Director, Financial Aid and Scholarships

Anticipated start date:
July 1, 2026

Class specifications are intended to present a descriptive list of the range of duties performed by employees in the class.  Specifications are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job; however, any additional duties will be reasonably related to this class.

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION

Under general direction, plans, directs, and administers a comprehensive financial aid program that includes federal, state, and local aid, grants, scholarship, outreach services, loans, and other types of financial assistance.

REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES

The following duties are typical for this classification.

* Develops institutional financial aid and scholarship policy, philosophy, standards, and procedures in support of institutional goals and in compliance with applicable regulations.

* Coordinates and directs the various activities of a designated financial aid office and staff.

* Provides current updated information about financial aid programs; requirements for financial aid eligibility such as unit requirements, academic standing student loan default.

* Maintains Title IV Participation Agreement with the U.S. Department of Education; submits new programs for approval of funding and ensures compliance with Title IV aid programs.

* Manages annual budget process; approves and monitors office expenditures; monitors fund balances; maximizes usage of grant funds to prevent over awards.

* Oversees the processing of institutional and external scholarships, including the coordination of the respective committee and applicant eligibility review.

* Performs need analysis using both institutional and federal methodologies for incoming and returning students, and awards institutional and federal grants, loans, and scholarships.

* Assists the District staff in compiling data for various reports such as the annual funding application, fiscal operations report, basic grant report, California Guaranteed Student Loan reports and the Cal Grant B and C year-end reports; provides information during audits and official reviews as needed.

* Supports and actively participates in the college's major initiatives for process improvement in financial aid and student services; formulates and implements procedures to assure efficient and effective operations, workflow and responsive service to applicants.

* Supervises the evaluation and applications, support documents, and student need analysis criteria to properly package awards for financial aid.

* Within District policy and procedures, establish standards and award policy and determine eligibility, authorizing the prepared packages in compliance with applicable federal and state program regulations and guidelines.

* Collaborates with IT and third-party servicers to administer technology implementations and enhancements, including the financial aid module in the student information system (SIS), as well as federal and state systems, digital imaging technology, and other applications; oversees annual financial aid and scholarship system set-up.

* Prepares and maintains department records and files.

* Coordinates a variety of other departments within the college to assure timely processing of financial aid and to disseminate program information to students and staff concerning financial aid opportunities and procedural requirements.

* Maintains subject matter expertise in federal, state, and institutional financial aid regulations; attends and participates in program related conferences and workshops or other meetings concerned with the implementation of federal and state law, revising information as necessary to comply with changes.

* Provides leadership and professional growth opportunities, makes employment recommendations, trains, supervises and evaluates the performance of financial aid staff, clerical support and student workers assigned to the area; applies disciplinary measures as appropriate.

* Organizes, compiles, prepares and maintains annual and other periodic reports for distribution to District administration and federal and state agencies.

* Monitors the fee-deferment segment of the financial aid program.

* Develops and executes the…