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Executive Director, Financial Aid and Scholarships

University of California - Irvine
medical insurance
United States, California, Irvine
Jan 07, 2026
Who We Are

Founded in 1965, UC Irvine is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities and is ranked among the nation's top 10 public universities by U.S. News & World Report. The campus has produced five Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UC Irvine has more than 36,000 students and offers 224 degree programs. It's located in one of the world's safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange County's second-largest employer, contributing $7 billion annually to the local economy and $8 billion statewide.

To learn more about UC Irvine, visit www.uci.edu.

The Division of Enrollment Management represents the Offices of Enrollment Management, Undergraduate Admissions, Financial Aid and Scholarships and the University Registrar. These key functional offices support the campus goals to recruit, retain and provide a first-in-class education to the most talented students, regardless of background.

The Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships is a key contributor to student success and student access in higher education, administering all types of financial assistance for eligible students demonstrating financial need, academic merit, and/or other merit factor(s). This includes, but is not limited to scholarships, grants, loans, and/or work-study awards.


Your Role on the Team

Under the general direction of the Vice Provost, Enrollment Management, the Executive Director of Financial Aid & Scholarships formulates organization student financial aid policy and fund utilization strategies to support University strategic goals. The incumbent is responsible for the management of the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships, including administration of all need-based and merit-based programs for undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. Participates in development of industry regulations. The Executive Director has responsibility for oversight of the satellite financial aid offices in the Paul Merage School of Business, the School of Law, and the School of Medicine. Has ultimate organizational responsibility for accurate, efficient, and timely delivery of student aid in compliance with regulations.


What It Takes to be Successful

Required:

  • Expert knowledge of policies, regulations, and practices for awarding financial aid, including needs analysis and packaging.
  • Expert knowledge of enterprise student aid management systems with advanced ability to maximize system utilization within a complex organization.
  • Expert knowledge of techniques for recruitment and retention of students through financial aid.
  • Expert knowledge of University and higher education policies, processes, and procedures related to budget, accounting, human resources, IT, and student services.
  • Expert knowledge of advising and counseling techniques.
  • Expert skills in policy and program development.
  • Expert problem identification, critical thinking, and problem solving skills; judgment and decision-making ability.
  • Expert quantitative analysis and resource management skills.
  • Advanced skills and experience in project management and organizational effectiveness.
  • Expert written and verbal communication, active listening, persuasion, and negotiation skills.
  • Skills in innovation and advanced techniques to empower a customer service orientation throughout the organization.
  • Advanced ability to assess processes and facilitate the development and implementation of improvements throughout the organization.
  • Expert interpersonal skills including social perceptiveness and the ability to use this in negotiations and discussions with others.
  • Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training of
  • Demonstrated experience leading a team in a management capacity.

Preferred:

  • Working knowledge of existing systems: Oracle Student Financial Planning, Kuali Financial System, Ellucian Scholarship Universe, Technolutions Slate, legacy self-developed COBOL management systems, MS PowerBI, MS Teams, Zoom.
  • Expert skills in managing a large and/or complex department.
  • Advanced degree preferred.

Special Conditions:

  • Occasional/seasonal nights and weekend work
  • Must complete and pass a US Department of Justice background check
  • Occasional travel on behalf of the University that includes driving, and/or airplane travel.

Total Rewards

In addition to the salary range listed below, we offer a wealth of benefits to make working at UCI even more rewarding. These benefits may include medical insurance, sick and vacation time, retirement savings plans, and access to a number of discounts and perks. Please utilize the links listed here to learn more about our compensation practices and benefits.

The expected pay range for this recruitment is $196,200- $228,000 (Annual).

Conditions of Employment:

The University of California, Irvine (UCI) seeks to provide a safe and healthy environment for the entire UCI community. As part of this commitment, all applicants who accept an offer of employment must comply with the following conditions of employment:

  • Background Check and Live Scan
  • Employment Misconduct*
  • Legal Right to work in the United States
  • Vaccination Policies
  • Smoking and Tobacco Policy
  • Drug Free Environment

*Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

The following additional conditions may apply, some of which are dependent upon business unit or job specific requirements.

  • California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act
  • E-Verify
  • Pre-Placement Health Evaluation

Details of each policy may be reviewed by visiting the following page - https://hr.uci.edu/new-hire/conditions-of-employment.php

Closing Statement:

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories covered by the UC Anti-Discrimination Policy.

We are committed to attracting and retaining a diverse workforce along with honoring unique experiences, perspectives, and identities. Together, our community strives to create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable, and welcoming.

UCI provides reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities upon request. For more information, please contact Human Resources at (949) 824-0500 or eec@uci.edu.


Consideration for Work Authorization Sponsorship

Must be able to provide proof of work authorization
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