Director of Financial Aid Services
Job Description
Posting Number
20141895SPosition Title
Director of Financial Aid ServicesLocation
Cañada CollegeDepartment
Financial Aid CAÑ (DEPT)Position Number
3C0158Percentage of Full Time
100%FLSA
Exempt (does not accrue overtime)Months per Year
12Min Salary
$139,320 (annual)Max Salary
$176,448 (annual)Position Type
Administrative/Supervisory PositionsWho We Are
The San Mateo County Community College District is committed to achieving educational equity for all students. As outlined in the District’s Strategic Plan, “success, equity, and social justice for our students are longstanding goals.” The District’s “Students First” Strategic Plan is focused on "Student Success, Equity and Social Justice.” We provide students with a rich and dynamic learning experience that embraces our commitment to provide quality education and promote life-long learning — emphasizing collaboration and engaging students in and out of the classroom, encouraging them to realize their goals, and to become global citizens and socially responsible leaders. When you join our San Mateo County Community College District team, you can expect to be part of an inclusive, innovative and equity-focused community that approaches higher education as a matter of social justice. We achieve this through broad collaboration among faculty and classified staff, administration, students and community partners.
The College and the District
Cañada College is part of the San Mateo County Community College District and is designated as both a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI), enrolling approximately 10,000 students each academic year. Cañada College has a diverse student population that reflects the communities that it serves. For more than 50 years, Cañada College has provided enriching educational opportunities for the residents of San Mateo County. With the support and guidance from award-winning faculty and staff, residents can pursue certificates and degrees for career training or for transfer to four-year colleges and universities. Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, Cañada College offers hundreds of day, evening, and weekend courses in more than 40 quality instructional programs with a variety of innovative student support services. Detailed information about the student population, including data related to student success, can be found on Cañada College’s Office of Planning, Research, Innovation, & Effectiveness (PRIE)website.
Who We Want
We value the ability to serve students from a broad range of academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, racial and ethnic backgrounds. We prioritize applicants who demonstrate an understanding of the benefits that diversity brings to a professional educational community. The successful candidate will be an equity-minded individual who is committed to collaborating with faculty, classified staff, administration, students and community partners in strengthening the culture of equity and antiracism throughout the District. The San Mateo County Community District seeks employees who value mentorship and working in a collegial, collaborative environment, guided by a commitment to helping students achieve their educational goals.
The Position
The Director of Financial Aid Services performs professional supervisory work involved in strategic planning, implementation, supervision and evaluation of financial aid and related programs, services and staffing for a community college. The employee is responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive program of student financial aid services, and for assessing their effectiveness relative to the student population. Public contact is extensive and includes students, staff, other educational institutions, funding and governmental agencies, and the general public for the purpose of exchanging information related to College and District policies and related procedures. A high degree of independent judgment and creativity are required to interpret and adapt required regulations to District policies and procedures, and to develop, implement and evaluate a variety of student programs. Consequences of errors in judgment could be costly in quality of service delivery, funding, public relations and employee time. A Director of Financial Aid Services can supervise the work of staff at various levels, student assistants and volunteers as assigned.
Duties and Responsibilities
The duties below are representative of the duties of the classification and are not intended to cover all of the duties performed by the incumbent(s) of any particular position. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the scope of work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to this classification.
