Associate Director

About the Role

The University of Southern California’s Office of Financial Aid supports USC’s commitment to access, affordability, and student success by administering financial aid programs and providing comprehensive guidance to students and families. The Associate Director will oversee the staff and day-to-day operations of an assigned financial aid program or unit while ensuring compliance with federal, state, institutional, and university requirements. Reporting to the Associate Dean, this role provides operational leadership, supervises and develops staff, resolves complex financial aid matters, and collaborates with campus partners to deliver accurate, responsive, and student-centered services.

Responsibilities

• Leadership and Staff Development
  • Manage the daily operations and staff of an assigned financial aid program or unit.
  • Recruit, interview, hire, train, schedule, and assign work to staff and student employees.
  • Establish performance expectations, assess employee performance, provide feedback, and address performance concerns.
  • Identify staff training needs and support professional development and growth.
  • Foster a collaborative, accountable, and service-oriented work environment.
  • Establish program goals and objectives and evaluate performance against established standards.
• Financial Aid Operations and Compliance
  • Oversee financial aid packaging, processing, and related operational activities.
  • Ensure compliance with federal, state, institutional, and university policies and regulations.
  • Interpret financial aid policies and provide technical guidance to staff and campus partners.
  • Review and resolve complex or escalated student cases, including requests for exceptions and professional judgment considerations.
  • Identify operational challenges and recommend changes, enhancements, or process improvements based on data, feedback, and program evaluation.
  • Maintain current knowledge of financial aid regulations, programs, policies, and industry practices.
• Student and Family Support
  • Counsel students, applicants, and families regarding financial aid eligibility, awards, policies, and available resources.
  • Evaluate complex student circumstances and determine appropriate actions related to financial aid awards.
  • Provide individualized guidance considering students’ academic goals, housing circumstances, extracurricular commitments, and career objectives.
  • Communicate financial aid information clearly, accurately, and respectfully to individuals from diverse backgrounds.
  • Support the delivery of accessible, responsive, and student-centered financial aid services.
• Financial Stewardship, Data, and Reporting
  • Develop, administer, and monitor assigned program budgets.
  • Oversee the appropriate disbursement of scholarships, emergency loans, and other financial awards.
  • Coordinate the maintenance and enhancement of internal recordkeeping and data-management systems.
  • Monitor data quality, reliability, and accuracy.
  • Analyze program data and prepare statistical, operational, and financial reports.
  • Identify trends and develop conclusions and recommendations to improve financial aid programs and services.
• Collaboration, Outreach, and Program Administration
  • Partner with university offices to coordinate the design and delivery of financial aid programs and services.
  • Maintain ongoing communication with campus partners to support integrated and consistent service delivery.
  • Collaborate with donors, lenders, external agencies, and financial aid professionals at other institutions to exchange information, resolve issues, and provide requested reports.
  • Plan and deliver workshops, presentations, seminars, and informational sessions for students, families, and other audiences.
  • Develop communications and informational materials that promote awareness and understanding of financial aid programs and services.
  • Participate in university committees and professional associations to maintain professional knowledge and support institutional initiatives.
  • Support departmental emergency-response and recovery responsibilities, including mobilizing staff when required.
  • Perform other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Minimum of 3 years of lead or supervisory experience in financial aid counseling.
• Strong analytical, assessment, and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, projects, and deadlines while maintaining accuracy and attention to detail.
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Experience resolving conflicts and communicating sensitive or complex information.
• Ability to develop and monitor budgets and financial activity.
• Experience working with recordkeeping, reporting, or data-management systems.
• Strong organizational, planning, scheduling, and project-management skills.
• Ability to work effectively and collaboratively with students, families, staff, faculty, university leadership, and external partners.
• Proficiency with standard office technology, computer systems, and financial aid or student-information systems.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree.
• Experience managing a financial aid program, functional unit, or student-services operation.
• Knowledge of USC financial aid programs, plans, systems, and procedures.
• Knowledge of federal, state, institutional, and external financial aid programs and policies.
• Experience with financial aid systems, customer-relationship management platforms, reporting tools, or student-information systems.
• Experience using data and assessment findings to improve operations, service delivery, or program outcomes.
• Experience developing and delivering presentations, workshops, or training programs.
• Experience working in a complex higher-education environment.

Pay

The salary range for this position is $84,000 - $94,000.