Systemwide Associate Director of Financial Aid Programs - CSU - Another Source

Elevate your career with the California State University Chancellor’s Office as the Systemwide Associate Director of Financial Aid Programs. Based in Long Beach, CA, enjoy the hybrid flexibility of working two days on-site and contributing remotely the rest of the week. This pivotal role offers a unique opportunity to make a systemwide impact, working across all 23 CSU campuses. Leveraging systems such as PeopleSoft and Tableau, you'll manage, analyze, and report on financial aid data, ensuring accuracy and meeting state & national reporting requirements. You'll also be the CSU's financial aid guru, providing expert guidance to campuses and spearheading policy development. Step into a role where you can lead a team to support nearly 460,000 students, fostering educational opportunities and powering the future of California and beyond.

Apply today to be part of a transformative team that values innovation, integrity, and inclusivity!

Another Source’s client, California State University Chancellor’s Office, is recruiting a Systemwide Associate Director, Financial Aid Programs to join their team in Long Beach, CA. This position will have the hybrid flexibility working onsite 2 days each week. 

Here’s a little about CSU Chancellor’s Office and the position they are recruiting for:  

Did you know?  The CSU is the nation’s largest four-year public university system, providing transformational opportunities for upward mobility to nearly 460,000 students from all socioeconomic backgrounds— nearly one-third of whom are the first in their families to attend college. Its 23 universities, which stretch from Cal Poly Humboldt in the north to San Diego State in the south, prepare students for life-changing careers and power California and the nation.  The CSU recently welcomed Dr. Mildred Garcia as the CSU’s 11th Chancellor and as the first-ever Latina to lead the university system.  

Learn more about California State University Chancellor’s Office here:  

https://www.calstate.edu/csu-system/about-the-csu/Pages/default.aspx 

Salary 

The anticipated salary hiring range is up to $8,462 per month, commensurate with qualifications and experience.  

About the role 

This California State University Office of the Chancellor is seeking a system wide Associate Director Financial Aid programs to manage the collection, compilation, analysis, maintenance and reporting of system wide current and historical financial aid data internally and at the state and national level. The incumbent will provide leadership for the Financial Aid Unit and be the primary liaison with the Chancellor's Office (CO) Common Management Systems (CMS) team. This position will work with campuses and the CO CMS team on implementing all needed PeopleSoft functionality as well as any additional software systems and oversees contracts of systemwide loan servicing, interfacing with the public and students on financial aid related matters 

What you will be doing: 

Systemwide Student Financial Aid Data and Reporting  

• Manages and creates the CSU Financial aid database annually and information reporting processes.  

• Initiate requests for information and review reports to ensure completeness, accuracy, and integrity of the data.   

• Coordinate needed revisions to Financials Aid database reporting system with CMS staff and campus aid personnel due to changing federal and state initiatives.  

• Prepare summaryreports to management, and present and interpret findings. 

• Perform analysis, verification, documentation, and information dissemination associated with national reporting requirements.  

• Work independently and directly with research and technical staff to accomplish required reporting.  

• Manages the calendar and ensures the financial aid unit meets all reporting deadlines.  

• Manages development of projects based on analytic reports and briefing materials for use annually and ad hoc as necessary.  

• Produces and manages financial aid reporting for all 23 campuses on IPEDS and other national voluntarysystems of accountability  

• Manages development of data analytics for public information requests.  

• Manages the development, evaluation, and reporting of the administration of student financial aid programs.  

PeopleSoft Campus Solutions Financial Aid Module Lead  

• Serves as the CSU FA Module lead in the primary contact to the CEO CMS team on implementing all needed PeopleSoft functionality as well as additional software systems.  

• Manages the implementation of all new system wide mods and software.  

• Coordinate the needs among the among aid offices and facilitate discussions and information flow.  

• Make system recommendations and participate in setting system priorities, documenting business requirements, employee project planning.  

• Participate in formulating and defining system scope and objectives.  

• Participate in designing systems and business process solutions to meet business requirements.  

