Associate Director of Student Life Events, Wharton School

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Associate Director of Student Life Events, Wharton School

Associate Director D, Arts and Media, Events

Founded in 1881 as the world’s first collegiate business school, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania is shaping the future of business by incubating ideas, driving insights, and creating leaders who change the world. With campuses in both Philadelphia and San Francisco, Wharton has over 850 staff, a faculty population of more than 235 renowned professors, and 5,000 undergraduate, MBA, executive MBA, and doctoral students.

Each year 13,000 professionals from around the world advance their careers through Wharton Executive Education’s individual, company‑customized, and online programs. More than 104,000 Wharton alumni form a powerful global network of leaders who transform business every day. Wharton is home to a diverse population of staff, representing a rich array of backgrounds, expertise, and cultures. To learn more, visit (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..edu

The Associate Director of MBA Student Life designs and implements comprehensive, inclusive, and engaging extra‑curricular programming for over 1,600 Wharton MBA students. Reporting to the Senior Associate Director of Student Life, the Associate Director leads the planning, coordination, and execution of all departmental events, student‑led conferences, and major co‑curricular initiatives. This role serves as the primary liaison to Wharton Events and collaborates extensively with colleagues across the Graduate Division and the broader School on large‑scale, high‑profile programs such as Welcome to Wharton, Preterm, Graduation, and school‑wide celebrations.

The Associate Director provides logistical leadership and strategic direction for event execution, ensuring seamless coordination across multiple stakeholders and units.

Responsibilities include overseeing event operations from concept to completion, including venue selection, vendor management, risk and compliance, budgeting, and on‑site logistics. The Associate Director also develops planning resources and best practices for student leaders, ensuring consistent quality and alignment with institutional priorities.

The role emphasizes strategic event planning, relationship management, and data‑driven decision‑making to enhance student engagement and ensure operational excellence. This position offers a hybrid work arrangement, balancing onsite and remote work.

• Bachelor’s degree required; master’s degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs, or related field strongly preferred.
• 5–7 years of progressively responsible experience in student life, event management, or a related field, ideally within a higher education setting.
• Demonstrated…