Special Programs Coordinator and Financial Aid Counselor

San Jose State University; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 61,826 - 63,243; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

San Jose State University is seeking a Special Programs Coordinator and Financial Aid Counselor to support students through specialized financial aid programs. This role involves advising and technical support services while ensuring compliance with regulations.

The ideal candidate will hold a Bachelor's Degree and have three years of relevant experience. Strong communication and customer service skills are essential. The position offers competitive compensation and benefits.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree with coursework in counseling or conflict resolution.
• Three years of progressively responsible student services experience.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate specialized financial aid programs.
• Provide counseling to students in special programs.
• Conduct workshops on financial aid information.

Skills

Effective communication

Customer service

Knowledge of financial aid regulations

Counseling techniques

Education

Graduation from a four-year college or university

Master's degree in Counseling or related field

Tools

PeopleSoft

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Job Summary

Reporting to the Associate Director of Counseling and Advising, the Special Programs Coordinator and Financial Aid Counselor works independently to provide a variety of advising, coordination, and technical support services related to financial aid programs and special student populations. The incumbent maintains expertise in federal, state, CSU, and institutional financial aid regulations and processes while delivering high-quality customer service and advising to support student enrollment, retention, and success.

Key Responsibilities

• Coordinate specialized financial aid programs including Study Abroad, Summer Faculty-Led Programs, Accelerated Programs, and other special session initiatives
• Manage awarding and processing for specialized grants, fee waivers, Pell Credential programs, and cross-enrollment students
• Serve as liaison with campus and external partners regarding program administration and student support
• Provide individualized counseling appointments to students participating in special programs
• Present financial aid information through in-person and virtual workshops and outreach events

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Interact with a variety of internal partners from Academic and Student Affairs to the Office of the President, communicating effectively and professionally. Strong oral and written communication skills
• Excellent customer service and public relations skills
• Working knowledge of methods, procedures, practices and activities of the program area
• Interpret and apply university policies, rules, and regulations regarding financial aid
• Apply the latest concepts, trends, tools, and best practices of enrollment management processes and technologies, including demographic analysis, website content development, telemarketing, student search strategies, social networking initiatives, PeopleSoft, customer service‑based technology systems, and communications strategies
• Demonstrated experience with the Federal and State Grant Programs in a higher education setting – reconciliation of funds, processing issues, and experience with outside entities related to the administration of the programs
• Interpret and explain policies to various staff members and students
• General knowledge of individual counseling techniques and working knowledge of student services programs to which immediately assigned
• Thorough knowledge of English grammar, business writing, punctuation and spelling
• Compose and appropriately format correspondence and reports
• Working knowledge of software applications such as word processing, spreadsheet, and database management
• General knowledge of the methods and problems of organizational and program management
• General knowledge of research and interview techniques
• Obtain factual and interpretive information through interviews

Required Qualifications

• Graduation from a four‑year college or university in a related field, including or supplemented by upper‑division or graduate coursework in counseling techniques, interviewing, and conflict resolution where such are job‑related
• Three (3) years of progressively responsible professional student services work experience. 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

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree
• Five (5) years of in‑house financial aid experience – from application to disbursement – FAFSA completion, awarding students, revising awards, and processing R2T4, etc.
• Two (2) years of experience working with special populations outside of the regular financial aid process
• Two (2) years of student counseling experience relaying information to students and families on their financial aid eligibility
• Two (2) years of experience presenting to students/families in person or virtually
• Experience with an online document retrieval system and running queries from software

Compensation and Benefits

Classification: Student Services Professional III
Anticipated Hiring Range: $5,540/month – $5,667/month
CSU Salary Range: $5,540/month – $7,893/month
San Jose State University offers employees a comprehensive benefits package typically worth 30‑35% of your base salary. For more information on programs available, please see the Employee Benefits Summary.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

San Jose State University is an equal‑opportunity employer. The university prohibits discrimination based on age, ancestry, caste, color, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military status, nationality, race, religion, religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, sex stereotype, and veteran status. This policy applies to all San Jose State University students, faculty, and staff, as well as university programs and activities. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and certain other federal and state laws, prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex in all education programs and activities operated by the university (both on and off campus). Reasonable accommodation is made for applicants with disabilities who self‑disclose. San Jose State University employees are considered mandated reporters under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and are required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.