Associate Director (TUC – College of Business & Economics)

California State University, Northridge•Los Angeles, CA

11d

About The Position

The Associate Director serves as Project Coordinator for the Center for Fintech Innovation and Policy’s program funded by the U.S. Departments of Education and Labor Strengthening Institutions Program. Under the direction of the Director and in close collaboration with two faculty directors, the Associate Director manages the Center’s day-to-day operations across California State University, Northridge and Cal State LA. The role combines research, teaching, and operational leadership. The program helps undergraduates learn how financial technology works, build and secure a working product using AI tools, and pitch it to industry. Students earn a certificate and degree credit. The program is designed to serve first-generation and low-income students and prepare them for high-wage careers in finance and technology. This hands-on role in a new center will evolve with the Center’s needs; rigorous, detail-oriented program management is as central as scholarship. The position includes coordinating Center operations and federal grant compliance; developing and disseminating research; recruiting, advising, mentoring, and teaching students; planning events; cultivating external partnerships; managing communications and social media; supporting grant administration; and supervising student assistants. The Associate Director also contributes to evaluation and reporting, grant development, and the Center’s activities across both campuses. The role uses a personal computer and standard office equipment, along with software and platforms including Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, Qualtrics, Canvas, PeopleSoft, web content management systems, Canva or Adobe design tools, AI tools, social media and newsletter platforms, and video-conferencing tools. No commercial vehicles, machinery, or hazardous equipment are used.

Requirements

Doctoral degree (Ph.D., D.B.A., or equivalent) or terminal law degree (J.D., LL.M., J.S.D., or S.J.D.) in management, entrepreneurship, finance, information systems, economics, education, public policy, law, or a related field.
ABD candidates or candidates awaiting degree conferral may begin before conferral, provided the degree is conferred and certification of conferral is submitted no later than August 2027; continued appointments are contingent on meeting this deadline.
Demonstrated ability to produce rigorous written work and draft, edit, and proofread professional documents with a high degree of accuracy.
Experience organizing records and managing deadlines across multiple projects.
Strong interpersonal, presentation, and communication skills.
Commitment to serving a diverse student population.
Ability to pass a thorough department background investigation.

Nice To Haves

A research agenda related to fintech, fintech policy and financial regulation, AI policy and governance, law and AI, AI in education or organizations, entrepreneurship, or workforce and economic mobility; work at the intersection of fintech and law, AI and law, fintech policy, or AI policy is especially welcome.
Experience with policy work, such as writing policy briefs, regulatory comments, or white papers, or engaging with regulators, legislators, or public agencies.
Teaching or mentoring experience with undergraduates.
Experience planning and hosting events and conducting outreach to industry, government, or community partners.
Experience in student recruitment, advising, or program coordination in a university setting.
Experience supporting a federally funded grant, including documentation and reporting.
Experience drafting grant proposals or comparable funder-facing narratives.
Experience managing organizational social media and websites.
Training or experience in precise document preparation, records management, deadline tracking, and compliance review, such as in a legal, compliance, contracts, or regulatory setting.
Experience with design tools (Canva, Adobe), a web content management system, and campus systems such as Qualtrics, Canvas, or PeopleSoft.
Experience hiring or supervising student employees.
Advanced familiarity with AI tools and their application to research, writing, data analysis, and content creation.
Recent doctoral and law graduates are encouraged to apply; the position is described as well suited to an early-career scholar.

Responsibilities

Run the Center’s day-to-day operations under the Director’s guidance and serve as Project Coordinator for its federally funded program across CSUN and Cal State LA.
Draft, format, proofread, and review professional correspondence and documents; maintain program files, records, deadlines, and federal grant compliance documentation.
Track deadlines and filing requirements and review activities for compliance with grant terms, university policy, and federal requirements.
Conduct research and fact-checking and summarize findings in written briefs.
Organize faculty workshops and events supporting faculty development and engagement with the Center.
Develop and pursue an independent research agenda related to the Center’s work; analyze program data with faculty directors and the external evaluator; write and publish scholarship, policy briefs, reports, and public-facing pieces; and present at academic and practitioner conferences.
Contribute to evaluation reports and dissemination through STEM-NET and the CSU system; identify funding opportunities and draft grant proposals in coordination with the Director and TUC Research & Sponsored Projects.
Advise, mentor, and serve as a first point of contact for students; lead recruitment and admissions at both campuses, with priority outreach to first-generation and Pell-eligible students.
Manage the application cycle in Qualtrics, guide admitted students through cohort registration and CSU Concurrent Enrollment, maintain cohort rosters, and respond to inquiries within one business day.
Serve as a teaching assistant and instructor in courses and workshops; prepare and deliver lectures and lab sessions, develop course materials and assignments, grade, hold office hours, mentor students through projects and capstone pitches, and co-teach or guest lecture as appropriate.
Plan, organize, and host Center events, including orientations, information sessions, speaker series, webinars, podcasts, workshops, mentor meetings, faculty development sessions, capstone pitches, and the annual flagship fintech event.
Manage event logistics, speakers, registration, and follow-up; support leadership and steering committee meetings with agendas, minutes, and action-item tracking; and participate in Center and College events and faculty development activities.
Represent the Center at external events, conferences, and industry gatherings; conduct outreach to fintech firms, financial institutions, regulators, venture investors, and community organizations; cultivate speakers, mentors, employer partners, and project sponsors; and coordinate with advisory groups.
Manage the Center’s social media accounts, website, and newsletter; produce content about Center activities, student work, and fintech developments; and create recruitment and promotional materials consistent with CSUN and Cal State LA brand guidelines.
Collect and organize data for annual federal reporting and the external evaluator; support budget tracking, purchasing, and reconciliation; and liaise with sponsored programs and institutional research offices at both campuses.
Recruit, hire, train, mentor, and provide lead work direction to undergraduate and graduate student assistants, and approve their timesheets.
Perform other duties assigned by the Principal Investigator in support of the Center and grant, as needs arise.