"Director, Financial Aid"

Job Details

DESCRIPTION

Under the direction of the Dean of Enrollment Services and Access, provides strategic leadership for all aspects of Antelope Valley Community College District’s financial aid programs, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local statutes and regulations. Serves as the primary contact and liaison with the U.S. Department of Education, California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, and California Student Aid Commission, as well as compliance auditors. Conducts advanced analyses to support program development, including advising on and packaging financial aid programs. Strategically organizes workflow, disseminates information, and resolves complex financial aid issues to enhance student success.

REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES

(E = indicates essential duties of the position)

• Provides strategic leadership to the financial aid department, federal work study program, and job placement services, ensuring operational excellence and alignment with institutional goals. (E)
• Develops, directs, and strategically implements all institutional, state, and federal financial aid programs in which the District participates and consistent with the District's mission, goals, and objectives. (E)
• Develops and recommends new or revised Board Policy and/or Administrative Regulations to ensure compliance with local, state, and federal regulatory requirements. (E)
• Develops long-term financial aid strategies to enhance student access, retention, and success in alignment with institutional equity goals. (E)
• Ensures that the district Financial Aid Manual is updated on a regular basis to reflect the most current regulations, requirements, and best practices. (E)
• Serves as the primary contact and liaison for the U.S. Education Department, California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, California Student Aid Commission, and other local, state, or federal regulatory agencies, as well as internal and external constituents for compliance audits, program reviews, student complaints or concerns, and system improvements for the enhanced delivery of financial aid services. (E)
• Ensures fiscal accountability and reconciliation of federal, state, institutional and private financial aid funds, including, but not limited to, Pell, Educational Opportunity Grants, Cal Grants, Work-Study, California Promise Grant, Direct Student and Alternative Loans, Dream Act, and other funding/returns processes. (E)
• Conducts needs analyses based on emerging trends in student demographics and sets up internal processes for monitoring students' academic progress. (E)
• Supervises granting of financial aid awards. Audits and adjusts need levels, confirms resources, and awards funds within pre-existing parameters. Certifies and signs loan promissory notes and sends to appropriate bank for processing. Oversees the creation of loan origination records for eligible students. (E)
• Facilitates and coordinates outreach activities to inform students, schools, and the community about financial aid programs and eligibility. Organizes and conducts workshops, schedules communications, and ensures effective delivery of financial aid services through staff engagement. (E)
• Provides supervision, evaluation, leadership, and technical direction to Financial Aid and Job Placement staff by directing meetings, ensuring timely completion of work, and fostering a high-performing, customer service-oriented team. Oversees staff development through training opportunities, workshops, and conferences, while implementing day-to-day management practices that align with the District's mission, strategic goals, and core values. (E)
• Remains current with emerging trends and advancements in financial aid and higher education by regular attendance at training meetings, workshops, conferences, and financial aid professional organization meetings. (E)
• Represents the Financial Aid and Job Placement departments' needs and requirements on and off campus and provides input at meetings and on committees. (E)
• Develops and provides strategic planning and program review for Financial Aid programs and services. (E)
• Determines financial requirements of the department; prepares and monitors Financial Aid budget; monitors and account for the expenditure of Financial Aid funds; coordinates and approves the disbursement of other District aid programs and funds including SSSG, EOPS, and CARE; prepares and verifies expenditure reports required by State and Federal agencies. (E)
• Establishes policies and procedures for financial aid programs including packaging student’s aid. (E)
• Acts as the departmental point person for the department; coordinates with a variety of other departments to ensure timely and accurate processing of financial aid; provides professional judgment by approving or denying student appeals regarding additional funding, academic progress, and special circumstances. (E)
• Oversees and maintains working knowledge of computer systems and software related to Financial Aid; evaluates, assess, and implements new and/or revised technology to address changing needs and requirements; troubleshoots, student management computer system, Financial Aid Web, and other Financial Aid software issues. (E)
• Meets with students and resolves problems, conflicts, and complaints. (E)
• Participates in professional organizations such as CCCSFAAA, CASFAA, WASFAA, and NASFAA. (E)
• Serves as a member of the campus leadership team and performs duties associated with these assignments. (E)
• Performs other duties as assigned. (E)

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Any combination equivalent to: bachelor's degree in business administration, public administration, accounting, finance or a related field and three (3) years of increasingly responsible professional experience in the administration of financial aid, including two (2) years in a leadership capacity; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.

