Program Officer I - Financial Aid

University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV); Las Vegas (NV); On-site; USD 48,990 - 59,877; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PERS retirement plan

Vacation and sick leave

12 paid holidays

Educational benefits

Health insurance with FSAs/HSAs

Tuition discounts

Job summary

College of Southern Nevada (CSN) seeks a detail-oriented Program Officer 1 to support institutional and external scholarship programs and participate in outreach across all locations. The role provides accurate financial aid information to students and families and ensures compliance with FERPA and data security standards.

The position requires a Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience, proficiency with PeopleSoft, and strong organizational and communication skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination as described in Minimum Qualifications.
• Experience with financial aid regulations and scholarship processing preferred.
• Two years of para-professional program support experience acceptable in lieu of degree.
• Experience with data entry, record-keeping, and reporting requirements.

Responsibilities

• Review scholarship applications and supporting documents for completeness and accuracy.
• Evaluate student eligibility and enter data into appropriate systems.
• Process awards in a timely, compliant manner to support disbursement dates.
• Provide guidance to students and families on scholarship and financial aid processes.
• Participate in outreach events and communicate with students, parents, and staff.
• Document efforts in student records and ensure FERPA compliance.

Skills

Federal and state financial aid rules

PeopleSoft

Bilingual (Spanish)

Higher education experience

Scholarship processing

Excel & data management

Strong communication

Time management

Organizational skills

Confidentiality

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business/public administration or related field

High school diploma + 2 years para-professional experience

Tools

PeopleSoft

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Job Description

The College of Southern Nevada (CSN) is seeking a detail-oriented and student-focused Program Officer 1 to support the administration of institutional and external scholarship programs, as well as participate in outreach initiatives across all locations as needed, and provide excellent customer service and accurate financial aid information to students and families.

Responsibilities

• Review scholarship applications, checks, and supporting documents to ensure completeness and accuracy.
• Evaluate student eligibility based on established donor or CSN guidelines and enter data into the appropriate systems.
• Ensure all documents are properly scanned, recorded, and stored following record-keeping protocols.
• Process awards in a timely and compliant manner to support financial aid disbursement dates and retention efforts.
• Serve as a resource for students and families by providing clear, supportive guidance on scholarship and financial aid processes.
• Participate in outreach events at all CSN locations, delivering financial aid, scholarship, and general college information to prospective and current students and their families.
• Communicate with students, parents, faculty, donors and staff by phone or email to request additional documents or clarify information as needed.
• Document efforts in the student’s record via PeopleSoft.
• Protect all personal and financial information in compliance with FERPA and institutional data security protocols.
• Participate in training and staff meetings to remain current on policies, tools, and best practices.
• Contribute to and update as needed the Scholarship Policies and Procedures and Scholarship Calendar.
• Collaborate closely with other relevant departments as necessary.
• Complete other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in business or public administration, or other discipline related to the program assignment; OR graduation from high school or equivalent education and two years of para‑professional program support experience equivalent to an Administrative Assistant III in Nevada State service which required the application of State and/or federal laws, policy and procedures; reviewing documents prepared by others for program compliance determinations; or preparing reports which summarize financial and statistical information; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience as described above.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of federal and state financial aid regulations.
• Experience working with PeopleSoft or a similar student information system.
• Bilingual skills (especially Spanish) are highly desirable.
• Experience working in higher education, particularly at a community college.
• Familiarity with scholarship processing and reconciliation.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience in financial aid.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and managing data and queries.
• Strong communication, time management, and organizational skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, high-volume environment with attention to detail and confidentiality.

Scheduled Hours

Monday-Friday 8am-5pm Must be available to work at multiple CSN campuses, including North Las Vegas and Henderson, as needed.

Starting Salary

Grade 31, Step 1 - $54,434.16 Per Nevada Administrative Code (NAC 284.170), salaries for initial appointments for classified positions typically begin at Step 1.

This position is contingent upon ongoing and available funding.

Benefits

• 19.25% PERS retirement plan (a defined benefit plan)
• vacation & sick leave benefits
• 12 paid holidays
• educational benefits
• health insurance plans that can be added with flexible spending accounts or health savings accounts
• Supplemental options (long term care, short term disability, and legal)
• Tuition discounts at the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) institutions
• tuition discounts for spouses, domestic partners, and dependents
• perks encompassing on campus employee discounts, professional and personal development opportunities; and statewide employee purchase programs

Required Attachment(s)

• Resume - List a detailed description of the major duties that you performed as part of each job. You must demonstrate that you qualify for the position and your education and experience must be clearly documented.
• Cover letter.
• Unofficial College Transcripts (optional) - If you have not graduated, please attach your transcripts to receive education credit for classes you have taken. Credit is given for classes relevant to the job posting.

