Manager, Student Financial Support Operations

This position is a part of the Association of the Academic Staff of the University of Alberta (AASUA).

In accordance with the Administrative and Professional Officer Agreement , this full time continuing position offers a comprehensive benefits package found at Faculty & Staff Benefits and annual salary range of $72,790 - $119,248.

Location - North campus. This role is hybrid with a mix of remote and in person

Working for the University of Alberta

The University of Alberta acknowledges that we are located on Treaty 6 territory, and respects the histories, languages and cultures of First Nations, Métis, Inuit and all First Peoples of Canada, whose presence continues to enrich our vibrant community.

The University of Alberta is teeming with change makers, community builders, and world shapers who lead with purpose each and every day. We are home to more than 40,000 students in 200+ undergraduate and 500+ graduate programs, over 13,000 faculty and staff, 260,000 alumni worldwide and have been recognized as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers for over a decade.

Your work will have a meaningful influence on a fascinating cross section of people—from our students and stakeholders, to our renowned researchers and innovators who are quite literally curing diseases, making discoveries and generating solutions that make the world healthier, safer, stronger, and more just.

Department summary

As a critical support for the student experience, the Student Financial Support (SFS) unit within the Office of the Registrar oversees and facilitates financial aid programs for international and domestic students across our campuses with a deep commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion and indigenization. SFS coordinates scholarships, awards, and bursaries for all undergraduate students, implements related policies, and is accountable for the evaluation, continuous improvement, and reporting on our financial support approaches and outcomes. SFS also advises on government student loans (both within Canada and the United States) and coordinates essential financial literacy initiatives on campus. 

Position summary

As a solutions oriented, innovative, and service focused leader, the Manager works collaboratively with the Assistant Registrar, Student Financial Support and other leaders in the Office of the Registrar, Colleges, Faculties, Centres of Expertise and external partners to provide advice, guidance and leadership in service excellence and innovation as it relates to student financial support. This includes managing the processing of entrance, undergraduate, and transfer awards and all university bursaries while ensuring that the work is efficient, accurate and offers a seamless customer experience for students.  This position provides vision and leadership when it comes to workflow management and creates effective processes that leverage the value of the human resources within the unit.

The SFS team is a diverse and inclusive unit, and we are seeking someone with strong leadership capabilities to promote and encourage these values.  This includes fostering a workplace in which individual differences are recognized, appreciated, respected, and responded to in ways that fully develop and utilize each person's strengths.

Duties

• Lead the operational management of all work within the Student Financial Support team
• Manage the processing of entrance, undergraduate and transfer awards and all University bursaries
• Apply University policies, precedents and procedures to make decisions within the area of accountability.
• Ensure that the team is providing a seamless customer experience for students
• Provide vision and leadership to the team, including clear communication of strategic objectives and priorities to staff
• Integrate and advance the Universities commitments to equity, diversity, and inclusivity
• Identify operational challenges, use continuous improvement methodology to manage work and streamline processes
• Create effective processes within the unit by maximizing automation and technology to our advantage
• Ensure the right measures are in place to allow for accuracy in the processing of student awards and bursaries 
• Develop plans to review quality assurance in processing; mitigate risk 
• Track key analytics and develop reports to support decision making
• Take part in the implementation and oversee day-to-day operations of the Awards Management System
• Foster cooperation, collaboration, and communication to create consensus and accomplish objectives
• Facilitate staff skill development by providing clear, detailed performance feedback, encourages staff to participate in learning opportunities 

Minimum Qualifications

• Minimum Bachelors degree; additional financial/business background preferred
• 2-3 years progressively responsible experience in leadership/management positions
• Strong commitment to service excellence
• Experience managing, assigning and tracking a high volume of work to a team of dedicated professionals
• Demonstrated experience leading and implementing change including developing new strategies, policies and procedures
• Cultural sensitivity, tact, and diplomacy
• Proven ability to model professional, ethical and collaborative behaviours
• High level of critical thinking and excellent analytical problem solving skills
• Ability to operate within a complex and highly decentralized work environment
• Ability to act decisively and to exercise initiative and judgment on a wide range of issues
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a diverse population
• Ability to work in conjunction with and take direction from senior administration
• Superior oral and written presentation, interpersonal, negotiation, and mediation skills
• Extensive knowledge of the University of Alberta’s policies, procedures and operating requirements
• Excellent computer skills including experience with PeopleSoft and Microsoft Office

This job posting will remain open until a candidate is found, but we will begin reviewing resumes May 23, 2023

Note: Online applications are accepted until midnight Mountain Standard Time of the closing date.