Director, Financial Aid and Scholarships

This positions responsibilities are carried out with minimal direction. Develops procedures manages resources supervises professional staff and ensures achievement of program objectives. The incumbent independently determines and develops approaches to solutions within functional policy and organizational guidelines. Work is reviewed upon completion for effectiveness in achieving program objectives and alignment with divisional goals. The incumbent is responsible for providing strategic leadership and operational oversight of the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office directing the administration of federal state institutional and scholarship financial aid programs. As a member of the Strategic Enrollment Management leadership team the incumbent ensures compliance with applicable regulations oversees financial aid policies and operations collaborates with campus and external partners and supports institutional enrollment and student success goals.

• Provide leadership and strategic vision for the Financial Aid & Scholarship Office establishing goals priorities and operational strategies that support university enrollment management and student success.
• Lead long-range planning and continuous improvement initiatives to ensure operational effectiveness regulatory readiness and exceptional student service.
• Direct personnel administration including recruitment selection performance management employee development succession planning and supervision.
• Allocate and manage departmental staffing workload and resources to achieve operational compliance and service objectives.
• Assess departmental performance identify organizational risks recommend solutions to executive leadership and implement corrective actions.
• Stay informed of emerging legislation funding changes and industry trends directing implementation of required operational and policy changes.
• Serve as a member of university leadership committees and contribute to institutional strategic planning initiatives.
• Provide executive oversight for compliance with federal state CSU NCAA and university financial aid regulations policies and reporting requirements.
• Interpret complex regulatory requirements and direct the implementation of institutional financial aid policies procedures and internal controls.
• Direct financial aid compliance reviews audits reporting activities and corrective action plans including oversight of FISAP Program Participation Agreement (PPA) FAADB A-133 audits and other required submissions.
• Exercise delegated authority to approve complex Professional Judgment determinations and other exceptions requiring Director-level review.
• Direct administration of the Financial Aid Office operating budget trust funds and fiscal resources while ensuring sound stewardship and compliance with university financial policies.
• Direct daily operations of the Financial Aid & Scholarship Office to ensure timely awarding disbursement compliance and student service.
• Provide executive oversight of enterprise financial aid systems including PeopleSoft Campus Solutions and federal and state processing systems such as NSLDS COD FAFSA Partner Portal NSC and WebGrants.
• Lead process improvement initiatives that enhance operational efficiency regulatory compliance and service delivery.
• Monitor departmental productivity and operational performance using data and assessment measures to improve effectiveness and achieve institutional objectives.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with the U.S. Department of Education officials California Student Aid Commission officials and related government and community agencies.
• Represent the university as a member of the system-wide Financial Aid Directors Group.
• Ensure collaborative working relationships are maintained with a variety of university departments including the Enrollment Services Office Student Financial Services Admissions Academic Advising and Cashiers.
• Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with the U.S. Department of Education California Student Aid Commission CSU Chancellors Office and other governmental and community organizations.
• Represent the university on CSU systemwide Financial Aid Directors groups professional associations and external committees.
• Collaborate with Enrollment Services Student Financial Services Admissions Academic Advising Housing the Registrar Cashiers and other campus partners to support enrollment management and student success initiatives.
• Serve as the final administrative authority for complex student complaints appeals and sensitive financial aid issues escalated beyond subordinate staff.
• Develop partnerships with community organizations and educational agencies to promote financial aid awareness and improve access to higher education.
• May be required to obtain additional training and/or certification as part of professional development based on department and/or campus needs to stay current with industry standards.
• At the direction of appropriate administrator may provide support to other areas as needed.
• The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar related a logical assignment to this classification or if it involves performing duties of a lower-level classification as required.
• Other duties as assigned.

Experience:Five (5) years progressively responsible experience; significant supervisory responsibility. Additional progressively responsible experience directly related to the duties of the position may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis.

• Five (5) to Eight (8) years of progressively responsible leadership experience in financial aid administration enrollment management or a related higher education student services function.
• Masters degree in Higher Education Administration Student Affairs Business or relevant field.
• Prior experience in a CSU or higher education setting.
• Experience providing strategic leadership and management of a comprehensive financial aid operation in a higher education environment.
• Experience interpreting and administering complex federal state and institutional financial aid regulations including Title IV programs.
• Experience with budget administration policy development strategic planning and organizational change management.
• Experience using enterprise student information systems (e.g. PeopleSoft Campus Solutions) and financial aid technologies to improve operational effectiveness compliance and student service.

• Thorough knowledge of the principles practices and procedures of the assigned functional area.
• Knowledge of university governance structures and organizational processes.
• Knowledge of applicable federal state and CSU policies regulations and collective bargaining agreements.
• Ability to independently interpret and implement policies and recommend procedural improvements.
• Ability to analyze complex problems and develop effective solutions.
• Ability to develop and manage budgets and financial resources.
• Ability to supervise professional staff and where applicable subordinate supervisors.
• Ability to apply labor agreements and advise on employee relations matters.
• Demonstrated ability to plan coordinate and evaluate program effectiveness.
• Skill in data analysis reporting and operational assessment.
• Ability to communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to foster a collaborative and inclusive work environment.

California State University Stanislaus serves the San Joaquin Valley and is a critical educational resource for a six-county region of approximately 1.5 million people. The University is fully committed to creating a culture of diversity and inclusion one in which every person in the University community feels safe to express their views without fear of reprisal. Widely recognized for its quality academic programs the University has 10 nationally accredited programs and 662 faculty members. 94 percent of full-time faculty holds doctorates or terminal degrees in their fields. The University offers 43 undergraduate majors 16 masters programs 7 post-graduate credentials a doctorate in education and serves more than 10000 students. New instructional facilities have been built for the unique pedagogy of professional programs laboratory sciences and performing arts.

Stanislaus State continues to receive national recognition with its ranking as one of the best 384 colleges in the nation by The Princeton Review. The University was one of 12 public universities in the nation to be recognized by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities for demonstrating exceptional performance in retention and graduation addition U.S. News and World Report ranks Stanislaus State in its top 10 among public universities in the West while Washington Monthly honored Stanislaus State as the Wests No. 1 university for the money. Stanislaus State also is recognized as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) by the U.S. Department of Education.

Clery Act Disclosure

Pursuant to theJeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Actthe annual security report (ASR) is now available for viewing at The ASR contains the current security and safety-related policy statements emergency preparedness and evacuation information crime prevention and sexual assault prevention information and drug and alcohol prevention programming. The ASR also contains statistics of Clery Act crimes for Stanislaus State for the previous three years. A paper copy of the ASR is available upon request by contacting the office of the Clery Director located at One University Circle Turlock CA 95382.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The university is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against persons on the basis of race religion color ancestry age disability genetic information gender gender identity gender expression marital status medical condition national origin sex sexual orientation covered veteran status or any other protected status. All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply. 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 revised 7/21/17 as a condition of employment.

Applicants requiring necessary accommodations to the application process may contact the Human Resources Department at . California Relay Service is available at voice and a federal contractor we are committed to attracting a diverse applicant pool. Please consider completing the Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability form (your response will not be shared with the search committee) at:Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability PDF Form.

CSU Stanislaus hires only individuals lawfully authorized to work in the United compliance with federal law all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire.

The CSU is a state entity whose business operations reside within the State of California. The CSU prohibits hiring employees to perform CSU-related work outside California.

The individuals who appear to be the best qualified for this position will be contacted by telephone or email for an interview.

INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE