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Assistant Director, Student Engagement, Events & Experiences

Pacific University Student Affairs

, Oregon

Assistant Director, Student Engagement, Events & Experiences

Pacific University Student Affairs

, Oregon
 
Salary: Other
 
Employment Term: Full time
 
Country: United States
 

Shape first impressions, build lasting traditions, and design experiences that connect students from day one.

The Assistant Director of Student Engagement, Events & Experiences provides leadership for signature campus programs, traditions, and experiential opportunities for undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. This position oversees major campus events, orientation programs, equipment rental services, and transfer student engagement initiatives. The Assistant Director ensures students have access to meaningful experiences, supports collaboration across departments and community partners, and delivers high-quality, engaging programs that enhance student life and foster a connected campus community.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS- MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES
Signature Events & Traditions

  • Plan, coordinate and oversee signature departmental events, including orientations, annual traditions, and other major campus engagement initiatives.

  • Lead logistics, budgeting, vendor coordination, and execution of events and experiential programs, including orientation, outdoor adventures, and campus-wide engagement initiatives.

  • Partner with campus and community organizations to expand experiential learning and co-curricular opportunities for students.

  • Evaluate and assess events and programs to improve quality, student learning and satisfaction, and impact

Orientation & Experiential Program

  • Lead undergraduate orientation programs, collaborating with faculty, staff, and student leaders to provide engaging, informative, and student-centered experiences.

  • Serve on graduate orientation planning committees, contributing expertise on programming, student engagement, and event coordination.

  • Coordinate transfer student programs and engagement opportunities, ensuring connection, access, and community-building for these populations.

  • Plan, coordinate, and expand experiential learning opportunities that connect students with the Pacific Northwest’s natural, cultural, and community resources, including local outdoor adventures, cultural outings, and place-based experiences that foster wellness, leadership development, and community-building.

  • Manage outdoor adventure equipment rentals, providing students with safe and accessible resources for recreational and experiential activities

Faculty and Staff Guidance

  • Provide guidance and training to faculty and staff on best practices in event planning, experiential learning, and student engagement initiatives.

  • Collaborate with campus partners to support effective co-curricular programming, student leadership involvement, and high-quality event delivery.

  • Mentor staff in developing, implementing, and assessing programs that create meaningful student experiences.

​​​​​​​Cross-Unit Collaboration & Coordination

  • Actively promote and participate in cross-unit collaboration and cross-training among department and division staff, ensuring coordinated service delivery and shared expertise for campus-wide programs.

  • Lead or support task forces, committees, and cross-campus working groups focused on student engagement, event planning, leadership development, and experiential learning, ensuring integration and alignment across the division and university.

  • Partner with internal and external stakeholders to develop innovative programming and create collaborative engagement opportunities.

Policy, Procedures & Program Oversight

  • Develop, implement, and maintain policies, procedures, and operational guidelines for events, traditions, orientation, and experiential programs, ensuring consistency, continuity, and risk management.

  • Oversee budgets, contracts, and resources for signature events and programs, ensuring sustainability, efficiency, and compliance.

  • Assess program outcomes and provide reporting and recommendations to leadership to inform improvements and long-term planning

SECONDARY FUNCTIONS

  • Participate in Student Affairs after-hours on-call rotation as scheduled.

  • Provide ongoing guidance or intervention to students in specific cases as directed by supervisor, or through the Care Team (the university’s behavioral intervention team) or campus climate processes.

  • Serve on university and divisional committees, task forces, and hiring committees as needed.

  • Provide timely and accurate reports and information as requested.

  • Contribute to divisional strategic planning, staff training, and professional development initiatives.

  • Provide backup support to Student Affairs colleagues as needed.

  • Identify and implement innovative practices to enhance the student experience.

  • Perform other related duties as assigned.

 

JOB SCOPE:

The Assistant Director of Student Engagement performs duties with a high level of professional autonomy and programmatic responsibility, operating within university policies and reporting to the Director of Student Engagement & Inclusion. The position is responsible for the planning, implementation, supervision, and assessment of assigned student engagement programs, services, and initiatives within a specific functional area. Decisions have meaningful operational and student-impact implications and are made independently or in consultation with the Director, as appropriate. The Assistant Director is expected to contribute to strategic planning, develop and maintain policies and procedures, manage program budgets, and collaborate across the division and university to support student success, effective operations, and institutional priorities.

SUPERVISOR RESPONSIBILITY 

Supervises Support-Level Staff: This position supervises several support-level student workers, interns, and/or graduate assistant roles, and is responsible for scheduling, task delegation, and evaluating performance.

Qualifications

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

  • Bachelor’s degree
  • Minimum 3 years of experience with event planning, orientation planning, and/or student activities 

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS  

  • Excellent customer service and successful written and verbal communication with a broad and diverse audience in a culturally responsive manner
  • Ability to maintain confidential, detailed records.
  • Proficient in the use of common office software, spreadsheets, email, databases, and electronic platforms.
  • Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with people in a wide range of roles.
  • Demonstrates critical thinking skills in problem solving and decision-making.
  • Ability to build and sustain rich collaborative relationships with university staff, students, and university partners of diverse backgrounds.
  • Ability to prioritize and perform multiple projects, track data, meet timelines, respond to others in a timely manner, and work both independently and as a collaborative member of the University with a high standard of integrity and ethics, in support of the University’s strategic vision and the division’s annual goals.
  • Able to make independent decisions and recommendations that align with policies, rules, and procedures; ability to ask questions and seek assistance when needed.
  • Able to handle a variety of tasks in a fast-paced environment, working independently and/or as part of a team.

 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Master’s degree in related field (e.g. higher education, student affairs, recreation management, event management, or similar).

  • 4 or more years of experience with event planning, orientation planning, and/or student activities

  • Experience facilitating educational workshops about student leadership and/or inclusion-related topics

  • Supervision experience

  • Spanish language skills/abilities.

 

WORKING CONDITIONS

Work Setting: This is a full-time, in-person (not remote) position based primarily on the Forest Grove Campus, with frequent work on the Hillsboro campus.

About Pacific University Student Affairs

Pacific University’s Enrollment Management & Student Affairs team is excited to connect with professionals who are passionate about student engagement, belonging, and holistic wellbeing. At our booth, we are primarily recruiting for the Assistant Director, Student Engagement, Events & Experiences role—a dynamic position that leads signature campus programs, traditions, orientation, and transfer student initiatives on our Forest Grove campus.

This role is ideal for someone who thrives in creating meaningful student experiences, building community through large-scale events, and shaping programs that support student connection and success from day one through graduation. The Assistant Director will play a key role in defining the student experience at a growing institution committed to equity, care, and innovation.

In addition to this featured opportunity, Pacific University is in an exciting period of growth across Student Affairs. We are expanding our team with several complementary roles focused on inclusion, operations, and student wellbeing. While our primary focus at this event is the Events & Experiences position, we’re happy to share more about these additional opportunities and how they collectively contribute to a collaborative, student-centered division.

Located in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, Pacific University offers a supportive environment where professionals can do meaningful work, contribute to a just and caring campus community, and grow alongside dedicated colleagues. If you’re looking to make a tangible impact on student life and help shape transformative experiences, we encourage you to stop by, learn more, and connect with our team.