Program Specialist III (Financial Aid)
- Employer
- College of the Canyons
- Location
- Santa Clarita, California
- Salary
- Step 1, 2, or 3 ($6,230.00 / $6,597.00 / $6,979.00 per month) of this 20-step salary range.
- Date posted
- Sep 13, 2024
- Website
- https://www.schooljobs.com/careers/canyons/jobs/4655097/program-specialist-iii-financial-aid?keywords=program&pagetype=jobOpportunitiesJobs
View more categoriesView less categories
- Position Type
- Administrative, Student Affairs, Financial Aid
- Employment Type
- Full Time
Job Details
The Santa Clarita Community College District/College of the Canyons is seeking a full-time Program Specialist III (Financial Aid) in the Student Services division.
Salary Placement:
Salary placement will be on Range 35 of Classified Represented Salary Schedule B.
** Initial salary step placement for new employees is customarily at step 1, 2, or 3 ($6,230.00 / $6,597.00 / $6,979.00 per month) of this 20-step salary range.
Probationary period for new Classified employees is six months. Work year is 12 calendar months. The normal workweek for this position is 40 hours. Paid holiday, discretionary, and sick time are provided. Ten vacation days accrue during the first year of employment. A regular work schedule will be assigned, with the ability to occasionally work a flexible schedule as needed with supervisor approval.
Who We Are
The Santa Clarita Community District is committed to achieving educational equity for all students. As presented in our District Strategic Plan, which focuses on Access, Engagement, and Success, “Equity, inclusion, and diversity are not goals in themselves, but ideologies embedded in all actions and planning across all departments and functions of our college and its two campuses.” These areas of focus demonstrate a resolve to focus on student success and confirm that we are at the forefront of change with integrated planning efforts that both evolve and anticipate the needs of our students. We provide students with a rich and dynamic learning experience that embraces differences – fostering healthy inclusion through inquiry, shared dialogue, and reflection to ensure that we promote a sense of community, collegiality, and cooperation. When you join our team at the Santa Clarita Community College District, you can expect to be part of an inclusive, creative, flexible, innovative, and equity-focused community that engages students, each other, and the community in scholarly inquiry, creative partnerships, and the application of knowledge and success.
Who We Want
We value the ability to serve students from a broad range of cultural heritages, socioeconomic backgrounds, genders, abilities, and orientations. Therefore, we prioritize applicants who demonstrate they understand the benefits diversity brings to a professional educational community. The successful candidate must be an equity-minded individual committed to collaborating with faculty, classified staff, administration, students, and community partners who share our commitment to closing equity gaps. The Santa Clarita Community College District seeks leaders possessing a strong grounding in academic and student services programs and a thorough understanding of the primary mission of the community college. We seek employees that value mentorship and working in a collegial, collaborative environment, who are conscientious risk takers and transformational leaders guided by a commitment to helping all students achieve their educational goals.
Position Description:
Under the supervision of the Associate Dean of Student Financial Services, the administrative assistant performs a wide variety of complex, specialized, and responsible operational, administrative, and clerical support functions, many of which are of a privileged or sensitive nature. Develops, recommends, coordinates and implements techniques and practices to improve the operation of the office, ensuring optimum performance and service to students. Maintains state-of-art practices while keeping abreast of current trends and practices in the field. Performs other related duties as assigned. In addition to providing high-level administrative support to the Associate Dean, independently oversees some aspects of the fiscal, budget, personnel, and planning processes of the Financial Aid Office.
Example of Duties
Essential Duties:
The Duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to this class.
Serves as administrative assistant, management aide, and office coordinator/liaison between the Associate Dean and departmental staff, students, other District employees, and the public. Facilitates the overall operation of the Financial Aid office in the absence of the Associate Dean.
Coordinates and maintains all items that relate to the financial aid application process, including updates to financial aid consumer information, schedule of classes, and maintenance of the department’s website and related social media sites.
Communicates information and responds to inquiries from office visitors, telephone callers, and/or via email concerning a wide range of subjects relating to Financial Aid programs and activities requiring judgment, knowledge, and interpretation of policies, regulations, and operational procedures.
Develops, maintains, and coordinates department annual budgets, including grants. Monitors all budget activities, ensures expenditures are classified properly, and notifies Associate Dean when expenses may exceed established budgets. Makes deposits, processes budget transfers, salary account code changes, and other financial related items.