- Exchanges information with funding sources, government agency representatives, students, staff, other educational institutions, and the general public regarding College and District financial aid and related program policies and procedures
- Serves as primary technical resource for the College and District regarding financial aid and various related student services
- Attends workshops, conferences, and other events to obtain current information related to financial aid and related student services
- Makes presentations to small and large groups to publicize and present information related to the services offered, eligibility and follow-up
- Participates on student recruitment teams
- Drives a motor vehicle to visit off-campus sites
- Trains, supervises and evaluates the work of staff
- Makes recommendations for the employment of new staff
- Confers with management and other staff regarding short- and long-range service delivery, program planning, implementation, evaluation of program services and staff
- Implements a continuing education training program for staff to update employees on required program elements
- Sets up and maintains a database of student and funding agency records in conjunction with other colleges, information technology, and other District staff
- Enters, modifies, and retrieves confidential and other detailed online data regarding student participants and program services
- Directs and participates in the design of required College and District forms
- Provides input into the design and modification of various computer programs, screens, and reports
- Uses a variety of computer software to research, compile data for, format and prepare financial, demographic, statistical and other special and regular reports, correspondence, electronic communications and other materials
- Tracks and reports on trends in student population changes, economic status, college completion rates, student usage of related College services, and other data
- Researches data for and completes required funding agency and District reports and surveys
- Makes presentations to management and other groups about status of financial aid and other related student services
- Researches and initiates new funding resources of student financial aid; directs a student job placement program
- Serves as primary program director for new financial aid and related student services programs
- Composes and prepares reports, correspondence, memoranda, and other written materials
- Develops and maintains written and online documentation of financial and related student services policies and procedures, including desk manuals and publicity materials
- Confers with students, staff and others, as applicable, to resolve complex application and eligibility issues; reviews funding and other student applications, and issues final decisions regarding eligibility
- Confers with lead and other staff to evaluate student eligibility, program changes, enrollment trends, strategic plans for program updates, improvements in customer services, timelines, required deadlines, and other logistical issues
- Performs other related duties as assigned
Minimum Qualifications
- A combination of education and experience equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree in business administration or a closely related field
- Successful work experience of increasing responsibility in financial assistance or related eligibility and client services that has included educational, governmental, private, and other agency financial donors
- Experience with the implementation and evaluation of detailed regulations
- Skill in written and oral communication, including public speaking
- Skill in compiling data for and preparation of statistical, financial, and other data for a variety of reports
- Skill in the use of spreadsheet and other computer software
- Skill in training, directing, supervising, and evaluating the work of others
- Demonstrated cultural competence, sensitivity to, and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, ethnic, neurodivergent, and LGBTQIA+ backgrounds of community college students, faculty, and staff
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Knowledge of the resources available for financial aid, such as loans, grants, vouchers and scholarships to California community college districts
- Knowledge of the regulations, policies and required procedures of student financial aid funding resources
- Skill in strategic program planning, implementation, evaluation and modification
- Knowledge of management techniques related to budgeting, reporting, and record keeping of financial and other student data
- Skill in training, supervising and evaluating the work of staff
- Skill in planning, implementing and evaluating a program budget
- Skill in using a variety of computer software and a database to set up and track complex data, research, format, and prepare statistical, financial and other reports, correspondence, and other materials
- Skill in equity-minded and effective communication with people at various levels within an organization who are diverse in their academic, socioeconomic, ethnic, neurodivergent, and LGBTQIA+ backgrounds
- Skill in oral communication, including persuasive communication and public speaking
- Ability to establish and maintain an effective and efficient work team which promotes high-quality customer service ideals
Physical Requirements
This classification requires sitting for long periods of time, pushing, pulling, and visual acuity. The ability to type, use phone, stand intermittently, walk, bend and stoop, occasionally lift, carry, or otherwise move objects of light to moderate weight, work at a computer, including sitting and viewing a monitor for various lengths of time, repetitive use of keyboard, mouse or other control device, dexterity of hands and fingers to operate keyboard, ability to communicate and provide information to others; ability to operate a motor vehicle and drive to off campus locations in order to perform the essential functions.
Benefits
Benefits include paid holidays, vacation and sick leave. The District pays all or a portion of monthly medical plan premiums (depending on the coverage) and pays all of the monthly dental and vision plan premiums for employees and eligible dependents. Additional paid benefits include life insurance, salary continuance insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program. Classified employees participate in the Public Employees’ Retirement System, a defined-benefit retirement plan through the State of California. Optional tax-deferred 403(b) and 457 retirement plans are also available.
Open Date
10/21/2024First Review Date
11/11/2024Open Until Filled
YesSpecial Instructions Summary
Required Application Materials
All applicants are required to submit:
1. A completed online District application form (go to https://jobs.smccd.edu to complete the application and to apply for this position).
2. A resume that details all relevant education, training, and other work experience.
3. A cover letter of no more than 3 pages that addresses the applicant’s cultural competence, sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, ethnic, neurodivergent, and LGBTQIA+ backgrounds of community college students, faculty and staff as well as the applicant’s qualifications as they relate to the requirements, knowledge, skills, and abilities listed in this announcement.
Candidates for interview will be selected from among those who most closely meet the requirements and knowledge, skills and abilities. Meeting the minimum qualifications does not guarantee an interview. As part of the interview process, candidates may be asked to demonstrate job-related knowledge and skills.
For questions related to this posting, please contact:
SMCCCD Office of Human Resources
3401 CSM Drive
San Mateo, CA 94402
Tel.: (650) 574-6555
Fax: (650) 574-6574
Email: smccdjobs@smccd.edu
Web Page: https://smccd.edu/humanresources/
All applicants are required to submit:
1. A completed online District application form (go to https://jobs.smccd.edu to complete the application and to apply for this position).
