Director of Financial Aid & Scholarships

About the Position

Please Note: Review of applications will begin on February 4, 2026.

The Director of Financial Aid and Scholarships reports to the Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management Services and is responsible for the overall administration of the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office. The incumbent directs and evaluates the Associate Director, Assistant Director, Financial Aid Analyst, Financial Aid Advisors, Financial Aid Technician, Student Records Coordinator, Financial Aid Specialist, and Quality Service Representative, fostering a modern, highly responsive, and student-centered Financial Aid and Scholarships team.

Responsibilities

Leadership/ Management

• Acts as a change champion. Leads courageously by addressing difficult issues. Works to resolve issues at the peer level and takes measures to mitigate future issues. Supports and moves new initiatives forward. Identifies current and future challenges and proposes effective solutions.
• Understands what issues require a “sense of urgency” and handles accordingly.
• Ensures confidentiality around sensitive issues.
• Facilitates an environment that motivates, empowers, and inspires commitment from employees. Assumes good intent with one another and work on the premise of trust.
• Demonstrates commitment to creating and sustaining a diverse and inclusive workforce.
• Provides clear direction. Communicates effectively and with purpose.
• Creates and implements methods for improving individual and team performance. Builds effective teams committed to organizational goals. Works with a spirit of collaboration, inclusion, respect and collegiality.
• Takes ownership of issues and demonstrates accountability.
• Creates an environment in which employees are recognized for their accomplishments and contributions to the success of the team. Builds competence in others through effective coaching, performance management and mentoring.
• Supports and encourages professional and career development for employees. Fosters a culture of support and success for new hires by utilizing effective onboarding methods.
• Understand the university’s mission and vision and how the department/division work activities and goals support the mission. Ensures cross-divisional support and participation.
• Recognizes, understands, and appreciates different roles across the institution. Identifies and calls advocacy behavior. Speaks and advocates with one common voice. Determines, effectively allocates, and coordinates resources.

Functional Oversight/Management

• Oversees and regularly evaluates the administration and operations of the Financial Aid Office by directing, evaluating and supervising staff, delegating and monitoring assignments, formulating department policies and procedures, and managing recruitment.
• Serves as the designated official for the university, responsible for all federal and state student financial aid programs, and as such, certifies that the university is in compliance with all federal and state regulations and laws governing the administration of student financial assistance programs.
• Serves as the official representative for the university with the federal Department of Education for all federal financial aid programs and with the state of California for all state financial aid programs. Administers federal grant, loan, and work study programs.
• Administers the State University Grant, Cal Grant programs, and NCAA Athletic awards. Directs and handles student financial aid appeals and inquires.
• Directs the implementation of electronic automated systems and the purchase of required software. Oversees the appropriate accounting and proper disbursal of student aid.
• Oversees the accuracy and effectiveness of student awards prepared by financial aid staff and approves/denies all awards. Assures proper documentation of records for federal and state audit purposes.
• Develops, implements and oversees scholarship award and selection processes, consistent with governmental regulations, University priorities and donor specifications. Provides counsel and advice to campus leadership on pertinent issues relating to financial aid and scholarships. Serves as an active contributor on the enrollment Planning Administrative Advisory Group (EPAAG).
• Responsible for responding to all financial aid requests from the Chancellor’s Office and attending systemwide meetings.

Strategic Planning

• As a strategic partner, recommends, creates, and implements long and short-term strategic plan goals and operational plans for Financial Aid & Scholarships.
• Ensures Financial Aid & Scholarships goals align with and support the overall mission of the university.
• Motivates and encourages commitment to achievement of strategic plans. Effectively communicates the strategic initiatives.
• Accomplishes strategic goals for Financial Aid & Scholarships.

University/Community Partnership

• As a member of the campus community, ensures a community focused strategy to support the university’s mission.
• Identifies and anticipates community needs. Builds effective strategic alliances internally and externally.
• Collaborates with business partners in the achievement of university goals that support the university’s mission.
• Initiates and develops strong working relationships with the community. Recognizes the importance of collective strength, knowledge, and information. Actively solicits and acts upon feedback. Develops and implements solutions. Successfully negotiates through persuasion. Gains support and commitment from others.
• Works to find common ground and group consensus. Takes the necessary measures to solicit and influence internal and external support. Demonstrates commitment to diversity.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in related field plus six years of progressively responsible work experience in higher education financial aid administration, which includes a minimum of four years leading and/or supervising the work of others; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Preferred Skills and Knowledge

• Master’s Degree
• Work experience in an academic setting, ideally Public Higher Education.
• Demonstrated commitment and ability to advance the University’s goals in the areas of diversity and inclusive excellence.

Condition(s) of Employment

Satisfactory completion of a background check (including LiveScan, as appropriate), that may include, but is not limited to: criminal records check, verification of academic credentials, licenses, certificates, credit history, professional references and/or verification of work history is required for employment. Cal State East Bay will issue a conditional offer of employment to the selected candidate, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Unsatisfactory results may also affect the continued employment of current Cal State East Bay employees who were conditionally offered the position.

All background checks are conducted through the university's third party vendor, Accurate. LiveScan is conducted through the University Police Department.

EEO Statement

All university programs and activities are open and available to all regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, Cal State, East Bay provides equal opportunity in education and employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every student and employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities. The CSU 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.