Assistant Director, Financial Aid

Apply now Job no: 559666 Work type: Management (MPP) Location: Long Beach Categories: MPP, At-Will, Full Time Located just three miles from the Pacific Ocean, CSULB offers an inspiring workplace and an exceptional Southern California lifestyle. Our 322-acre campus—one of the largest in the CSU system—serves more than 42,000 students and is known for its commitment to student success, innovation, and impactful academic and research initiatives. As a member of the CSULB community, you’ll experience a dynamic environment filled with cultural landmarks, collaborative energy, and opportunities to make a meaningful difference. Work-life balance thrives here. Long Beach blends coastal relaxation with urban vibrancy, offering miles of beaches, year-round sunshine, a thriving arts and food scene, and convenient access to both Los Angeles and Orange County. It’s an ideal place to grow your career while enjoying everything Southern California has to offer. Join the California State University (CSU) and explore career opportunities that advance student success and strengthen California’s future—offering competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and professional growth. Job Summary The Assistant Director of Financial Aid provides leadership and daily operational oversight for the financial aid and scholarships customer service function and the fiscal operations of Loan, Pell, and Federal Grant programs. The position ensures that student-facing service channels are appropriately staffed and responsive to immediate student and family needs. The position also provides managerial oversight in the specialization areas of Federal Direct Loan, Private Educational Loan, Federal Pell Grant, and other Federal Grant operations. This position works collaboratively with staff and leadership across Enrollment Services, Student Financial Services, and other campus partners to maintain effective service delivery, compliance, fiscal integrity, and resource allocation. Furthermore, the incumbent provides services that are equitable, inclusive, and culturally sensitive to enhance the quality of campus life. This position uses a student-centered and equity-minded approach in all communication and service efforts. Key Responsibilities Provide leadership and oversight for financial aid and scholarship customer service operations, including scheduling, workload assignments, staff development, and service channel coordination. Manage daily operations across phones, service windows, electronic ticketing, online chatbot, operations support assignments, escalated service issues, and cross-training initiatives. Oversee Federal Direct Loan, Private Loan, Pell Grant, and other federal grant operations, including workflow coordination, compliance monitoring, reconciliations, error resolution, quality assurance, reporting, documentation, and collaboration with Student Financial Services, Financial Aid Systems, COD, NSLDS, lenders, servicers, and related partners. Prepare weekly updates for the Director of Financial Aid and Scholarships regarding service levels, reconciliation status, compliance concerns, workload risks, staffing needs, and recommended corrective actions. Department Duration of Appointment This is a regular, at-will position. Classification Administrator I Compensation Salary placement is determined by the education, experience, and qualifications the candidate brings to the position, internal equity, and the hiring department’s fiscal resources. Hiring Range : The hiring range for this position is $6,916 - $7,858 per month commensurate with candidate's education, experience, skills, and training. At California State University (CSU), we prioritize the health, growth, and success of our employees. Our benefits program reflects our commitment to your overall well-being. To be eligible for full benefits, employees must be appointed at least half-time (.50 FTE) with an appointment lasting more than six months and one day. Benefits eligibility and offerings may vary based on appointment type, classification, and applicable collective bargaining agreement. Eligible employees may have access to a comprehensive benefits package that can include: Paid Time Off: Up to 24 vacation days per year (based on employee group and/or length of service), 14 paid holidays, and 12 sick days annually with unlimited accrual. Health Coverage: A variety of medical, dental, and vision plans. Retirement Plans: Participation in the CalPERS defined benefit plan, along with voluntary savings options such as 403(b), 401(k), and 457 plans. Educational Benefits: Tuition fee waiver programs for eligible employees; dependent eligibility varies by employee group and bargaining unit. Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Confidential counseling and support services for employees and their families. Additional Benefits: Wellness programs, professional development opportunities, and insurance options including life, disability, and pet insurance. Demonstrated ability to supervise, train, mentor, schedule, and evaluate staff in a complex student services or financial aid environment. Ability to build team capacity by coaching staff to resolve issues, exercise sound judgment, document work, and make decentralized decisions within established policies and procedures. