Associate Director (Financial Aid Manager) – Office of Fellowships and Financial Aid

Associate Director (Financial Aid Manager) – Office of Fellowships and Financial Aid

POSITION DETAILS The Graduate Center (GC) is the focal point for advanced teaching and research at the City University of New York (CUNY), the nation's largest urban public university. With over 35 doctoral and master’s programs of the highest caliber, the Graduate Center fosters pioneering research and scholarship in the arts and sciences and prepares students for careers in universities and the private, nonprofit, and government sectors.

The Graduate

Center’s commitment to research and scholarship for the public good is exemplified by its more than 30 centers, institutes, and initiatives, including its Advanced Science Research Center (ASRC), a 200,000 square-foot facility in upper Manhattan, designed to promote collaboration among scientists in five areas of global research and innovation: nanoscience, photonics, structural biology, neuroscience, and environmental sciences.

The Graduate Center (GC) benefits from highly ambitious and diverse students and alumni—who in turn teach hundreds of thousands of undergraduates every year. Through its public programs, the Graduate Center enhances New York City’s intellectual and cultural life.

Reporting to the Director of Fellowships and Financial Aid, the Associate Director assists the director with the awarding and processing of financial aid for doctoral and master’s degree students in accordance with Federal, State, and University standards for the GC. The Associate Director performs standard financial aid duties such as needs analysis, verification, loan processing, and satisfactory academic progress monitoring.

All full-time CUNY staff are expected to work in-person at their campus office 80% of their work time. This hybrid work schedule is subject to change.

Duties include but are not limited to

• Manages day-to-day administrative and systems operations for optimal efficiency and customer service; manages special processes as necessary.
• Serves as a resource and liaison with program offices, administrative offices, and students regarding financial aid matters.
• Serves as primary point of contact for managing School of Journalism (SOJ) financial aid matters. Manages awarding and processing of SOJ Federal Work Study awards.
• Provides comprehensive financial counseling to current and prospective students.
• Implements all necessary processes to support financial aid application, awarding and delivery cycles.
• Oversees the coordination of financial aid activities with those of other College and University offices.
• Develops and maintains the Graduate Center’s financial literacy curriculum, including online modules and future in-person sessions.
• Creates, edits and updates content on office’s website and office’s Blue Sky social media account.
• Represents the office, as needed, at meetings concerning financial aid matters.
• Supervises the office’s graduate assistants (GA). Creates and maintains GA schedule for each semester. Assists with GA training initiatives.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor's Degree and six years' related experience required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree
• Thorough knowledge of Federal, State, and institutional financial aid programs
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively and collaboratively with faculty, staff and students
• Effective technology skills including familiarity with Peoplesoft. Experience with SQL and/or query writing in PeopleSoft is strongly preferred.
• Excellent customer service and organizational skills
• Experience delivering a financial literacy curriculum
• Experience in supervising staff
• Experience working in a higher education institution
• Ability to work occasional evenings and/or weekends
• Experience in counseling, advising, and/or informing students
• Experience in training colleagues or staff
• Experience in using social media platforms such as Blue Sky, Instagram, or Threads to engage students and deliver content.
• Strong presentation skills

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. Sponsorship will not be offered for this position.

CUNY TITLE OVERVIEW

Plans, develops and implements financial aid policies and processes in accordance with Federal, State and University standards.

• Manages financial aid activities and represents the office at on-campus and off-campus meetings and forums
• Manages day-to day administrative and systems operations for optimal efficiency and customer service; manages special processes such as Return of Title IV Aid
• Provides comprehensive financial counseling to parents an