Associate Director of Financial Aid Operations and Technology

San Jose, California
San Jose State University
Job Summary
Financial Aid and Scholarship Office is seeking an Associate Director of Financial Aid Operations and Technology to provide leadership and management for technology-supported services used in the administration of student financial aid programs. As a member of the office’s administrative team, this position oversees financial aid operations, customer service initiatives, technical systems, regulatory updates, and the development and implementation of automated financial aid processes. The position also provides leadership to Operations Team members and technical staff and assists with the development of policies, procedures, training, and operational communications.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide leadership for the implementation and administration of technology-supported financial aid services
• Participate in the CMS Instance Management Team and represent the campus at CSU Financial Aid Module meetings
• Manage electronic processes and data transfers involving EDConnect, the California Student Aid Commission, Department of Education, and Common Origination and Disbursement (COD)
• Oversee technical processing and reporting for federal, state, and institutional financial aid programs
• Develop and implement office-wide technical goals, policies, processing protocols, and procedures
• Manage financial aid communications throughout the application cycle and coordinate student messaging with Enrollment Services
• Serve as security administrator for the PeopleSoft financial aid module and ensure appropriate system access and compliance with FERPA and campus security protocols
• Create reports and provide detailed financial aid data to Student Affairs and other campus stakeholders
• Coordinate and troubleshoot imaging and workflow systems and support continuous process improvement

  Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

  • Ability to communicate with constituents in a professional and respectful manner
  • Working knowledge of, or the ability to develop proficiency in, the appropriate and ethical use of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), in higher education and administrative contexts
  • Ability to apply emerging technologies to support operational effectiveness, data-informed decision-making, and service delivery to students, faculty, and staff
  • Demonstrated ability to support continuous improvement and organizational learning through the responsible application of technology within assigned areas of responsibility
  • Ability to evaluate potential applications, promote responsible, ethical, and equitable use, and ensure alignment with institutional policies, regulatory requirements, and strategic priorities
  • Thorough knowledge of operational management practices and the ability to manage staff
  • Thorough knowledge of student information systems with the ability to learn PeopleSoft student financial aid modules
  • Thorough understanding of admission practices
  • Ability to interpret, apply, and explain federal and state reporting regulations for the financial aid reporting
  • Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, customers, and the general public
  • Possess knowledge of public administration principles, university infrastructure, practices, and methods
  • Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions, and to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with multiple abstract and concrete variables
  • Ability to compose and appropriately format correspondence and reports
  • Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference, to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions
  • Thorough knowledge of software applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and database management
  • General knowledge of the methods and problems of organizational and program management

    Required Qualifications

    • Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field
    • Five (5) or more of progressively responsible management experience in financial aid administration
    • Three (3) years of direct supervisory experience
    • Two (2) years of hands-on experience overseeing the technical administration of a system

      Preferred Qualifications

      • Master’s Degree in business administration or a related field, or equivalent management experience in higher education
      • Seven (7) or more years of progressively responsible management experience in financial aid administration or a related administrative area with at least three (3) years of direct supervisory experience
      • Experience in developing and managing different types of budgets (departmental, trust or auxiliary, financial aid, scholarship, etc.)
      • Direct experience with the administrative software system PeopleSoft
      • Experience with process reengineering and the use of technology (e.g., imaging and workflow systems) to enhance processing
      • Experience in enrollment management strategies for student recruitment, student retention, and graduation
      • Experience with outcomes-based assessment of financial aid programs
      • Involvement in professional associations and organizations

        Compensation
        Classification: Administrator II
        Anticipated Hiring Range: $8,545/month – $9,702/month
        CSU Salary Range: $5,053/month – $16,221/month

        The final hiring salary will be commensurate with experience.

        San Jose State University offers employees a comprehensive benefits package typically worth 30-35% of your base salary. For more information on programs available, please see the .

        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: August 19, 2026 through September 2, 2026. This position is open until filled; however, applications received after screening has begun will be considered at the discretion of the university.

          Contact Information
          People and Culture

          CSU Vaccination Policy
          The CSU strongly recommends that all individuals who access any in-person program or activity (on- or off-campus) operated or controlled by the University follow COVID-19 vaccine recommendations adopted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) applicable to their age, medical condition, and other relevant indications and comply with other safety measures established by each campus. The system wide policy can be found at and questions may be sent to .

          Additional Information
          Satisfactory completion of a background check (including a criminal records check) is required for employment. SJSU will issue a contingent 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. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current CSU employee who was offered the position on a contingent basis.

          The standard background check includes: criminal check, employment, and education verification. Depending on the position, a motor vehicle and/or credit check may be required. All background checks are conducted through the university’s third-party vendor, Accurate Background. Some positions may also require fingerprinting. SJSU will pay all costs associated with this procedure. Evidence of required degree(s) or certification(s) will be required at time of hire.

          SJSU IS NOT A SPONSORING AGENCY FOR STAFF OR MANAGEMENT POSITIONS. (e.g. H1-B VISAS)

          All San Jose State University employees are considered mandated reporters under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and are required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment. Incumbent is also required to promptly report any knowledge of a possible Title IX related incident to the Title IX Office or report any discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation to the Office of Equal Opportunity.

          Education Code 89521 Requirements: Applicants will be required to disclose whether they have received a final administrative decision or final judicial decision determining that they have committed sexual harassment within the last 7 years only after a determination is made that they meet the minimum qualifications for the position, and before an offer of employment is extended. Applicants who reach the final stages of the application process must also sign a release form that authorizes the release of information by the applicant’s current and/or former employers to the CSU concerning any substantiated allegations of misconduct.

          Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act and Campus Housing Fire Safety Notification:
          Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, the Annual Security Report (ASR) is also now available for viewing at The ASR contains the current security and safety-related policy statements, emergency preparedness and evacuation information, crime prevention and Sexual Assault prevention information, and information about drug and alcohol prevention programming. The ASR also contains statistics of Clery crimes for San Jose State University locations for the three most recent calendar years . click apply for full job details