"Senior Associate Director of Financial Aid, Systems"

Job Summary

It is an exciting time to join Cal State Fullerton as we are an in demand comprehensive University that is driven to shape the future of education and foster a vibrant community of diverse students, faculty, staff, and administrators who uphold values of inclusive excellence, free speech, and an environment free from discrimination. We are continuously seeking individuals from various career disciplines that share the University's mission and core values. We warmly welcome you to consider joining the Titan Community where minds expand and opportunities flourish.

About the Position

The Office of Financial Aid is available to remove the cost of barriers that may prevent individuals from pursuing their educational goals. We seek an exceptional individual to join our team as the Senior Associate Director of Financial Aid; Systems (Administrator II). The ideal candidate in this role should have a positive attitude, an active, energetic mind, and a leadership style that is characterized by highly ethical practices and a commitment to diversity, openness, flexibility, integrity, and kindness.

The Senior Associate Director of Financial Aid; Systems, reports to the Director of Financial Aid and is responsible for expert direction, problem solving, and specifications for the internal systems staff, and Information Technology systems in the design, development, operation and maintenance of the automated management systems used to support the mission of the Office of Financial Aid. The overall responsibility of this position is to ensure the accurate and timely processing, delivery, reconciliation, and reporting to various agencies of $340 million in student aid to the information and data processing systems. These systems include the PeopleSoft Student Administration system, and interfaces to other associated systems such as the Electronic Loan Management system, the California WebGrants system, the Department of Education's Common Origination and Disbursement system, Student Aid Internet Gateway, Central Processing System (CPS) Online, and the National Student Loan Data Center. The Senior Associate Director of Financial Aid; Systems is also responsible for project coordination, development, management, and overseeing the testing of software including both local and Chancellor's Office centralized modifications (CMS) to meet new initiatives and business processes designed to improve or augment the delivery of financial aid. The Senior Associate Director of Financial Aid; Systems has the primary responsibility for the analysis of business processes and their effective application in an automated environment. The Senior Associate Director of Financial Aid; Systems is the functional lead in maintaining and enhancing functionality of the financial aid module of the Oracle Student Administration system by providing or supervising production support as needed (including support for reporting technologies, scheduling of production jobs, fund management simulations, security administration coordination, and quality assurance monitoring) to ensure the continued efficient operation of automated systems. The functional lead also plays a pivotal role in planning and directing upgrades and the implementation of new software functionality, including online functionalities offered through the university's web portal.

The primary area of accountability of this position is in the development of automated solutions to ensure the mission of the office and the university are achieved. This includes the development and administration of policies designed to support a strategic approach to systems management. A secondary area of accountability is the supervision of the internal systems staff to ensure the reliable operation of all production systems, both online and batch, and supervision of the Direct Loan programs and alternative loan staff. Also, provides supervision to the Assistant Director of State Grant programs and the Pell Grant program. Other areas include analysis of new programs or program modifications and effective cooperation with accounting and student records personnel to ensure that fiscal integrity and compliance with regulations are maintained. The Senior Associate Director of Financial Aid; Systems also supports various Federal and State reporting tasks, including the FISAP (Fiscal Operations Report and Application to Participate) Report and the State Chancellor Office's Financial Aid Database (FADB) report. Other duties as assigned.

Essential Qualifications

The Candidate must have a Bachelor's degree and a minimum of four years of progressively responsible university experience, including at least three years of managing in a complex organization or office. Several of these years must be in financial aid. Excellent analytical, written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills are required. A background that includes organizational development, data management and use of associated computer systems, public relations and staff supervision is essential. Knowledge of need analysis, professional judgment, and federal and state financial aid programs is required. The Senior Associate Director of Financial Aid, reports to the Director of Financial Aid and is one of six managers who lead the daily activities of the office. The successful candidate must be able to relate effectively with students and parents and work well with all campus departments. They must have an outstanding aptitude to anticipate and analyze problems and make appropriate judgments on a daily basis. Strong basic mathematical and analytical skills, ability to document work clearly, work accurately and efficiently with attention to detail in a deadline driven setting are required. Must be able to analyze highly complex situations and perform assignments without supervision. Proficiency with Windows NT, Outlook, Excel, electronic mail, Internet applications, and Word required.

A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily and is required for employment. CSU will make a conditional offer of employment, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Failure to complete the background check satisfactorily may affect the continued employment of a current CSU employee who was conditionally offered the position.

Preferred Qualifications

Knowledge of Federal and California State financial aid regulations. Demonstrated experience working with a sophisticated automated and integrated financial aid system. This Senior Associate Director is responsible for the PeopleSoft Student Administration Financial Aid module and must be able to work independently and apply technical judgment and expertise. They must have the ability to communicate technical concepts with the ability to translate user-stated problems to technical terms for incorporating to automated processing. Must work independently on many projects but works closely with management in the critical role of planning and enhancing the automated features of PeopleSoft and other systems to support efficient operational capabilities of the department. Proficiency with P/C Windows, XP Professional, Application and data servers, PeopleSoft Tools/Query, and Microsoft Office Suites.