Equal Employment Opportunity

CSN is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action institution. For more information, visit http://www.csn.edu/nondiscrimination.

NSHE - INTERNAL APPLICANTS

PLEASE NOTE CSN employees or employees within the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) MUST use the "Find Jobs" process within Workday to find and apply for jobs at CSN and other NSHE Institutions. Once you log into Workday, type "Find Jobs" in the search box which will navigate to the internal job posting site. Locate this specific job posting by typing the requisition number in the search box. If you complete an application outside of the internal application process and apply as an external candidate, your application will no longer be considered at the time of minimum qualification review. In order to prevent the disqualification of your application, you will need to reapply as an internal candidate before 11:59 pm the day prior to the position close date.

Posting Close Date

08/14/2026

This position may require that a criminal background check be conducted on the candidate(s) selected for hire. As part of the hiring process, applicants for positions in the Nevada System of Higher Education may be required to demonstrate the ability to perform job-related tasks. Schedules are subject to change based on organizational needs. CSN is responsive to serving the educational needs of a diverse and ever-changing community. CSN employs only U.S. citizens and aliens authorized to work in the U.S. CSN does not sponsor aliens applying for faculty, professional staff, or management positions (H-1B Visas) in the absence of exceptional circumstances as defined by the USCIS. Founded in 1971 and situated in the greater Las Vegas metropolitan area, CSN, as Nevada’s largest college and one of the largest in the nation, operates in over 50 locations including 3 main campuses, as well as multiple sites and centers throughout the southern Nevada area. As a comprehensive, multi-campus community college, and the largest and most ethnically diverse institution in the state of Nevada, CSN educates over 50,000 students, including more than 14,000 non-credit students annually. Accredited by the Northwest Commission on College and Universities, CSN offers education opportunities in over 70 academic programs featuring more than 180 degrees and certificates, and several niche baccalaureate programs areas. CSN is proud to be a Hispanic Serving Institution and a Minority Serving Institution. The college creates opportunities and enriches lives with inclusive learning and working environments that support diversity and student success. CSN’s mission ensures that the college serves the diverse educational needs of the communities and businesses within the southern Nevada service area. CSN is a growing and influential network that enables students, faculty, staff and alumni to advance personally, professionally and intellectually. Its vibrant network of people and programs creates lifelong benefits for all students. As the communities of southern Nevada continue to grow, CSN is committed to remain highly accessible to serve the diverse needs of an increasing population. NSHE is committed to providing a place of work and learning free of discrimination on the basis of a person’s age (40 or older), disability, whether actual or perceived by others (including service-connected disabilities), gender (including pregnancy related conditions), military status or military obligations, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, race (including hair texture and protected hairstyles such as natural hairstyles, afros, bantu knots, curls, braids, locks and twists), color, or religion (protected classes). EEO/Title IX website Dr. Armen Asherian Director – Office of Institutional Equity Human Resources/Office of Institutional Equity College of Southern Nevada West Charleston Campus, Room E-424 [phone] [e-mail] College of Southern Nevada does not discriminate on the basis of sex in any education program or activity that it operates. Non-discrimination on the basis of sex is mandated by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. §§ 1681 et seq.) and the corresponding implementation regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106). CSN's commitment to nondiscrimination in its education programs and activities extends to applicants for admission and employment. Inquiries concerning the application of these provisions may be referred to: Dr. Armen Asherian, Director – Office of Institutional Equity, College of Southern Nevada, West Charleston Campus, Room E-424, Las Vegas, NV 89146, Telephone: [phone], Email: [e-mail]; to The Assistant Secretary of the United States Department of Education, U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20202-1100; Telephone: [phone] FAX: [phone]; TDD: 1-800-877-8339; Email: [e-mail]; or to both. Information pertaining to the College’s grievance procedures and grievance process, including how to report or file a complaint of sex discrimination, how to report or file a formal complaint of sexual harassment, and how the College will respond can be found online at https://www.csn.edu/title-ix. If you need any accommodations to complete an application, please contact Human Resources at [e-mail]. Information regarding security, personal safety, fire safety, and crime statistics can be found on CSN's website. NSHE Employees are required to participate in a mandatory retirement plan in lieu of Social Security. As a result, employment at NSHE may impact your Social Security benefits. Additional information is available at SSA 1945. Job postings are specific to the Nevada System of Higher Education.