Regular/Temporary

Regular

Job Title

Assistant Registrar, Financial Support

Job ID

71480

Location

Central Campus

Open Date

08/20/2025

Job Type

Limited Term (>12 months)

Close Date

08/26/2025

Employee Group

TMG

Favorite Job

Department

Financial Support

Salary Grade/Band

Band K

Salary Range

$78910.00 - $118366.00 (annual)

Contract Duration

14.8 Months

Hours per Week

35

Posting Details

Schedule

Monday - Friday

Education Level

University degree or equivalent

Career Level

3-5 years working in a post-secondary environment and/or management experience

Job Description

Department Description:

The Office of the Registrar provides a number of services to both prospective and current students and is the primary information source on enrolment, convocation ceremonies and important student dates and events throughout the year. We are a smart, collaborative group of approximately 100, spread across 8 departments: Student Services & Financial Support, Student Recruitment, Undergraduate Admissions, Student Records, Systems, Scheduling & Examinations, Student Communications and Central RO Administration. This supportive and dynamic team works together to provide assistance to students from their initial recruitment contact with McMaster until they graduate.

The financial support team connects students with government financial aid, bursaries, work programs and scholarships. These resources help make post-secondary education more accessible and recognize students' academic, extracurricular and community achievements.

Job Summary:

The Assistant Registrar is responsible for the efficient and effective delivery of financial support activities and services to undergraduate students, academic offices, and ministry stakeholders by providing leadership and operational excellence. This role ensures the accurate and timely processing of financial support programs, including OSAP, bursaries, scholarships, and awards, to support McMaster’s goal to attract and retain exceptional undergraduate students. The Assistant Registrar will lead the team to ensure financial aid programs are executed to support McMaster’s goal to attract and retain exceptional undergraduate students. Additionally, the Assistant Registrar will oversee compliance with government regulations and university policies, manage appeals, and coordinate large-scale student communications. The Assistant Registrar will contribute to the delivery of the department’s overall strategy and provide recommendations to the Senior Associate Registrar, Student Services & Financial Support to ensure the successful operation of the Financial Support office. This position also involves collaborating with various university partners and participating in audits to maintain the integrity and effectiveness of financial support services.

Accountabilities:

Operational Leadership

• Understand and manage the integrated processes of financial support cycles and their dependencies with business processes in Student Records, Admissions, Student Accounts, and RO Services.

• Ensure end-to-end management of institutional awards and aid timelines, redistributing work as needed. Implements, monitors, and evaluates programs and services to determine their ongoing appropriateness, effectiveness, and cost-efficiency. Identifies opportunities to improve efficiency.

• Oversee the processing of financial support programs ensuring timely delivery per internal and external requirements.

• Subject matter expert and lead of appeals of aid and awards, including sensitive and confidential cases, and prepare documentation for Ministry presentation.

• Lead audits, including Ministry Compliance Audit (OSAP) and US Loans.

• Review and assess complex applicant and student files using multiple systems. Ensure accurate system configuration, in collaboration with the RO Systems unit, within the various student systems (e.g. AwardSpring and Mosaic).

• Advise senior leadership on the development of policy and process improvements in response to the evolving needs of applicants, current/former students, and the University.

• Responsible for interpreting policy to ensure accurate and thorough information is used to serve and educate our student population. Communicate policy and procedural changes to staff, developing and providing training sessions.

• Collaborate with the Senior Associate to develop, recommend, and implement the annual operating budget for financial support, preparing in-year budget forecasts.

• Make educated and confident decisions within policy guidelines where required.

• Research best practices related to the knowledge base, policies and processes involved in providing student services.

• In collaboration with student communications partners, advise on financial support-specific content for large scale student communication.

• Act as the subject matter expert for financial support and manage new system implementation from a functional perspective.

• Take initiatives to grow and manage the team’s knowledge and ensures the team stays current with information, communications, trends, and best practices.

• Lead productive and informative meetings that develop staff skills, knowledge, and engagement.

• Acts as delegate for Senior Associate Registrar as required.

Human Resources:

• Manage a dynamic team of 6-10 full-time staff, comprising financial support professionals.

• Lead most functions related to human resource management, scheduling, performance management, training, professional development.

• Lead recruiting, hiring, on-boarding, offboarding and developing employees including students from the McMaster Work Program

• Ensure appropriate work performance for the team. Takes disciplinary action when required.

• Manages absences from work for the team

• Mange and provide direction to staff, prioritizing workflow, assigning work and overseeing the academic and aid year cycles.

• Develop and execute initiatives in support of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion supporting the shared purpose and responsibility of building an inclusive community.

• Support the development of a culture of service excellence and employee engagement within the RO and embed this culture in all activities.

• Foster opportunities for continuous learning, improvement, professional development, and succession planning. This includes developing and executing employee engagement activities for staff.

• Responsible for interim employees including Work Program students, co-op students and other part time/causal staff, complies with Work program requirements and employment standards act requirements.

• Works with Employee/Labour Relations and the Central RO unit to manage any pre-grievances or conflicts.

Knowledge/Skills:

• Champion McMaster’s Core Leadership Capabilities.

• Demonstrate strong managerial, leadership and training skills with proven time management skills.

• Ability to quickly set priorities and manage multiple competing priorities in a timely and effective manner.

• Exceptional communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.

• Ability to collect and present data effectively.

• Consistent demonstration of tact, discretion and diplomacy.

• Sound judgment and demonstrated success in problem solving.

• Commitment to the student experience in the financial support processes.

• Knowledge of McMaster University requirements, policies and procedures.

• Experience with PeopleSoft Campus Solutions. Knowledge of OSAP and/or other financial support programs (institutional or government) and their associated governing regulations/policies

How To Apply

To apply for this job, please submit your application online.

Employment Equity Statement

McMaster University is located on the traditional territories of the Haudenosaunee and Mississauga Nations and, within the lands protected by the “Dish with One Spoon” wampum agreement.

In keeping with its Statement on Building an Inclusive Community with a Shared Purpose, McMaster University strives to embody the values of respect, collaboration and diversity, and has a strong commitment to employment equity. The diversity of our workforce is at the core of our innovation and creativity and strengthens our research and teaching excellence. The University seeks qualified candidates who share our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion. While all qualified candidates are invited to apply, we particularly welcome applications from women, persons with disabilities, First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples, members of visible minorities, and LGBTQ+ persons. Job applicants requiring accommodation to participate in the hiring process should contact the Human Resources Service Centre at 905-525-9140 ext. 222-HR (22247) or the Faculty of Health Sciences Human Resources office at ext. 22207 to communicate accommodation needs.

Hybrid Work Language

To ensure an ongoing and vibrant University community that meets the needs of our students, staff and faculty and supports the University mission, ability to work on-site continues to be a requirement for most University positions. The University is supportive of exploring flexible work arrangements that effectively balance operational needs and employee interests.

Interview Experience

At McMaster University, we believe in a comprehensive and inclusive interview process. Our interview methods encompass a variety of approaches that allow our hiring teams to provide a flexible and accessible experience for engaging with our candidates. Throughout your recruitment process at McMaster, you may be requested to participate in a variety of formats, that may include in-person, virtual or recorded interviews. If you have any questions as you move through the hiring process, please reach out to talent@mcmaster.ca or the HR contact associated with your position of interest.