diff --git a/awx/main/models/events.py b/awx/main/models/events.py
index 96172641f6..a71d91a6b2 100644
--- a/awx/main/models/events.py
+++ b/awx/main/models/events.py
@@ -423,6 +423,16 @@ class BasePlaybookEvent(CreatedModifiedModel):
         except (KeyError, ValueError):
             kwargs.pop('created', None)
 
+        # same as above, for job_created
+        # TODO: if this approach, identical to above, works, can convert to for loop
+        try:
+            if not isinstance(kwargs['job_created'], datetime.datetime):
+                kwargs['job_created'] = parse_datetime(kwargs['job_created'])
+            if not kwargs['job_created'].tzinfo:
+                kwargs['job_created'] = kwargs['job_created'].replace(tzinfo=utc)
+        except (KeyError, ValueError):
+            kwargs.pop('job_created', None)
+
         host_map = kwargs.pop('host_map', {})
 
         sanitize_event_keys(kwargs, cls.VALID_KEYS)
diff --git a/awx/main/tasks.py b/awx/main/tasks.py
index 6d5a774d23..46edabbbe3 100644
--- a/awx/main/tasks.py
+++ b/awx/main/tasks.py
@@ -1290,7 +1290,7 @@ class BaseTask(object):
 
         # TODO: can we count on instance always having created?
         # If we can't how can we store the job_event?
-        self.job_created = self.instance.created
+        self.job_created = str(self.instance.created)
 
         try:
             self.instance.send_notification_templates("running")