Provides and review data in relation to Federal audits as needed. Gathers and provides data in support of audit findings, settlement negotiations and remedy actions as required. Verifies accuracy of findings and penalty assessments. Ensures compliance of negotiation terms/agreements are mate timely and accurate. Acts as a liaison between District and Department of Education.
Develops, coordinates, and plans Outreach events on campus and in the community. Point of contact and coordinator for classroom presentation requests from the community and on-campus employees. Assigns and schedules presenters ensuring locations, equipment, materials and vendors are secured as needed.
Prepares, monitors, and processes purchase requisitions. Recommends expenditures for office equipment, materials, and supplies and assures their timely ordering, receipt, and storage. Reviews invoices and other expenditures prior to submission for payment processing.
Maintains, coordinates and completes new and renewal contracts with vendors that provide services required for Financial Aid operations, including ATM maintenance, disbursement services, web-based student support and Community College Consortium agreements.
Prepares hire authorizations, provides work direction, monitors work schedules, and assists with training for college assistants and adult hourly employees. Processes and ensures timesheets are completed correctly and submitted to payroll in a timely manner. Reconciles college assistant and adult hourly costs to allocated budget.
Develops, designs, and maintains spreadsheets/databases and other software programs relative to the operation of department functions, including information that may be of a privileged or sensitive nature.
Researches, maintains, and compiles data for various reports. Prepares and submits local, state, and federal mandated reports and documents, including grants. Manages the flow, storage and imaging of department documents.
Performs routine administrative tasks including maintaining calendars, schedules and appointments, picking-up and distributing mail, maintaining office files and records, reviewing and screening incoming correspondence and communications and referring matters to the Associate Dean and other staff as appropriate. Distributes, prepares/transcribes, reviews, and arranges correspondence independently or in accordance with general instructions. Refers specific communications or correspondence to appropriate staff members for the gathering of data or for a response.
Provides support to various committees and work group meetings. Attends various meetings, takes and transcribes notes into summary minute form, and distributes minutes as directed.
Maintains positive physical presentation of public office space to include welcoming reception area, attractive and easily accessible signage and materials, and well-organized office functions.
Develops and edits content and materials for consumer information. Review material for accuracy and updates as Federal/State regulations change to remain in compliance with mandated parameters.
Attends professional meetings/conferences to enhance professional development and increase the operational effectiveness of the office.
Effectively interfaces in difficult situations, assessing problems and suggesting potential solutions to prevent problems from escalating beyond the office.
Assists the Associate Dean in maintaining relationships with third party vendors for updates to products.
Performs other related duties as assigned.
Demonstrated Knowledge and Abilities:
Position requires ability to:
Learn, interpret and apply institutional, state, and federal regulations, legal mandates, policies, rules, and guidelines to a variety of operational procedures.
Coordinate, organize and schedule administrative and clerical functions and activities.
Learn college administrative software program, for purchase requisitions, course scheduling, student registration, budget monitoring and payroll.
Work effectively and demonstrate currency of knowledge with computers and other forms of advanced technology utilized in providing high quality services.
Take and transcribe notes with speed and accuracy.
Apply knowledge of proper grammar usage, spelling, and punctuation.
Apply knowledge of modern office practices and equipment, including word processing, record management and filing systems, telephone techniques, correspondence development, and report writing.
Assume responsibility and leadership for routine department problems.
Establish and maintain comprehensive and accurate files and records as well as prepare concise and complete reports as required.
Make decisions and use professional judgment based on established guidelines and procedures.
Type with speed and accuracy; and make arithmetical calculations in like manner.
Communicate effectively orally and in writing.
Understand and carry out oral and written directions.
Adapt to changing student and procedural requirements.
Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with faculty, staff, trainees, and others connected in the performance of duties.
Maintain confidentiality when dealing with sensitive and privileged material and information.
Demonstrate clear evidence of sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students.
Qualifications and Minimum Requirements
Minimum Requirements:
Experience:
Four (4) years of full-time equivalent experience as an administrative assistant, executive assistant, office manager, office coordinator, or in a related position providing high level administrative support to a department. Requires prior work experience utilizing a database software.
Education:
Education equivalent to an Associate’s degree (60 semester units) from an accredited college or university is required.
