San José State University
Director of Financial Aid and Scholarships
San José State University, San Jose, California, United States, 95199
Director of Financial Aid and Scholarships
San José State University is seeking an experienced and strategic leader to serve as the Director of the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office (FASO). Reporting to the Senior Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management, the Director is responsible for the overall administration, leadership, and fiscal management of the university’s financial aid and scholarship programs. Serving over 38,000 undergraduate and graduate students and managing over $420 million in aid annually, the Director will lead a team of approximately 25 employees and manage a department budget of $1.5 million. This role requires a visionary leader who excels in compliance, service delivery, communication, and operational efficiency while fostering an inclusive and student-centered environment.
Key Responsibilities
Lead the planning, management, and evaluation of all federal, state, institutional, and scholarship aid programs
Oversee regulatory compliance, fiscal accountability, and system implementation
Supervise and develop staff across counseling, operations, and scholarship functions
Collaborate with departments across campus to support student retention and timely graduation
Serve as the campus expert on financial aid and scholarship policy and reporting
Represent the university on internal and external committees, regional/national associations, and public events
Develop and implement strategic plans, assessment tools, and service improvement strategies
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Ability to communicate with constituents in a professional and respectful manner
Understanding of federal, state, CSU, and institutional financial aid and scholarship policies and practices, with the ability to research, interpret, and apply them effectively
Experience supervising financial aid and scholarship professional staff, with a commitment to professional development and building team capacity
Experience identifying, developing, and implementing short- and long-term strategic goals and initiatives that enhance student success, improve customer service, and align with divisional priorities
Ability to develop, implement, and manage a strategic plan in support of institutional enrollment and student success goals
Ability to translate business processes into functional and technical requirements to support system and workflow improvements and enhancements
Demonstrated knowledge of CMS, or relevant student information systems, database management, and imaging technology, as well as proficiency with word processing, spreadsheets, presentation tools, and related applications
Ability to leverage technology, automation, and data analytics to enhance financial aid processing, reporting, compliance, and student services
Ability to define problems, collect and analyze data, establish facts, draw valid conclusions, and recommend actionable solutions
Ability to prepare and manage program budgets, including developing proposals, making accurate projections, monitoring expenditures, and providing cost/benefit analysis regarding funding requests
Working knowledge of fiscal management and best practices
Ability to train, lead, and inspire individuals and teams to accomplish institutional and divisional goals and objectives
Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from managers, faculty, staff, students, media, and community members
Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals that clearly communicate complex policies and processes
Required Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in a related field
Five (5) years of relevant and progressively responsible management experience in an institution of higher education in Financial Aid & Scholarships
Preferred Qualifications
Master’s Degree in a related field
Seven (7) to ten (10) years of relevant and progressively responsible management experience in an institution of higher education in Financial Aid & Scholarships
Compensation Classification: Administrator III
Anticipated Hiring Range: $11,667/month - $12,500/month
CSU Salary Range: $6,891/month - $22,119/month
The final hiring salary will be commensurate with experience. San José State University offers employees a comprehensive benefits package typically worth 30-35% of base salary. For more information, see the Employee Benefits Summary.
Application Procedure Click Apply Now to complete the SJSU Online Employment Application and attach the following documents:
Resume
Letter of Interest
All applicants must apply within the specified application period:
September 24, 2025 through October 8, 2025 . This position is open until filled; however, applications received after screening has begun will be considered at the discretion of the university.
Contact Information University Personnel
j o b s at s j s u dot e d u
408-924-2252
Policy and Compliance CSU Vaccination Policy: The CSU strongly recommends that all individuals who access any in-person program or activity (on- or off-campus) follow CDC/CDPH vaccine recommendations and comply with safety measures established by each campus. Questions may be sent to jobs@sjsu.edu.
Additional Information: Satisfactory completion of a background check is required for employment. SJSU will issue a contingent offer of employment, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information. All background checks are conducted through Accurate Background. SJSU is not a sponsoring agency for staff or management positions. All employees are mandated reporters under applicable laws and CSU policy.
Equal Employment Statement San José State University is an equal opportunity employer. The university prohibits discrimination based on age, ancestry, caste, color, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military status, nationality, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, and veteran status. Reasonable accommodation is provided for applicants with disabilities. Title IX compliance is required.
Notes The job posting may include additional information such as related roles and general references to market data. The content above preserves the essential details of the role without unverifiable or extraneous material.