OTHER INFORMATION

KNOWLEDGE OF:

• Equity-based principles and leadership in higher education.
• Change Management strategies.
• Higher education in community colleges, including the mission of the California Community Colleges.
• Participatory governance within the California Community College System.
• Applicable Federal, State, and local laws, regulatory codes, ordinances, and procedures.
• Management of the District's financial aid programs.
• Regulations, rules, and institutional systems, policies, and processes related to financial aid, including their connection to admissions, registration, and accounting.
• Federal, state, and local regulations, policies, and procedures for awarding and administering financial aid.
• Institutional policies relevant to admissions, registration, and student accounts receivable.
• Federal reporting requirements for financial aid, including filing reports, making corrections, and verifying approvals.
• Interpersonal skills using tact, patience, and courtesy.
• Effective collaboration, communication, and consensus-building techniques.
• Principles and practices of management, supervision, and training.
• Office systems, procedures, and equipment, including personal computers, student information databases, word processing, and spreadsheet applications.
• Specialized financial aid databases and data management systems.
• Budget preparation and control that sustains the mission of the college and student success; effective collaboration, communication, and consensus-building techniques.
• Principles, practices, and techniques involved in the development, implementation, and evaluation of student services programs, services, plans, goals, and objectives.
• District organization, operations, policies, and goals.
• Institutional Learning Outcomes, Program Learning Outcomes, and Student Learning Outcomes.
• Federal, state and local laws, codes and regulations including Title V Regulations.
• Methods and techniques of research, analysis, and decision making.

ABILITY TO:

• Maintain accurate student records.
• Independently perform all responsibilities and accountabilities of the position.
• Develop, organize, manage, and coordinate the daily activities of a financial aid department, federal work-study program, Job Placement and other programs as assigned.
• Compile, analyze, and submit required federal, state, and institutional reports, including but not limited to the Program Participation Agreement renewal application, FISAP, Gainful Employment, and SSARCC.
• Develop and manage budgets, including general and categorical funds.
• Apply and train others in financial needs analysis methodologies.
• Analyze technical and complex demographic and financial information to make assessments aligned with policies, procedures, and mandated regulations.
• Coordinate operations effectively with other college units, including Admissions & Records, Job Placement Services, Student Services, Business Services, and Academic Affairs.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Communicate and respond effectively to students using culturally relevant techniques.
• Effectively and innovatively use data to inform decision-making.
• Identify resources and complete grant writing and/or program development.
• Work as liaison for communications between administrators, students, and the community at large.
• Communicate effectively, both formally and informally, with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action.
• Work independently with little direction.
• Equitably develop, plan, organize, and programs, policies, and procedures to meet student, staff, and community needs.
• Approach challenges as opportunities and utilize data to inform equitable solutions that meet multiple ends.
• Organize and prioritize a variety of projects and multiple tasks in an effective and timely manner; and meet critical time deadlines.
• Prepare comprehensive narrative and statistical reports.
• Supervise and evaluate the performance of assigned personnel.
• Work evenings and weekends as required.

WORK DIRECTION, LEAD AND SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Directs and supervises Financial Aid and Job Placement staff including, but not limited to, Technical Analyst, Financial Aid Specialist, Financial Aid Technician II, Financial Aid Technician I, Financial Aid Secretary, Clerical Assistants, Student Assistants, and other assigned personnel.

CONTACTS

Co-workers, lenders, Government Agencies, other departmental personnel, external contractors, other institutions of higher education, vendors, and computer software representatives.

PHYSICAL EFFORT

(The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those employees may need to successfully perform the essential functions of this class. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.)

• Requires the ability to exert physical effort, such as walking, standing, and light lifting.
• Ability to operate office equipment.
• Tasks require extended periods sitting and at a keyboard.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Normal office environment at multiple sites.
• Frequent interruptions.
• The employee must travel to locations other than the assigned work site and may be required to work evenings and weekends.
• Typical 40-hour work week minimum, with occasional night and weekend work.

APPLICATION PROCESS - PLEASE READ

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

It is the responsibility of each applicant to have all the requested documents submitted through NEOGOV by the deadline date in order to continue in the application process for this position.

• Each recruitment is conducted independently from others; therefore, interested parties need to submit separate complete application packages for each position they apply for.
• It is important the applicants submit ALL documents requested for the application package to be deemed complete and given consideration.

This position requires the following documents to be attached to your online application in order to be considered:

• Application
• Current resume
• Letter of Intent (Cover Letter)
• Copy of Transcripts of all degrees and Supplemental Coursework

• All out of the country, transcripts must be evaluated prior to submitting them with applications.
• Any evaluation service member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Service (NACES) http://www.naces.org/ is acceptable.

• Travel expenses for pre-employment interviews and employment processing will not be authorized.

Your application and any required attachments must be submitted by January 20, 2026.

Applications with incomplete information (i.e., statements such as "see resume") or missing documents will not be considered.