Job Description Summary

DEFINITION
Under direction of the Associate Dean of Financial Aid and Records, the Associate Director of Financial Aid is responsible for maintaining the District’s eligibility for state and federal financial aid programs as well as provide oversight of the day to day operations of the financial aid offices.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
This position is distinguished from other positions in financial aid by its specific focus on maintaining program and institutional eligibility and facilitation of student awards.

Incumbents in this position support student learning outcomes and institutional effectiveness by promoting the economic stability a student needs to meet their student learning goals successfully.

ABOUT THE COLLEGE
Where You Will Work
Serving all of San Luis Obispo County, Cuesta College has provided comprehensive associate degree offerings, certificates, and community programs to the region since 1964. The main campus is located along scenic highway 1, west of San Luis Obispo and east of the beaches of the Pacific Ocean. Cuesta College has a North County Campus in Paso Robles, and South County Center, in Arroyo Grande.
Who We Are
Equity, diversity, and inclusion are essential to our culture and the work we do. Cuesta College is proud to be a designated Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) committed to racial and socio-economic diversity as it reflects our communities and student populations. We actively seek to attract candidates who share this commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion. As part of the Cuesta College team, you can expect to be part of a collaborative community of faculty, classified professionals, administrators, students, and community partners advancing educational excellence with intentional support services leading to student success and completion.

Additional information about the college can be found at
https://www.cuesta.edu/about/index.html
The college planning documents can be found at
https://www.cuesta.edu/about/collegeplans/index.html
Our Student Equity Action Plan can be found at
https://www.cuesta.edu/about/info/equity/index.html
We offer comprehensive benefit options. Information about benefits can be found at
https://www.cuesta.edu/about/depts/benefits-insurance/index.html

Essential Functions & Qualifications

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• 
  Supervise the daily operation of the department and delivery of financial aid services with an emphasis on customer service;
• Recruits, hires, trains, supervises, and evaluates all short-term employees, student workers, interns, and work-study students in the Financial Aid department;
• Drive a culture of regulatory excellence within the Financial Aid department;
• Train all financial aid employees on policies, procedures, and processes, thereby ensuring departmental compliance with all applicable federal, state, and institutional rules and regulations;
• Coordinate with other managers across the District to ensure that all consumer information is collected and disclosed in compliance with all applicable federal, state, and institutional rules and regulations;
• Plan, develop, and implement annual internal program audits that evaluate the accuracy of information and internal controls, the degree of internal and external risk, the potential exposure and the degree of compliance with all applicable internal and external guidelines, policies, and regulations;
• Oversee processes related to returns of Title IV funds (R2T4) and is responsible for all related notifications to students and the US Department of Education;
• Collect data and prepare materials related to program and institutional eligibility well in advance of submission or disclosure deadlines;
• Implement and test all information system updates related to regulatory changes and software updates;
• Attend annual professional development, workshops, conferences, and meetings to stay abreast of changes in state and federal regulations;
• Manage communication and information access for internal, state, and federal auditors;
• Serve as a resource to the college in the recruitment and retention of students throughout the District;
• Follow up on audit recommendations to assure correction of deficient or exposed areas previously reported, and implementation of agreed-upon corrective action;
• Coordinate with the Associate Dean of Financial Aid and Records to develop, implement, and maintain internal controls and procedures across the District to minimize risk exposure;
• Assist the Associate Dean of Financial Aid and Records in developing departmental policies, procedures, and processes;
• Assist the Associate Dean of Financial Aid and Records in the preparation of federal, state, and institutional reports;
• Supervise financial aid staff in coordination with the Associate Dean of Financial Aid and Records and;
• Collaborate on development and implementation of effective practices for the evaluation of student external transcripts;
• Facilitate development and implementation of effective practices and procedures for the Cuesta Promise Program; and
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS
Education:
Required

• Bachelor’s degree.

Experience:
Required

• Three years of direct experience in Financial Aid with increased responsibility over time; five years preferred;

Preferred

• One year of supervisory experience in a financial aid office;
• Experience administering Federal Direct Student Loan program, including data submission to COD; and
• Experience with COD and NSLDS.

Knowledge of:

• Expert knowledge of state and federal financial aid regulations;
• Financial aid software (e.g. EdConnect, Banner Financial Aid, etc.);
• Current technologies, personal computer, and associated office software such as word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, and/or database software;
• Correct usage of English, grammar, spelling, punctuation, and vocabulary; and
• District policies and procedures.

Ability to:

• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with all people contacted in the performance of duties;
• Provide administrative guidance within area of responsibility, including direct training and supervision as needed; and
• Demonstrate a sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds of staff and students and of staff and students with physical and learning disabilities.

Physical ability to:

• Read and comprehend printed matter and text and data on computer monitors;
• Communicate intelligibly and effectively via speech, telephone, written correspondence, and/or email;
• Sit or stand for extended periods of time;
• Lift and/or carry 25 pounds;
• Exert manual dexterity sufficient for keyboard and other office equipment operation; and
• Work at a desk, conference table, or in meetings of various configurations.

License and Certificates (current within the last year) :
Required
Valid driver’s license and eligible to obtain California driver’s license upon hire.

Additional Information

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS TO APPLY
Candidates will be required to submit ALL of the required documents below when applying for this position. When uploading documents, PDF uploads are preferred.

• Cover letter;
• Resume;
• Reference List (see further instructions below);
• Diversity statement (see further instructions below).

Completed online applications and all supporting documents must be submitted by the closing date for this position. LATE, INCOMPLETE, FAXED, MAILED OR EMAILED APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

SALARY SCHEDULE
Below is the full salary schedule range for this position, steps A through E. Per Cuesta College’s bargaining agreement, new employees are placed at Steps A through C, which is the anticipated hiring range also listed below. The bargaining agreement also includes step and longevity increases. For a full salary schedule, please see our website: https://www.cuesta.edu/about/depts/humanresources/salary_schedules.html

• Salary Schedule Range: $7,284 - $8,854 per month.
• Anticipated Hiring Range: $7,284 - $8,031 per month.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Cuesta College will not sponsor any visa applications.

San Luis Obispo County Community College District ("Cuesta College") is an equal opportunity employer committed to nondiscrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, medical condition, pregnancy (including pregnancy, childbirth, and medical conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth), age, disability (physical and mental), genetic information, military and veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal and state law in admission and access to, or treatment in employment, educational programs or activities at any of its campuses. Reasonable accommodations will be provided for applicants with disabilities who self-disclose. Cuesta College also prohibits harassment on any of these bases, including sexual harassment, as well as sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking.

In compliance with California law, all prospective staff and students are entitled to read the Annual Security Report, published each October by the Cuesta College Department of Public Safety. This report contains information about our emergency and crime reporting procedures, as well as crime statistics for the past 3 years. You may request a copy of this report at one of our two Public Safety Offices: on SLO campus at Building 6600A or on North County Campus at building N1021, during campus business hours. You may also access the complete text of this report at the following website address: https://www.cuesta.edu/about/depts/publicsafety/clery_act

Cuesta College uses E-Verify as part of the I-9 process to verify the work eligibility of all new hires. E-Verify is an Internet-based system that compares information from an employee's Form I-9 to data from U.S Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration records. For further information, visit: https://www.cuesta.edu/about/depts/humanresources/Job_Opportunities.html

Interview Process Information

Selected applicants will be invited to attend a Zoom interview on Monday, May 8, 2023.

Second interviews will be held via Zoom on Tuesday, May 16, 2023.