The Associate Director serves as lead Financial Aid administrator, processor, and counselor for students regarding all Graduate School of Education and Psychology (GSEP) and Pepperdine Graziadio Business School (PGBS) financial aid programs. The Associate Director of Financial Aid works with the Financial Aid Advisors, Program Administrators, members of Student Accounts, members of the Enrollment Services Team, University Office of Financial Assistance, and members of University Enterprise Information Systems to provide administrative and planning support and leadership for the GSEP and PGBS Financial Aid Office.

Duties

• Department Management and Supervision: In conjunction with the Director of Student Financials, the Associate Director will:
  • Lead the Financial Aid department for PGBS and GSEP to ensure policies and procedures are developed, maintained, and followed.
  • Supervise the departmental employees across two schools to monitor workload, training, compliance, guidance, and professional development. Make sure work is divided up by function and school, ensuring cross-training where appropriate.
  • Have a strong, working knowledge of both graduate schools (GSEP and PGBS) and their program offerings so that decision-making and guidance can be shared with the support staff.
  • Work closely with the Director to create and implement policies and procedures to ensure compliance with institutional and federal policies.
• Loan and Financial Aid Processing: 
  • Oversee the processing of loan certifications for federal and private loans in conjunction with support staff.
  • Monitor the disbursement process of loans and ensure accuracy.
  • Resolve financial aid eligibility issues with federal government offices.
  • In conjunction with support staff, process the return of funds for Federal and private educational loans.
  • Stay updated on federal regulations and program changes as it relates to Federal Stafford Loans, and PLUS loans.
  • In conjunction with support staff, administer, calculate, and reconcile the return of Title IV funds as a result of student withdrawals.
  • Prepare documentation for annual internal audits.
  • Essential knowledge of California state financial aid programs (Cal Grant, Chaffee Grant, Golden State Teacher Grant).
  • Oversee the processing of Institutional Aid in conjunction with support staff.
  • In-depth knowledge of Undergraduate and Graduate federal financial aid programs, including Federal Direct Subsidized Loans, Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans, Federal Direct Grad PLUS Loan, and Private loans.
• Other duties as assigned: 
  • Perform other duties as assigned.
  • Attend appropriate workshops and conferences and maintain professional memberships.
  • Participate in teams, committees, and other group activities, including graduation ceremony activities.
• Uphold University mission through work performed.

The above information has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.

Skills and Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree and 5-10 years of higher education financial aid experience; or 7-10 years of higher education financial aid experience
• 3+ years of supervision experience
• Excellent interpersonal, public speaking, written, and oral communication skills
• Ability to deal with difficult people in a diplomatic way
• Ability to sustain productive, respectful, and collaborative working relationships with staff, faculty, and students
• Ability to present clearly and effectively
• Knowledge of PeopleSoft Student Administration and various financial aid electronic transfer software
• Must be service-oriented
• In-depth knowledge of federal financial aid programs, including Federal Unsubsidized, Grad PLUS, and Private Loans
• Experience with need analysis and packaging of student financial aid
• Basic knowledge of California state financial aid programs (Cal Grant, Chaffee Grant)
• In-depth understanding of federal financial aid regulations, including FSA eligibility and compliance
• Ability to analyze and integrate financial and student information to support decision-making
• Strong customer service skills with the ability to maintain professionalism and confidentiality when handling sensitive student information
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize multiple responsibilities and meet competing deadlines
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills to effectively interact with students, faculty, and staff
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a team-oriented environment

Preferred:

• Master's Degree
• 5+ years of supervisory experience

Qualified individuals should be able to show respect for workplace differences, and have the ability to work effectively with individuals from different backgrounds.

Offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of a criminal, education, and employment screening. The University conducts such screenings in compliance with applicable laws and with the objectives of evaluating risk and supporting a safe environment for students, faculty, staff, and guests; safeguarding key University assets including people, property, information, and the University’s reputation; and providing comprehensive job-related information to University leaders to enable them to make prudent hiring decisions. Qualified individuals with criminal histories will be considered for employment in compliance with applicable laws, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance.

This is a Regular, Exempt, 40 hour per week position.

Expected Pay Range: $77,000 - $82,000 per year 

The above pay range reflects what Pepperdine University reasonably expects to pay for this position at time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on relevant factors such as work experience, market conditions, education/training, and skill level. In addition to base pay, Pepperdine offers a robust and highly competitive benefits package.

Pepperdine is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of any status or condition protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.