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex financial aid requirements clearly to students, families, staff, and campus partners. Demonstrated ability to deescalate elevated concerns, resolve problems professionally, identify root causes, and determine when escalation or leadership intervention is appropriate. Commitment to student-centered, equity-minded, inclusive, and culturally sensitive service delivery. Treats all customers (students, faculty and staff colleagues) with dignity and respect, empathy, fairness and professionalism, consistent with the university mission, values and strategic vision. Detailed knowledge of federal, state, CSU, and institutional financial aid regulations, policies, procedures, and compliance requirements. Detailed knowledge of Federal Direct Loan, Private Educational Loan, Federal Pell Grant, and Federal Grant processing, disbursement, cash management, reconciliation, reporting, and year-end closeout activities. Detailed knowledge of accounting, reconciliation, data integrity, and internal control principles related to financial aid programs. Ability to create and maintain business process guides, training materials, desk procedures, schedules, and documentation that support continuity and accountability. Experience with PeopleSoft Campus Solutions or similar student administration, imaging, workflow, reporting, and financial aid management systems, preferred. Familiarity with COD, NSLDS, ELM or private loan platforms, servicer portals, and related external systems, preferred. Ability to run queries, analyze large data sets, validate system changes, and coordinate with systems staff on testing, configuration, automation, and reporting needs. Ability to review exception reports, identify processing or system issues, analyze root causes, assign follow-up, and confirm timely resolution. Ensures operational integrity and continuity by maintaining detailed descriptions of responsibilities, ranging from daily tasks to strategic activities and outcomes, and makes them available to supervisor. Customer Service and Service Excellence; Strategic Thinking and Planning; Problem Solving and Decision Making; Team Building and Development; Professional Knowledge and Continuous Learning; Collaboration; Accountability; Data Integrity; Communication; Equity and Inclusion. Ability to communicate with an ethnically and culturally diverse campus community. Ability to follow all university policies, procedures, and guidelines including but not limited to safety, civility, information security, and non-discrimination policies and procedures. Ability to contribute to a positive university experience for each and every student and assist in achieving the university's commitment to a "vision of excellence." Education and Experience Equivalent to a bachelor's degree and two (2) years of related experience required. Experience in financial aid operations or a related student services area with direct involvement in Title IV processing, or a combination of education and other relevant experience that provides the required knowledge and abilities preferred. Physical Summary Sedentary work - Involves mainly sitting. Walking and standing are minimal. Lifting is limited to lightweight objects (10 pounds or less). Additional Information CSULB is not a sponsoring agency for staff and management positions (i.e. H-1B Visas). A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily and is required for employment. CSULB 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 satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current CSU employee who was conditionally offered the position. Due to the nature of this position, current CSULB employees are subject to a criminal record check unless they have successfully completed a criminal background check through CSULB within the past 12 months. The person holding this position is considered a "mandated reporter" under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 Revised July 21, 2017 as a condition of employment. Equal Employment Statement Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, CSULB provides equal opportunity in employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, national origin, or other protected status. CSULB complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws, and CSU’s Nondiscrimination Policy. We prohibit discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all university programs, policies, and practices. California State University Long Beach expects respectful, professional behavior from its employees in all situations. Acts of harassment or abusive conduct are prohibited. Demonstrated appropriate professional behavior, treating others with civility and respect, and refusing to tolerate abusive conduct is expected of all employees. Accommodations We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact View email address on click.appcast.io . Out of State Employment Policy California State University, Long Beach, as part of the CSU system, is a State of California Employer. As such, the University requires all employees upon date of hire to reside in the State of California. Advertised: Jun 30 2026 Pacific Daylight Time Applications close: Jul 14 2026 Pacific Daylight Time #J-18808-Ljbffr