Director, Student Financial Support

Responsibilities

• Provides leadership, direction, and expertise in the development and central administration for all graduate student financial support at UCSB, including fellowships, academic appointments, and fee remission programs.
• Manages the Graduate Student Financial Support unit and oversees all financial support activities originating in 45 academic departments and programs.
• Applies deep technical expertise to guide and manage the unit, focusing on building a cohesive, well‑functioning team.
• Leads development of the Graduate Division's student financial support programs and budget strategies to conceptualize, recommend, implement, and assess funding models.
• Serves as strategic advisor to the Associate Vice Chancellor and Dean on graduate student financial support, providing decision support on complex funding issues, evaluating policy implications, and modeling multi‑year financial sustainability.
• Directs the Division's campus‑wide authority on graduate academic appointment policy and labor contract compliance, supervising the Graduate Appointment Policy Analyst regarding ASE and GSR collective bargaining agreements.
• Develops strategies to maximize effectiveness of the graduate fellowship support budget (>$28 million).
• Oversees distribution of over $7 million in non‑central endowment and extramural funds held by academic departments.
• Oversees the campus‑wide graduate student employment fee remission program (>$30 million).
• Provides stewardship for the Division's financial‑support related information systems and collaborates with ITS on priority development, maintenance, and resourcing.
• Serves as liaison with other campus units including Accounting Services and Controls, Billing and Accounts Receivable, Budget and Planning, Financial Aid, Information Systems and Computing, Instructional Computing, Institutional Advancement, Office of International Students and Scholars, Office of the Registrar, and ITS.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree or equivalent training/experience
• 7‑9 years progressively responsible experience in financial management, budget administration, or financial analysis, including experience with fund accounting or restricted/sponsored fund management
• 4‑6 years of supervisory experience
• Broad knowledge of financial transactions and financial systems, as well as related policy, accounting, and regulatory compliance requirements
• Strong skills in use of spreadsheet and database software
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively across the organization at all levels
• Demonstrated ability to build financial models and conduct scenario analysis in support of multi‑year planning
• Demonstrated experience advising senior leadership on high‑consequence resource decisions

Qualifications

• 1‑3 years of experience in a higher education, public sector, or other complex nonprofit environment
• Working knowledge of academic labor agreements and their financial implications

Benefits

Benefits Eligibility: Full Benefits. Working at UC means being part of this vibrant institution that shines a light on what is possible. People make UC great, and UC recognizes your contributions by making this a great place to work. Excellent retirement and health are just one of the rewards. Learn more about the benefits of working at UC.

Pay

The budgeted salary range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $100,100 to $125,000 per year. The full salary range for this position is $100,100 to $187,500 per year. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience, the budget for the position, and the application of fair, equitable, and consistent pay practices at the University.

Schedule

Working Days and Hours: Monday‑Friday, 8 am‑5 pm. This is a hybrid position requiring an on‑site presence of 3 days per week.