Financial Aid Committees and Workgroups 

• Serve on the CSU systemwide, statewide, and intersegmental committees and work groups to provide financial aid expertise and to promote the mission of the CSU.  

• Participate in statewide intersegmental committees/taskforces initiating new financial aid programs/initiatives. Participates in implementation and best practice workgroups.  

• Regularly briefs CO leadership on new and changing processes and policies that will directly impact the CSU, including any potential risks or challenges.  

• Lead work directly with system legal, contracts, technical, research, accounting, and other departments, as needed, to successfully launch programs and manage changes in policy, procedures, operations, and other systemwide campus initiatives. 

Policy and Guidance Support  

• Provides campuses with guidance on policy, procedures, best practices, regulatory application, legislation, legislative analysis, internal controls, and audit compliance.  

• Create systemwide guides and analysis on audit internal controls campus initiatives on all institutional, state, and federal aid programs.  

• Review changes to federal law and California Education Code for impact to systemwide CSU business practices, policies, operations and financial initiatives.  

• Provide direction and guidance to campus business offices on the application of financial aid to student accounts, Perkins loanmanagement and loan servicing.  

• Monitors all changes to federal, state, and CSU policies and regulations. Develop policies/procedures with the Systemwide Director to ensure system compliance.  

• Provide guidance and support and writing of system wide policy as required.   

3rdParty Servicers  

• Provide oversight for all financial aid, third party contracts, student loan billing services, collection services for existing, changing, and new financial aid programs. 

• Maintain effective collaboration with campus officials regarding these activities and with multiple nationwide service providers.  

• Provide continuing assessments of service levels and incorporation with contracts and procurements for the preparation and execution of requests for proposal processes for these services.  

• Provide management and oversight for systemwide contracts for student loan billing and collection agency contracts, including the development and evaluation of requests for proposals, evaluation of ongoing services and required enhancements of level services, and authorization of payment of monthly invoices for student loan billing service contract. 

Required Qualifications  

• An earned Bachelor's degree from an accredited 4-year university or an equivalent combination of education and experience. 

• At least five years of responsible experience related to the administration of student financial aid programs.  

• Experience with financial aid programs and PeopleSoft (or other financial aid systems).  

• Must possess and demonstrate an acute level of attention to detail.  

• Strong interpersonal, managerial, and communication skills required to facilitate project management.  

• Ability to engage in conversation to assist with requirements gathering and analysis and business process design.  

• Ability to apply knowledge of systems and technologies toward practical business operations; subject matter expertise or technical knowledge of student information systems and other business systems.  

• Abilityusing Microsoft Office applications and presentation software. 

Preferred Qualifications 

• Preference will be given for experience or related training and data management. Descriptive statistics and summary report preparation.  

• A Master's degree is preferred.  

• Preferred experience with project management, business process review, or change management methodologies.  

• Preferred experience working with third party vendors to facilitate ongoing operations, maintenance, and enhancements.  

• Experience with vendor procurement, request for proposal processes, and vendor management. 

What’s in it for you: 

The CSU system offers employees a comprehensive benefits package typically worth 30-35% of your base salary. This role accrues16 hours of vacation per month, in addition to 13 paid holidays and 8 hours accruedper month of sick leave.   

For more information on programs available, please see the Employee Benefits Summary:  

https://www2.calstate.edu/csu-system/careers/benefits/Documents/employee-benefits-summary.pdf  

Equal Employment Opportunity and Non-Discrimination:  

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. Reasonable accommodations will be provided for qualified applicants with disabilities who self-disclose by contacting the Senior Human Resources Manager at (562) 951-4070.  

Another Source works with their clients, on a retained project basis.  We are committed to building inclusive candidate pools as we partner with hiring teams. Veterans, women, people of color, LGBTQIA+, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. As you read through the job posting and review the list of qualifications (required and/or preferred), please do not self-select out if you feel you do not meet every qualification. No one is 100% qualified. We encourage you to apply and share your story with us.     

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