-acre campus—one of the largest in the CSU system—serves more than 42,000 students and is known for its commitment to student success, innovation, and impactful academic and research initiatives.

As a member of the CSULB community, you’ll experience a dynamic environment filled with cultural landmarks, collaborative energy, and opportunities to make a meaningful difference.

Work-life balance thrives here. Long Beach blends coastal relaxation with urban vibrancy, offering miles of beaches, year-round sunshine, a thriving arts and food scene, and convenient access to both Los Angeles and Orange County. It’s an ideal place to grow your career while enjoying everything Southern California has to offer.

Join the California State University (CSU) and explore career opportunities that advance student success and strengthen California’s future—offering competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and professional growth.

The Director of University Events and Commencement provides strategic and operational leadership for the university’s signature presidential, ceremonial, and divisional events and oversees CSULB’s commencement ceremonies. The Director personally plans, produces, and leads on-site execution of selected high-profile events, including presidential receptions, major ceremonies, and events involving distinguished guests. The Director also leads the University Events and Commencement team, manages its budget and vendor relationships, and sets standards for how the university hosts graduates, families, donors, elected officials, tribal leaders, and community partners.

Reporting to the Associate Vice President for University Relations, the Director serves as the university’s senior event professional and primary advisor on ceremony, protocol, and event execution. The Director exercises independent judgment on matters that affect the university’s reputation and works closely with the Office of the President, Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, Administration and Finance, and the seven colleges.

• →Presidential and signature university events: Provide leadership for the university’s signature events portfolio, setting the annual calendar and standards in consultation with senior leaders. Oversee presidential and divisional events, advise on protocol, and lead on-site delivery for events involving the President, trustees, elected officials, and principal donors. Ensure effective guest communications and sponsor recognition, and use attendance, cost, and feedback measures to guide event improvements.
• →Commencement oversight: Provide oversight of commencement for the university’s seven colleges, setting direction and approving the schedule, venue plan, budget, and major ceremony features. Hold the staff and planning team accountable for milestones and outcomes; guide the review committee; ensure consistent protocol and accessible ceremonies; and serve as the senior event official during commencement week.
• →Team leadership and unit management: Lead the university events unit by supervising and developing unit staff and setting goals, priorities, and workloads for the broader team of staff, student assistants, seasonal volunteers, and commencement ambassadors. Manage event intake and the university calendar, document procedures and templates, report on unit goals, and represent the unit on leadership and university committees.
• →Budget, contracts, and vendor management: Manage budgets for commencement, university events, and donor and stewardship events; oversee procurement, contracts, vendors, and compliance with CSU and CSULB requirements.
• →Safety, risk, and compliance: Oversee event safety and emergency planning with campus and public safety partners, and ensure events meet accessibility, university policy, insurance, and media-release requirements.

University Relations

This is a regular, at-will position.

Administrator II

The ideal candidate will have thorough knowledge of event production, including staging, audiovisual, seating, crowd flow, ticketing, catering, and livestream including knowledge of academic ceremony traditions and protocol, including processionals, regalia, platform party order, and order of precedence. Should also have knowledge of accessibility requirements for public events and the ability to design for them from the start. The ideal candidate will also have the ability to lead, coach, and hold a team accountable during sustained periods of high demand, the ability to manage a multi-year planning calendar and many concurrent projects without loss of detail, the ability to build consensus among deans, faculty, students, and administrators who hold different views of the same ceremony. The will also have the ability to read a contract, identify risk, and negotiate terms that protect the university. Must have sound judgment and composure under pressure, including during disruptions, medical incidents, and weather events. Clear, direct writing and speaking, including briefings for the President and Cabinet, discretion with confidential information and with matters involving donors, officials, and honored guests, commitment to serving a diverse community of graduates and families, many of whom are the first in their family to attend a commencement, and proficiency with Microsoft 365 and with event registration, guest management, and project management tools.

Ability to communicate with an ethnically and culturally diverse campus community.  Ability to follow all university policies, procedures, and guidelines including but not limited to safety, civility, information security, and non-discrimination policies and procedures.  Ability to contribute to a positive university experience for each and every student and assist in achieving the university's commitment to a "vision of excellence."

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.

• 5 years of progressively responsible experience planning and producing large, complex events, including ceremonies or public events with audiences in the thousands. 3 years of experience supervising professional staff.

• Driver license required.

Click “Apply Now” to complete the CSULB Online Employment Application.

Please fill out the application completely. It is important that all sections of the online application are completed fully and accurately. Be sure to include all relevant education and experience. Your application will be used to determine whether you meet the minimum qualifications for this position.

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

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 be completed satisfactorily and is required for employment. CSULB will make a conditional offer of employment, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current CSU employee who was conditionally offered the position.

Due to the nature of this position, current CSULB employees are subject to a criminal record check unless they have successfully completed a criminal background check through CSULB within the past 12 months.

The person holding this position is considered a 'mandated reporter' under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 Revised July 21, 2017 as a condition of employment.

Conflict of Interest: The duties of this position will include participation in decisions that may have a material financial benefit to the incumbent. Therefore, the selected candidate will be required to file Conflict of Interest Form 700: Statement of Economic Interest on an annual basis, complete ethics training within 6 months of appointment, and attend this training every other year thereafter.  

Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, CSULB provides equal opportunity in employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, national origin, or other protected status. CSULB complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws, and CSU’s Nondiscrimination Policy. We prohibit discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all university programs, policies, and practices.

California State University Long Beach expects respectful, professional behavior from its employees in all situations. Acts of harassment or abusive conduct are prohibited. Demonstrated appropriate professional behavior, treating others with civility and respect, and refusing to tolerate abusive conduct is expected of all employees.

We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact StaffHR-Accommodations@csulb.edu.

California State University, Long Beach, as part of the CSU system, is a State of California Employer. As such, the University requires all employees upon date of hire to reside in the State of California.

As of January 1, 2022 the CSU Out-of-State Employment Policy prohibits the hiring of employees to perform CSU-related work outside the state of California.

Advertised: Oct 31 2026 Pacific Daylight Time
Applications close: Nov 14 2026 Pacific Standard Time

Back to search results Apply now Refer a friend