State Programs Counselor (Student Services Professional III)

CSU; Fullerton (CA); On-site; USD 62,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health plans with prescription drug

Dental and Vision coverage

Life insurance and disability

CalPERS retirement

Tuition waiver

FlexCash

Employee Assistance Programs

15 paid holidays

Job summary

California State University, Fullerton is seeking a State Programs Counselor to support the Office of Financial Aid within the Division of Student Affairs. You will join a team of counselors providing information, direction, and services to help students progress toward their degree objectives.

The ideal candidate will have a strong ethical foundation, inclusivity, and the ability to handle complex counseling scenarios.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or the equivalent from an accredited 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 plus three years of professional student services work in the field.
• A master’s degree from an accredited college or university in Counseling, Clinical Psychology, Social Work, or a job-related field may be substituted for one year of professional experience.
• A Doctoral degree from an accredited college or university and the appropriate internship or clinical training in a relevant field may be substituted for three years of the required professional experience.

Responsibilities

• Plan, lead, and direct complex activities of State aid programs requiring independent thinking and applying personal judgment.
• Provide comprehensive counseling to students on complex matters, using sensitivity, with the ability to adopt an effective course of action.
• Verify applicant information and seek alternative solutions; other duties as assigned.

Skills

Counseling

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Analytical thinking

Public speaking

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree substitution

Doctoral degree substitution

Tools

PeopleSoft

CMS

Job description

Job Title

State Programs Counselor

Classification

Student Services Professional III

Auto Req. ID

560475

Salary Range

Classification Range $5,540 - $7,893 per month

(Hiring range depending on qualifications, not anticipated to exceed $5,540 - $6,128 per month)

Work Schedule

Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Why CSUF

California State University, Fullerton (Cal State Fullerton) is a leading public university committed to student success, academic excellence, and inclusive excellence. The university fosters a collaborative environment that supports teaching, research, and service while promoting innovation and professional growth. Cal State Fullerton is both a Hispanic-Serving Institution and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution, and a recipient of the Seal of Excelencia (2021 and 2024) from Excelencia in Education. Joining Cal State Fullerton means becoming part of a community dedicated to advancing student achievement, career success, and economic mobility.

Department

The Office of Financial Aid within the Division of Student Affairs is available to remove the cost of barriers that may prevent individuals from pursuing their educational goals. We seek an exceptional individual to join our team as the State Programs Counselor (Student Services Professional III). The ideal candidate in this role should have a positive attitude and an active, energetic mind characterized by highly ethical practices and a commitment to inclusivity, openness, flexibility, integrity, and kindness.

Duties and Responsibilities

The State Programs Counselor will serve as one of nine counselors who assist students in making successful progress toward their degree objectives by providing information, direction, and service. The State Programs Counselor performs in the following areas: 1) plan, lead, and direct complex activities of State aid programs requiring independent thinking and applying personal judgment, 2) provide comprehensive counseling to students on complex matters, using sensitivity, with the ability to adopt an effective course of action, and 3) perform verification of applicant information that are of the most-complex and require independent thinking to seek alternative solutions. Other duties as assigned.

Essential Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree or the equivalent from an accredited 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 plus three years of professional student services work in the field. A master’s degree from an accredited college or university in Counseling, Clinical Psychology, Social Work, or a job-related field may be substituted for one year of professional experience. A Doctoral degree from an accredited college or university and the appropriate internship or clinical training in a relevant field may be substituted for three years of the required professional experience.

Ability to plan, develop, coordinate, supervise, and organize programs and activities. Ability to interact with a diverse student population, faculty, staff, and the public. 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 complete assignments without detailed instructions. Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with a variety of individuals. Possession of excellent verbal and written communication skills, as well as the ability to acquire knowledge of campus procedures, activities, and the overall organization.

A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily and is required for employment. CSU will make a conditional offer of employment, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Failure to complete the background check satisfactorily may affect the continued employment of a current CSU employee who was conditionally offered the position.

Preferred Qualifications

Knowledge of PeopleSoft software or content Management System (CMS) is desirable. Previous extensive experience in administration of Title IV programs and knowledge of financial aid, need analysis, professional judgment, federal and state programs.

Special Working Conditions

Notice of Non-Discrimination on the Basis of Gender or Sex and Contact Information for Title IX Coordinator

Benefits at a Glance

• An array of health plans that include prescription drug coverage
• Dental and Vision coverage
• Income protection benefits including life insurance and disability
• Retirement plan through CalPERS
• Tuition waiver for employees and dependents if eligible
• FlexCash (in lieu of health and dental)
• Employee Assistance Programs
• 15 paid holidays

See our CSUF Benefits website for additional information.

Additional Information

California State University, Fullerton is committed to fostering an environment where students, staff, administrators, and faculty thrive. We welcome individuals ready to make an impact on student and staff success to apply and become part of the Titan Community. Reasonable accommodations will be provided for qualified applicants with disabilities who self-disclose.

Cal State Fullerton is an equal opportunity employer that prohibits discrimination based on regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity, national origin, or any other protected status.

As of January 1, 2022, the CSU Out-of-State Employment Policy prohibits the hiring of employees to perform CSU-related work outside the state of California.

The scope of responsibilities for this position includes the making or participating in the making of decisions that may have a material financial benefit on the incumbent. Therefore, you will be required to file an initial “Conflict of Interest Form 700: Statement of Economic Interests” within thirty (30) days from date of hire and on an annual basis; and complete the CSU sponsored ethics on-line training within thirty (30) days of appointment, and at least once during each consecutive period of two calendar years following the appointment.

Applicants will be required to disclose whether they have received a final administrative decision or final judicial decision determining that they have committed sexual harassment within the last 7 years only after a determination is made that they meet the minimum qualifications for the position, and before an offer of employment is extended. Applicants who reach the final stages of the application process must also sign a release form that authorizes the release of information by the applicant’s current and/or former employers to the CSU concerning any substantiated allegations of misconduct.

Multiple positions may be hired from this recruitment based on the strength of the applicant pool.

If you are applying for a staff position, please note that you are not eligible to work concurrently in a staff position and an Academic Student position such as a Graduate Assistant, Teaching Associate, Instructional Student Assistant, or Student Assistant position.

Regular attendance is considered an essential job function; the inability to meet attendance requirements may preclude the employee from retaining employment.

Employee/applicant who applies for a position may be required to successfully complete job-related performance test(s) as part of the selection process.

Online application/resume must be received by electronic submission on the final filing date by 9:00 PM (Pacific Standard Time)/midnight (Eastern Standard Time). Applicants who fail to complete all sections of the online application form will be disqualified from consideration.

California State University, Fullerton is not currently sponsoring anynewH-1B petitions for staff, management, or faculty positions.

Advertised

Aug 13 2026 Pacific Daylight Time

Applications close

Aug 27 2026 Pacific Daylight Time