Two (2) years of direct experience in addition to that identified above may be substituted for each one year (30 semester units) of college.
Desirable Qualifications:
Prior experience performing administrative support duties in a community college or other post-secondary educational institution.
Previous experience working in a Financial Aid office.
Prior experience working with higher education student registration.
Prior experience managing projects.
Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite applications – Access, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Word.
Physical Characteristics:
Position is a stationary position and requires use of a computer for extended periods of time plus frequent periods of movement from one area to another, which may include traversing to different floors of a building; operating a computer and related equipment; communicating and providing information to others; working with various materials and objects; frequently exert 10 to 20 pounds of force to move objects; may be exposed to occasional contact with dissatisfied individuals; and travel from site-to-site. In the event of an emergency, employees will be relied upon to serve as emergency workers.
Further Details
District Classified Employee Benefits:
Full-time employees are provided with a diversified program that includes medical, dental and vision insurance including dependent coverage, disability, and life insurance as well as Section 125 options. These benefits commence on the first of the month following date of hire. Professional development opportunities are provided to all employees. Educational incentive is available to eligible Classified Represented and Confidential employees.
RETIREMENT: Classified employees contribute to the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS), a defined benefit retirement plan through the State of California.
Conditions of Employment:
Successful completion of background fingerprint clearance, pre-employment physical examination (disabilities not related to the physical job will not affect the application process) and TB screening.
Proof of eligibility to work in the United States and signing of loyalty oath per government codes 3100-3109.
Meeting applicable eligibility requirements under CalPERS or CalSTRS if you are a current or former member.
Board of Trustees approval.
Official, sealed transcripts are required upon offer of employment.
Equal Employment Opportunity:
Santa Clarita Community College District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
The Santa Clarita Community College District is committed to employing qualified employees who are dedicated to student learning and success. The Board recognizes that diversity in the academic environment fosters awareness, promotes mutual understanding and respect, and provides suitable role models for all students. The Board is committed to hiring and staff development processes that support the goals of equal opportunity and diversity, and provide consideration for all qualified candidates. The District does not unlawfully discriminate in providing educational or employment opportunities to any person on the basis of race, color, religion, religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices), national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition (including cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, marital status, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), gender, gender identity, gender expression, age (40 years and over), sexual orientation, veteran and/or military status, protected medical leaves (requesting or approved for leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act or the California Family Rights Act), domestic violence victim status, political affiliation, and any other status protected by state or federal law or on the basis of these perceived characteristics, or based on association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics.
Applicants who have disabilities may request that accommodations be made in order to complete the selection process by contacting the Human Resources office directly at (661) 362-3427.
APPLICATION AND SELECTION PROCESS:
Applicants are encouraged to complete their applications online. Please visit our website at http://www.canyons.edu/administration/humanresources. If you require assistance, please call the Human Resources office at (661)362-3427 or for the hearing-impaired TTY/TDD Line at (661)362-5178. Applicants may check the status of their application online and may expect to be notified within approximately 4 to 5 weeks following the Review Date as to the status of their application.
All application materials must be uploaded online or received in the Human Resources office by the end of the day on the Review Date in order to assure consideration for this position. Postmark is not acceptable for this purpose. Separate application materials must be submitted for each position applied for. Materials submitted become property of the District and will not be returned, copied, or considered for other openings. The Human Resources office is located in the University Center, Suite #360, 26455 Rockwell Canyon Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91355.
Your application is not complete until the following required materials have been uploaded online or received by the Human Resources office:
Online District CLASSIFIED Application.
Detailed resume, which includes month/year dates of employment and descriptions of responsibilities at each employer.
Letter of interest (cover letter). In your letter, please address your qualifications and experience as they pertain to the job duties and the abilities section of this announcement.
Copies of complete and legible college transcripts clearly indicating all college units earned and any degree awarded. You can submit unofficial copies of transcripts for application purposes. Copies of diplomas are not acceptable in lieu of college transcripts. Official, sealed transcripts are required upon offer of employment. Please see our website for the requirements for evaluation of transcripts from foreign colleges or universities.
Confidential Recruitment Source Information (voluntary survey). This is voluntary and is a part of the online applicant profile, separate from the application.
Supplemental Questionnaire. Please answer the following questions as part of your application packet.
