Director of Financial Aid & Scholarships

Leads the Financial Aid & Scholarship (FAS) office, including creation of priorities, efficiency and effectiveness of staff and office procedures; consistent messaging; customer service; and processing.

Extensively collaborates with FAS staff leadership on best practices, policies and business process development, optimization, maintenance, and communication.

As a member of the leadership team, responsible for conducting the following activities on behalf of the Financial Aid function:

• Planning and Project Management: conducts short- and long-term planning exercises in support of enrollment goals and manages projects under the purview of this function.
• Policy and Procedure Development/Documentation: develops and maintains policies and procedures consistent with industry best practices.
• Quality Assurance and Effectiveness: develops and monitors key performance indicators (KPIs); produces activity and outcome reports; and course corrects efforts as needed.
• Subject Matter Expertise: serves as the subject matter expert in the Financial Aid & Scholarships domain for EM and the University community.
• Departmental Budget: Responsible for departmental budget and resource allocation.
• Regulatory Compliance: Ensures compliance with federal and state government aid programs (Title IV, CSAC, etc.) with the creation and maintenance of policies that support compliance, developing use of technology and data to create quality control and audit practices; and meeting all regulatory reporting requirements.
• Admissions & Recruitment: Collaborates extensively with Enrollment Management (EM) leadership, vendors, and other key stakeholders on the development and implementation of institutional aid strategies.
• Institutional Aid Strategy: Works with EM and University leadership to develop institutional aid strategies that will support student enrollment and retention goals and oversees the successful implementation of the institutional aid strategy.
• Committee Participation: Serves as lead representative for the Financial Aid & Scholarship office on University Committees.
• Endowed and Annual Scholarships: Liaisons with University Advancement and academic departments for purposes of awarding and maintenance of endowed and annual funds.
• Financial Aid Communications: Ensures that financial aid related information is communicated clearly and accurately across all mediums (web, print, email, student portals, etc.).
• Customer Service: Ensures timely, accurate, and clear customer service to prospective and current students and parents as they navigate the aid process from pre-application through graduation.
• Financial Aid Operations: Guides the timely and accurate packaging and disbursement of student aid and ensures the effective flow of information and documentation throughout the process.
• Key Collaborations: Collaborates extensively with external enterprise partners and internal academic and administrative colleagues in the aiding of students.
• Staff Management: Manages employees assigned to the team including hiring, on-boarding, training, oversight, and performance management.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Education: A Master’s degree from a four-year college or university and a minimum of ten years of professional experience working in financial aid. A Master’s degree in a job-related field may be substituted for one year of professional experience.
• Experience: Demonstrated successful and significant experience in financial aid including the ability to develop, implement and manage financial aid programs and provide leadership for the University and staff. Strong budgetary skills demonstrated by successful departmental fiscal management.
• Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities: Knowledge of best practices and latest trends in the student aid profession and actively participates in state, national, and regional financial aid associations. Ability to perform accurately in a detailed-oriented environment, handle multiple priorities, and organize and plan work projects. Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills as well as the ability to compose and appropriately format correspondence and reports. Thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of financial aid and the ability to apply knowledge to situations where precedents do not exist or are ambiguous. The ability to create solutions to student problems that integrate the full range of university resources. Must be sensitive to the needs of individuals while maintaining the legal and fiscal integrity of federal, state, and university aid programs. The ability to analyze complex situations and determine appropriate courses of action while engaged with students in personal interactions of a sensitive nature. The ability to work and communicate effectively with a diverse population of students, staff, faculty, the community and the ability to function as a member of the financial aid team. Ability to use standard office software including, but not limited to, the Microsoft Suite and student aid systems such as Oracle PeopleSoft, Common Origination and Disbursement (COD), WebGrants, NSLDS, FAFSA Processing System (FPS), Campus Logic, etc.

A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate can be offered a position with the CSU. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the application status of applicants or continued employment of current CSU employees who apply for the position.

The person holding this position is considered a ‘Campus Security Authority (CSA)’ to report crimes for the federally mandated Clery Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1107 revised March 24, 2017 as a condition of employment.

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 as a condition of employment.

This position may be "Designated" under California State University’s Conflict of Interest Code. This would require the filing of a Statement of Economic Interest on an annual basis and the completion of training within 6 months of assuming office and every 2 years thereafter.

Please note: California State University, Channel Islands (CSUCI) is not currently sponsoring staff or management positions for H-1B employment visas. Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the United States.

California State University Channel Islands is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, medical condition, disability, marital status, or protected veteran status.

Should you require a reasonable accommodation in the application and/or interview process, please contact Human Resources Programs (805) 437-8490.