Associate Director of Financial Aid Operations and Technology

San José State University•San Jose, CA

3d•$8,545 - $9,702

About The Position

The Financial Aid and Scholarship Office is seeking an Associate Director of Financial Aid Operations and Technology to provide leadership and management for technology-supported services used in the administration of student financial aid programs. As a member of the office’s administrative team, this position oversees financial aid operations, customer service initiatives, technical systems, regulatory updates, and the development and implementation of automated financial aid processes. The position also provides leadership to Operations Team members and technical staff and assists with the development of policies, procedures, training, and operational communications.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field
Five (5) or more of progressively responsible management experience in financial aid administration
Three (3) years of direct supervisory experience
Two (2) years of hands-on experience overseeing the technical administration of a system
Ability to communicate with constituents in a professional and respectful manner
Working knowledge of, or the ability to develop proficiency in, the appropriate and ethical use of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), in higher education and administrative contexts
Ability to apply emerging technologies to support operational effectiveness, data-informed decision-making, and service delivery to students, faculty, and staff
Demonstrated ability to support continuous improvement and organizational learning through the responsible application of technology within assigned areas of responsibility
Ability to evaluate potential applications, promote responsible, ethical, and equitable use, and ensure alignment with institutional policies, regulatory requirements, and strategic priorities
Thorough knowledge of operational management practices and the ability to manage staff
Thorough knowledge of student information systems with the ability to learn PeopleSoft financial aid modules
Thorough understanding of admission practices
Ability to interpret, apply, and explain federal and state reporting regulations for the financial aid reporting
Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, customers, and the general public
Possess knowledge of public administration principles, university infrastructure, practices, and methods
Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions, and to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with multiple abstract and concrete variables
Ability to compose and appropriately format correspondence and reports
Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference, to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions
Thorough knowledge of software applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and database management
General knowledge of the methods and problems of organizational and program management

Nice To Haves

Master's Degree in business administration or a related field, or equivalent management experience in higher education
Seven (7) or more years of progressively responsible management experience in financial aid administration or a related administrative area with at least three (3) years of direct supervisory experience
Experience in developing and managing different types of budgets (departmental, trust or auxiliary, financial aid, scholarship, etc.)
Direct experience with the administrative software system PeopleSoft
Experience with process reengineering and the use of technology (e.g., imaging and workflow systems) to enhance processing
Experience in enrollment management strategies for student recruitment, student retention, and graduation
Experience with outcomes-based assessment of financial aid programs
Involvement in professional associations and organizations

Responsibilities

Provide leadership for the implementation and administration of technology-supported financial aid services
Participate in the CMS Instance Management Team and represent the campus at CSU Financial Aid Module meetings
Manage electronic processes and data transfers involving EDConnect, the California Student Aid Commission, Department of Education, and Common Origination and Disbursement (COD)
Oversee technical processing and reporting for federal, state, and institutional financial aid programs
Develop and implement office-wide technical goals, policies, processing protocols, and procedures
Manage financial aid communications throughout the application cycle and coordinate student messaging with Enrollment Services
Serve as security administrator for the PeopleSoft financial aid module and ensure appropriate system access and compliance with FERPA and campus security protocols
Create reports and provide detailed financial aid data to Student Affairs and other campus stakeholders
Coordinate and troubleshoot imaging and workflow systems and support continuous process improvement