2. A resume that details all relevant education, training, and other work experience.
3. A cover letter of no more than 3 pages that addresses the applicant’s cultural competence, sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, ethnic, neurodivergent, and LGBTQIA+ backgrounds of community college students, faculty and staff as well as the applicant’s qualifications as they relate to the requirements, knowledge, skills, and abilities listed in this announcement.
Candidates for interview will be selected from among those who most closely meet the requirements and knowledge, skills and abilities. Meeting the minimum qualifications does not guarantee an interview. As part of the interview process, candidates may be asked to demonstrate job-related knowledge and skills.
For questions related to this posting, please contact:
SMCCCD Office of Human Resources
3401 CSM Drive
San Mateo, CA 94402
Tel.: (650) 574-6555
Fax: (650) 574-6574
Email: smccdjobs@smccd.edu
Web Page: https://smccd.edu/humanresources/
Conditions of Employment
Prior to employment, the selected candidate will be required to complete the following:
1. Submit official transcripts (applies to all faculty or educational administrative positions)
2. Submit verifications of prior employment
3. Satisfactory references
4. Successfully being cleared for employment through the background checking process
In addition to background checks, the District may review publicly available information about a candidate on the Internet. If a candidate is aware of incorrect or inaccurate information that is available on the Internet, the candidate is welcome to address such an issue with the Office of Human Resources.
5. Present original documents for proof of eligibility to work in the United States
6. Approval of your employment by the SMCCCD Board of Trustees
7. Provide a certificate of Tuberculosis exam for initial employment.
8. Have fingerprints taken by a Live Scan computer (Clearance must be received prior to first day of employment). Please note that the California Education Code requires, in part, that community college districts shall not employ or retain in employment persons in public school service who have been convicted of certain felonies, a misdemeanor drug charge (including alcohol offenses) or misdemeanor moral turpitude (sexual offense) crime. However, consideration may be given to those whose drug convictions occurred more than five years ago. A conviction for other crimes may not necessarily disqualify you from the job for which you may be applying.
1. Submit official transcripts (applies to all faculty or educational administrative positions)
2. Submit verifications of prior employment
3. Satisfactory references
4. Successfully being cleared for employment through the background checking process
In addition to background checks, the District may review publicly available information about a candidate on the Internet. If a candidate is aware of incorrect or inaccurate information that is available on the Internet, the candidate is welcome to address such an issue with the Office of Human Resources.
5. Present original documents for proof of eligibility to work in the United States
6. Approval of your employment by the SMCCCD Board of Trustees
7. Provide a certificate of Tuberculosis exam for initial employment.
8. Have fingerprints taken by a Live Scan computer (Clearance must be received prior to first day of employment). Please note that the California Education Code requires, in part, that community college districts shall not employ or retain in employment persons in public school service who have been convicted of certain felonies, a misdemeanor drug charge (including alcohol offenses) or misdemeanor moral turpitude (sexual offense) crime. However, consideration may be given to those whose drug convictions occurred more than five years ago. A conviction for other crimes may not necessarily disqualify you from the job for which you may be applying.
EEO Statement
The San Mateo County Community College District is an Equal Opportunity Employer that seeks to employ individuals who represent the rich diversity of cultures, language groups, and abilities of its surrounding communities.
Accommodations
Applicants who have disabilities may request that special accommodations be made in order to complete the selection process. Accommodation requests and a copy of the Americans with Disabilities Act applicant procedures can be made by completing our: Applicant Reasonable Accommodation Request Form
Annual Security Report
San Mateo County Community College District’s (SMCCCD) 2024 Annual Security Report (ASR), required by the Clery Act, includes statistics for the previous three years (2021–2023) concerning reported crimes that occurred on campus; in certain off-campus buildings owned or controlled by SMCCCD; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from SMCCCD. The 2024 Annual Security Report also outlines various campus safety and security policies concerning crime reporting, prevention and response to sexual and gender violence, alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, emergency response and evacuation procedures, and other matters. The Annual Security Report also includes important tips to help every community member remain safe and avoid becoming a victim of crime. The 2024 Annual Security Report is now available on the Public Safety website. You can also obtain a copy of this report by contacting the Department of Public Safety at the District Office or any of the three Campuses (650) 738-7000. The report includes information about criminal activity on our campuses, emergency procedures, and resources.
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