Director of Financial Aid & Scholarships - Cal State San Bernardino

Another Source • San Bernardino, CA

1d • $118,560 - $120,000 • Onsite

About The Position

California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB) is seeking a Director of Financial Aid & Scholarships to provide strategic and operational leadership for its comprehensive financial aid and scholarship programs. Reporting directly to the Vice President for Strategic Enrollment Management & Marketing, the Director oversees approximately $220 million in annual financial aid, $5–6 million in scholarships, and services for 17,000 students receiving financial assistance—approximately 70% of the student population.

The Director will help advance educational access, affordability, enrollment, persistence, and degree completion by ensuring responsible administration and regulatory compliance while modernizing operations and improving the student experience. A key priority is simplifying complex financial aid policies and processes through clear, timely, actionable communications and a proactive, accessible, student-centered service model.

The role leads a multifaceted team of approximately 20 and collaborates with campus departments, university leadership, and external partners. It oversees financial aid administration, policies, compliance, communications, technology, staffing, and budgets, while contributing to university committees and strategic initiatives. The position is based at CSUSB, a public university in the Inland Empire in Southern California.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university in public administration, business administration, education, student affairs, behavioral or social science, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Eight years of progressively responsible professional experience in financial aid administration, including substantial responsibility for complex operations, regulatory compliance, policy implementation, and staff leadership.
• Demonstrated experience supervising managers and/or leading a large, multifaceted team within a complex organization.
• Extensive knowledge of federal and state financial aid regulations, compliance requirements, and financial aid administration practices.
• Experience developing, interpreting, implementing, and communicating complex financial aid policies and procedures.
• Demonstrated success developing proactive, multichannel communication strategies that improve student understanding and service outcomes.

Nice To Haves

• Master's degree in higher education, public administration, business administration, student affairs, counseling, or a related field.
• Senior-level financial aid leadership experience at a four-year public university or within a complex, multi-campus higher education system.
• Experience with PeopleSoft Campus Solutions, OnBase, or comparable financial aid and document-management systems.
• Demonstrated success leading student communications, financial literacy, or outreach initiatives that measurably improved student engagement or service outcomes.
• Experience with enrollment strategy, financial aid leveraging, predictive modeling, scholarship optimization, or student-success initiatives.
• Experience preparing for or responding to federal, state, CSU system, or independent financial aid audits and program reviews.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a long-term vision for Financial Aid & Scholarships aligned with university enrollment priorities, student success, and institutional goals.
• Lead a collaborative organization focused on accountability, innovation, service excellence, and continuous improvement.
• Partner with Coyote Central and campus departments to provide consistent, accurate, and timely financial aid guidance.
• Establish measurable performance goals and service standards, using data and feedback to identify improvements.
• Advise university leadership on financial aid strategy, regulations, institutional risks, and resource needs.
• Represent CSUSB on university, CSU system, professional, governmental, and community committees and initiatives.
• Oversee the awarding, disbursement, reconciliation, and reporting of federal, state, institutional, private, and donor-funded financial aid.
• Ensure compliance with federal and state regulations, CSU policies, institutional requirements, and applicable athletic association standards.
• Guide financial aid policy and procedure development and implementation, internal controls, and quality assurance practices.
• Oversee eligibility determination, verification, packaging, satisfactory academic progress, professional judgment, loan administration, and scholarship processing.
• Lead audit preparation, regulatory reviews, reporting requirements, and corrective action initiatives.
• Develop responsible fund-utilization and financial aid strategies to strengthen affordability, enrollment, and student retention.
• Lead a comprehensive strategy to make financial aid information easier for students and families to understand and act upon.
• Develop proactive, personalized communications through email, text, student portals, websites, workshops, videos, and other digital and in-person channels.
• Translate complex policies, deadlines, eligibility requirements, and processes into clear, accessible, student-friendly information.
• Reduce preventable student inquiries by anticipating common questions and improving self-service resources and communication timing.
• Use student feedback, service trends, and communication analytics to identify barriers and improve the student experience.
• Ensure communications and outreach are inclusive, accessible, culturally responsive, and effective for students from diverse backgrounds.
• Strengthen financial aid education and outreach for prospective and current students, families, and community partners.
• Lead, mentor, and develop managers and staff across processing, advising, scholarships, compliance, systems, and student services.
• Build organizational capacity through staffing, professional development, cross-training, and succession planning.
• Oversee effective use and improvement of PeopleSoft Campus Solutions, OnBase, and other financial aid and communication technologies.
• Establish dashboards, performance indicators, and reporting practices to improve efficiency, compliance, and service delivery.
• Manage departmental budgets and resources in alignment with strategic priorities and operational needs.
• Support a positive, accountable, and collaborative team environment.
• Participate in university committees, professional organizations, and strategic initiatives.
• Lead special projects and represent Financial Aid & Scholarships in partnership with senior university leadership.

Benefits

• CSU comprehensive benefits package, typically adding 30–35% to total compensation.
• Up to 24 vacation days per year, based on employee group/services, and flexibility supporting work-life balance.
• Access to campus athletic and gym facilities, sporting events, artist events, and speakers.
• Professional development opportunities, including tuition waivers for the employee, spouse, registered domestic partner, or eligible dependent child across CSU campuses.
• Choice of CalPERS Retirement Plan or 403(b) Supplemental Retirement Plan.
• Medical benefits tailored to various life stages.
• Pre-tax commuter benefits.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director