Do you possess education equivalent to an Associate’s degree (60 semester units) from an accredited college or university? If yes, please provide a legible copy of your college/university transcript in your application packet. Copies of diplomas are not acceptable in lieu of college transcripts. If you do not possess the equivalent of an Associate’s degree and you are using additional years of work experience in lieu of semester units, please clearly indicate how you meet the minimum educational requirement through this additional work experience.
Please describe your experience as an administrative assistant, executive assistant, office manager, office coordinator, or in a related position providing high level administrative support to a department. Include employer name(s), your position title(s), dates of employment, full-time or part-time status (% of time or number of hours worked per week), and your roles and responsibilities. Please provide your total years of full-time equivalent experience you have in these fields.
Please describe your experience working with an administrative software program (such as Banner, Colleague, Datatel, or PeopleSoft) or a proprietary system.
Please describe your experience administering or working with budgets.
In previous jobs, how did your administrative support work contribute to the efficiency of your manager or department? Include examples of your tasks, such as managing calendars, maintaining office files, reviewing time sheets, etc.
Please describe any experience you may have assisting in event planning and event logistics.
Please describe any experience you may have working with others in a collaborative, team environment.
Please describe your ability to work successfully and thrive in a multicultural, diverse environment.
What interests you the most about working in this staff position in the Financial Aid office at College of the Canyons?
Letters of reference are optional.
Please note:
Skills evaluation of candidates for interview may be required.
Travel and relocation expenses are the responsibility of the applicant.
Hiring committees review all complete, qualified application packets. Possession of the minimum qualifications does not guarantee an interview.
“Experience” generally refers to relevant paid experience. In some instances, unpaid experience may be counted as experience towards meeting the minimum qualifications or requirements for the position only if it entailed responsibilities substantially similar to those of relevant paid positions in the field. It is the applicant’s responsibility to provide sufficient information and details to the Human Resources office at the time of submission of their application packet. Details should include the organization, contact name, contact information, start and end dates, hours per week, and a list of relevant unpaid/volunteer duties or responsibilities performed. Not all unpaid experience may qualify. Upon offer of employment, an applicant will be required to obtain written verification(s) of any relevant unpaid/volunteer experience.
Current COC employees who are applying for this position: Please be aware that materials from your personnel file are not included as part of the application file; therefore, please provide the same requested application materials as any other applicant.
Please be aware that, should you be considered as a finalist for this position, reference checks will include current supervisor(s).
Applicants are encouraged to apply online. If you need assistance with the application process, contact:
Human Resources Office
(661) 362-3427
TTY/TDD (661) 362-5178 or visit our website at
www.canyons.edu/administration/humanresources
It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all application materials are fully and correctly submitted. All materials submitted are for this position only and become the property of the District. Materials will not be returned, copied, or considered for other openings. Resumes may not be submitted in lieu of the official application form.
The College is expecting to conduct initial interviews between the weeks of November 4, 2024 and November 11, 2024 and conduct final interviews between the weeks of November 11, 2024 and November 18, 2024. This is an estimated timeline, and is subject to change.
Interviews may be conducted in-person or remotely via Zoom.
** This is an in-person office position, working on the Valencia campus. **
Positions are offered contingent on funding. We reserve the right to withdraw, extend the filing date, reopen, or delay filling this position. Recruitment may continue until the position is filled. This recruitment may be used for future vacancies, including any that may open in the Financial Aid office.
Company
College of the Canyons is part of the California Community College system, the largest system of higher education in the U.S. with 116 accredited colleges serving 1.9 million students.
The college is located in Santa Clarita, California, about 30 miles north of downtown Los Angeles, and covers a 367-square-mile service area in northern Los Angeles County. With a 2020 census population of 228,673, Santa Clarita is the third-most populous city in Los Angeles County. The city lies within the Santa Clarita Valley, bounded by the San Gabriel Mountains to the east, the Santa Susana Mountains to the south and west, and the Sierra Pelona Mountains to the north. The Santa Clara River passes through the city from east to west. The area's Mediterranean climate produces hot, dry summers and mild winters.
The college participates in several innovative partnerships that have redefined the traditional role of community colleges. It collaborates with nearly every social service agency in the community, as well as school districts, the city of Santa Clarita, chamber of commerce, industry associations, and numerous businesses.
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