TEACH Grant Coordinator/Financial Aid Advisor

About the role

The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships at California State University, Bakersfield is seeking a TEACH Grant Coordinator/Financial Aid Advisor to administer, audit, and reconcile the federal TEACH Grant Program.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the campus lead and subject matter expert for TEACH Grant administration and system updates, ensuring compliance with federal Title IV and Department of Education regulations.
• Independently coordinate and manage all aspects of TEACH Grant administration.
• Evaluate exceptional or disputed cases, determine eligibility, and resolve conflicts related to grant disbursement or conversion.
• Maintain accurate and timely records of student eligibility, grants awards, and service obligations.
• Provide advanced advising and counseling to students on TEACH Grant eligibility, award processing, and service obligation requirements.
• Communicate with the Chancellor's Office, Department of Education, and auditors on TEACH Grant program matters.
• Audit and reconcile program records to maintain data integrity, prevent erroneous grant-to-loan conversions, and ensure timely submission of required reports and documentation.
• Develop and maintain procedural documentation and staff training materials.
• Provide comprehensive and in-depth financial aid counseling to students, parents, faculty, and staff.
• Resolve complex financial, academic, or personal issues impacting student aid eligibility.
• Conduct financial aid outreach and presentations during campus and community events.
• Manage financial aid awarding, revisions, and compliance monitoring for approximately 2,000 student accounts per academic year.
• Resolve discrepancies and conflicts in Multiple Reporting Record (MRR) files.
• Verify and manage awarding processes for the CalKids and AmeriCorps programs.
• Participate in outreach and recruitment events to promote financial aid programs.

Qualifications

• Equivalent to graduation from a four-year college or university in a related field, including or supplemented by upper division or graduate course work in counseling techniques, interviewing, and conflict resolution.
• A master's degree in Counseling, Clinical Psychology, Social Work, or a directly related field may be substituted for one year of experience.
• A doctorate degree and the appropriate internship or clinical training in counseling or guidance may be substituted for the three years of experience for positions with a major responsibility for professional career or personal counseling.
• Thorough knowledge of the principles of individual and group behavior.
• General knowledge of individual counseling techniques.
• Working knowledge of student services programs outside the program to which immediately assigned.
• Ability to analyze complex situations accurately and adopt effective courses of action.
• Ability to advise students individually and in groups on complex student related matters.
• Ability to determine appropriate courses of action and proper techniques to utilize while engaged with individuals in personal interactions of an argumentative or sensitive nature.
• Ability to interpret and evaluate descriptions and explanations of problems brought forward by individuals or student organizations, analyze and define the problem, draw valid conclusions and project consequences of various alternative courses of action.
• Advanced knowledge of Title IV programs, TEACH Grant policy, and federal data systems (COD, NSLDS, CPS).
• Knowledge of and ability to interpret and apply federal, state and institutional financial aid programs, policies, and procedures (especially the Federal Pell grant program and the federal Common Origination & Disbursement system).
• Demonstrated customer service experience requiring a very high level of diplomacy and professionalism.
• Excellent communication skills; ability to effectively communicate 3.

Benefits

• CSUB offers a best-in-class benefit package for eligible employees that includes an array of medical plans, choice of dental plans, vision coverage, retirement participation in CalPERS, CSU tuition waiver, up to 24 vacation days per year, sick leave with unlimited accrual, 15 paid holidays per year and more!