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San José State University is seeking an experienced and strategic leader to serve as the Director of the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office (FASO). Reporting to the Senior Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management, the Director is responsible for the overall administration, leadership, and fiscal management of the university’s financial aid and scholarship programs. Serving over 38,000 undergraduate and graduate students and managing over $420 million in aid annually, the Director will lead a team of approximately 25 employees and manage a department budget of $1.5 million. This role requires a visionary leader who excels in compliance, service delivery, communication, and operational efficiency while fostering an inclusive and student-centered environment.
Key Responsibilities
Lead the planning, management, and evaluation of all federal, state, institutional, and scholarship aid programs
Oversee regulatory compliance, fiscal accountability, and system implementation
Supervise and develop staff across counseling, operations, and scholarship functions
Collaborate with departments across campus to support student retention and timely graduation
Serve as the campus expert on financial aid and scholarship policy and reporting
Represent the university on internal and external committees, regional/national associations, and public events
Develop and implement strategic plans, assessment tools, and service improvement strategies
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Ability to communicate with constituents in a professional and respectful manner
Understanding of federal, state, CSU, and institutional financial aid and scholarship policies and practices, with the ability to research, interpret, and apply them effectively
Experience supervising financial aid and scholarship professional staff, with a commitment to professional development and building team capacity
Experience identifying, developing, and implementing short- and long-term strategic goals and initiatives that enhance student success, improve customer service, and align with divisional priorities
Ability to develop, implement, and manage a strategic plan in support of institutional enrollment and student success goals
Ability to translate business processes into functional and technical requirements to support system and workflow improvements and enhancements
Demonstrated knowledge of CMS, or relevant student information systems, database management, and imaging technology, as well as proficiency with word processing, spreadsheets, presentation tools, and related applications
Ability to leverage technology, automation, and data analytics to enhance financial aid processing, reporting, compliance, and student services
Ability to define problems, collect and analyze data, establish facts, draw valid conclusions, and recommend actionable solutions
Ability to prepare and manage program budgets, including developing proposals, making accurate projections, monitoring expenditures, and providing cost/benefit analysis regarding funding requests
Working knowledge of fiscal management and best practices
Ability to train, lead, and inspire individuals and teams to accomplish institutional and divisional goals and objectives
Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from managers, faculty, staff, students, media, and community members
Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals that clearly communicate complex policies and processes
Required Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in a related field
Five (5) years of relevant and progressively responsible management experience in an institution of higher education in Financial Aid & Scholarships
Preferred Qualifications
Master’s Degree in a related field
Seven (7) to ten (10) years of relevant and progressively responsible management experience in an institution of higher education in Financial Aid & Scholarships
Compensation Classification: Administrator III
Anticipated Hiring Range: $11,667/month - $12,500/month
CSU Salary Range: $6,891/month - $22,119/month
The final hiring salary will be commensurate with experience. San José State University offers employees a comprehensive benefits package typically worth 30-35% of base salary. For more information, see the Employee Benefits Summary.
Application Procedure Click Apply Now to complete the SJSU Online Employment Application and attach the following documents:
Resume
Letter of Interest
All applicants must apply within the specified application period:
September 24, 2025 through October 8, 2025 . This position is open until filled; however, applications received after screening has begun will be considered at the discretion of the university.
Contact Information University Personnel
j o b s at s j s u dot e d u
408-924-2252
Policy and Compliance CSU Vaccination Policy: The CSU strongly recommends that all individuals who access any in-person program or activity (on- or off-campus) follow CDC/CDPH vaccine recommendations and comply with safety measures established by each campus. Questions may be sent to jobs@sjsu.edu.
Additional Information: Satisfactory completion of a background check is required for employment. SJSU will issue a contingent offer of employment, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information. All background checks are conducted through Accurate Background. SJSU is not a sponsoring agency for staff or management positions. All employees are mandated reporters under applicable laws and CSU policy.
Equal Employment Statement San José State University is an equal opportunity employer. The university prohibits discrimination based on age, ancestry, caste, color, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military status, nationality, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, and veteran status. Reasonable accommodation is provided for applicants with disabilities. Title IX compliance is required.
Notes The job posting may include additional information such as related roles and general references to market data. The content above preserves the essential details of the role without unverifiable or extraneous material.
#J-18808-Ljbffr