Executive Director, Financial Aid and Scholarships

Who We Are

Founded in 1965,
UC Irvine is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities and is ranked among the nation's top 10 public universities by U.S. News & World Report. The campus has produced five Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UC Irvine has more than 36,000 students and offers 224 degree programs.

It is located in one of the world's safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange County's second-largest employer, contributing $7 billion annually to the local economy and $8 billion statewide.

To learn more about UC Irvine, visit (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..

The Division of Enrollment Management represents the Offices of Enrollment Management, Undergraduate Admissions, Financial Aid and Scholarships and the University Registrar. These key functional offices support the campus goals to recruit, retain and provide a first-in-class education to the most talented students, regardless of background.

The Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships is a key contributor to student success and student access in higher education, administering all types of financial assistance for eligible students demonstrating financial need, academic merit, and/or other merit factor(s). This includes, but is not limited to scholarships, grants, loans, and/or work‑study awards.

Under the general direction of the Vice Provost, Enrollment Management, the Executive Director of Financial Aid & Scholarships formulates organization student financial aid policy and fund utilization strategies to support University strategic goals. The incumbent is responsible for the management of the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships, including administration of all need‑based and merit‑based programs for undergraduate, graduate, and professional students.

They participate in development of industry regulations and oversee the satellite financial aid offices in the Paul Merage School of Business, the School of Law, and the School of Medicine. The Executive Director has ultimate organizational responsibility for accurate, efficient, and timely delivery of student aid in compliance with regulations.

Required:

• Expert knowledge of policies, regulations, and practices for awarding financial aid, including needs analysis and packaging.
• Expert knowledge of enterprise student aid management systems with advanced ability to maximize system utilization within a complex organization.
• Expert knowledge of techniques for recruitment and retention of students through financial aid.
• Expert knowledge of University and higher education policies, processes, and procedures related to budget, accounting, human resources, IT, and student services.
• Expert knowledge of advising and counseling techniques.
• Expert skills in policy and program development.
• Expert problem identification, critical thinking, and problem solving skills; judgment and decision‑making ability.
• Expert quantitative analysis and resource management skills.
• Advanced skills and experience in project management and organizational effectiveness.
• Expert written and verbal communication, active listening, persuasion, and negotiation skills.
• Skills in innovation and advanced techniques to empower a customer service orientation throughout the organization.
• Advanced ability to assess processes and facilitate the development and implementation of improvements throughout the organization.
• Expert interpersonal skills including social perceptiveness and the ability to use this in negotiations and discussions with others.
• Bachelor's degree in related area and/or equivalent experience/training.
• Demonstrated experience leading a team in a management capacity.

Preferred:

• Working knowledge of existing systems:
  Oracle Student Financial Planning, Kuali Financial System, Ellucian Scholarship Universe, Technolutions Slate, legacy self‑developed COBOL management systems, MS Power
  
  BI, MS Teams, Zoom.
• Expert skills in managing a large and/or complex department.
• Advanced degree preferred.

Special

Conditions:

• Occasional/seasonal nights and weekend work.
• Must…