Federal Programs Operations Specialist

Job Description

Position Summary:

The Office of Financial Aid (OFA) oversees and administers financial aid, residency, and student employment. OFA operates under the Division of Enrollment and Access to provide student-centered assistance by working under federal, state, and university guidance, enabling students to enroll, manage their finances, achieve their academic goals, and graduate in a timely manner. Seventy-five percent of CSU students are financial aid recipients, and OFA disburses over $300 million of financial aid annually. OFA seeks professionals who wholeheartedly believe in access to and success in higher education.

The Federal Programs Operations Specialist has primary responsibility to ensure that programs are administered within federal, state, internal, and external regulations. The Federal Programs Operations Specialist is instrumental in delivering federal and external funds, which serves the purpose of attracting, recruiting, and retaining students to Colorado State University. This function is always performed in a way that enhances the University’s ability to effectively deliver on its mission.

Full Consideration Date:

For full consideration, application materials must be submitted by 11:59 pm (MT) on Monday, 10/19/2026.

Essential Job Duties:

• Ensure financial aid programs are administered within federal, state, internal, and external regulations.

• Reconciles University financial aid records with information received from the Federal Department of Education Common Origination and Disbursement Center and / or the National Student Loan Data System by correcting errors, updating accounts, and sending changes.

• Reviews and works various reports of technical data on federal, state, and institutional financial aid disbursements.

• Assists as needed with projects within the Federal Programs Team, including but not limited to support for document processing, review of subsequent ISIRs, Unusual Enrollment History, Transfer Monitoring Alerts, aid cancellation, and aid year setup.

• Represent OFA and Colorado State University to outside agencies, professional associations, and partners.

• Other duties as assigned.

Conditions of Employment:

• Pre-employment Criminal Background Check (required for new hires).
• Travel - to conferences for federal updates, industry training, etc.
• Credit Check Required.
• Fingerprinting Required.
• The successful candidate for the must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. by the proposed start date; The Office of Financial Aid will not provide visa sponsorship for this position.

Supervision:

None

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited institution of higher education.  

• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills.

• Excellent written communications skills, as demonstrated by application materials submitted.

• Minimum of one (1) year of experience with computer application skills (MS Excel, Access, or other database programs), and prior experience with database entry. 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Working knowledge of Ellucian Banner student information systems.

• Demonstrated experience with Federal Student Aid databases (FSA Partner Portal, NSLDS, COD).

• Demonstrated experience working effectively independently and as a team player. 

Application Instructions:

Applicants should submit a cover letter and resume as one document that demonstrates any and all of the required and preferred qualification that they meet.

Salary Range

$48,000 - $52,000

Required Application Documents

To apply, please upload the following applicant documents. Ensure your materials fully address the required and preferred job qualifications of the position. Please note, applicants may redact information from their application materials that identifies their age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.

Cover Letter, Resume/CV

Employee Benefits

Colorado State University is not just a workplace; it’s a thriving community that’s transforming lives and improving the human condition through world-class teaching, research, and service. With a robust benefits package, collaborative atmosphere, and focus on work-life balance, CSU is where you can thrive, grow, and make a lasting impact.

• Review our detailed benefits information here.

• Explore the additional perks of working at CSU here.

• For the total value of CSU benefits in addition to wages, use our compensation calculator.

• Lastly, click here for more information about why Fort Collins is consistently ranked in the top cities to live in!

Background Check Policy Statement

Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks for the finalist before a final offer. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification. Background checks will also be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the University, it is reasonable and prudent to do so.

EEO

Colorado State University (CSU) provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.