Associate Director, Student Practice and Clinical Instructor

Details•San Diego, CA

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The Associate Director provides leadership for the Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice’s practice-based learning infrastructure, serving as a bridge between academic instruction and applied peace practice. The role is responsible for designing and launching experiential learning systems from the ground up—including frameworks, curricula, assessment approaches, and external partnerships—that enable students to engage in rigorous, ethically grounded practice. This hybrid position combines administrative program leadership, external relationship development, and instructional responsibilities (including credit-bearing courses that provide academic and reflective scaffolding for practice placements). The incumbent manages experiential programs, cultivates regional partners, and establishes processes and metrics to ensure quality, compliance, and measurable outcomes. This is a builder role suited to an educator-practitioner with an entrepreneurial orientation who can translate vision into sustainable institutional systems.

Requirements

Master’s degree in a relevant field such as peace and conflict studies, international relations, public policy, education, law, or a related discipline.
At least three years of progressively responsible professional experience in peacebuilding, human rights, development, social impact, and/or related applied practice.
Demonstrated experience designing or managing experiential learning or professional practice programs.
Ability to develop and teach multiple, for-credit graduate courses that integrate applied learning, reflective practice, and ethical engagement, including designing syllabi, assessment strategies, and classroom facilitation approaches appropriate for diverse professional learners.
Ability to teach multiple, for-credit courses at the graduate level.
Strong communication, organizational, and relationship-building skills.

Nice To Haves

Terminal degree (PhD, JD, or equivalent) in a relevant field.
Five or more years of related experience as described above is preferred.
Demonstrated experience in program design, startup, or institutional innovation - creating new initiatives and systems rather than inheriting existing ones.
Experience teaching or mentoring graduate students in a university setting.
Proven experience designing and delivering experiential or clinical learning environments that integrate applied practice with academic rigor.
Experience cultivating and managing partnerships with NGOs, government agencies, community organizations, and the private sector.
Proven ability to reflect on and document practice-based learning—through presentations, reports, or publications that advance the theory and practice of experiential education.
Familiarity with peacebuilding and social impact sectors in the San Diego–Tijuana region.
Binational or bicultural experience and the ability to work effectively in both U.S. and Mexican professional contexts.
Bilingual (English/Spanish)

Responsibilities

Program Leadership and Development Lead the design, launch, and ongoing management of new experiential learning programs that connect students with community partners across the greater San Diego–Tijuana region. This is a program-building role that is responsible for creating new frameworks and partnerships rather than maintaining an existing program. Build and manage relationships with NGOs, government agencies, and community organizations to create structured placement opportunities for students in credit-bearing practica and externships. Design and oversee systems for partner onboarding, student matching, and performance evaluation. Ensure compliance with university and industry standards for experiential learning, risk management, and partner engagement, and maintain consistent quality and accountability across all placements.
Instruction and Pedagogical Integration Design and teach at least two credit-bearing courses focused on professional practice, reflective learning, and ethical engagement. Based on program growth and instructional needs, the Associate Director may also develop and teach additional practicum or field based courses. Collaborate with faculty across the Kroc School to integrate applied learning into existing courses and develop shared resources and best practices for experiential and clinical education.
Student Advising and Support In collaboration with the Assistant Director of Employer Relations and Career & Professional Development, advise students on professional placements, readiness, and development of practice competencies. Provide ongoing mentorship and feedback to ensure high-quality learning experiences and professional growth.
Partnership Management and External Engagement Serve as primary liaison to community partners, ensuring relationships are reciprocal and sustainable. Represent the Kroc School at regional convenings related to peace practice, experiential learning, and social impact education.
Institutional Integration and Continuous Improvement Collaborate with faculty, staff, and administrators to align practice-based learning with broader academic goals. Lead assessment and reporting on experiential learning outcomes; contribute to applied research, presentations, or publications that advance the field of peace and justice education.