Associate Director

The David Nazarian College of Business and Economics at California State University, Northridge is hiring an Associate Director for its new Center for Fintech Innovation and Policy.

Position overview

The Associate Director serves as Project Coordinator for the Center for Fintech Innovation and Policy’s program funded by the U.S. Departments of Education and Labor Strengthening Institutions Program and runs the Center’s day-to-day operations across CSUN and Cal State LA under the direction of the Director, working closely with the two faculty directors.

Time is divided among research, teaching, and the day-to-day leadership of the Center and its federally funded program. The program is one through which undergraduates from both universities learn how financial technology works, build and secure a working product using AI tools, and pitch it to industry; students earn a certificate and degree credit, and the program is designed to serve first-generation and low-income students and to prepare them for high-wage careers in finance and technology.

This is a broad, hands-on role in a new center, and its scope will evolve; rigorous, detail-oriented program management is as central to the role as scholarship. Equipment operated: personal computer and standard office equipment daily (approx. 80% of working time); Microsoft Office / Google Workspace, Qualtrics, Canvas, PeopleSoft, web content management systems, Canva / Adobe design tools, AI tools for research, writing, data analysis, and content creation, social media and newsletter platforms, and video-conferencing tools in regular use as part of assigned duties. No commercial vehicles, machinery, or hazardous equipment.

Duties and responsibilities

The Associate Director's work will encompass:

• Center operations and program coordination
• Research, writing, and grant development
• Student engagement and recruitment
• Teaching
• Events
• Outreach and external engagement
• Communications and social media
• Grant administration and student assistants

For a more comprehensive overview of the Associate Director's duties, please see the full job posting.

Pay, benefits & work schedule

This position is employed through The University Corporation (TUC).

The anticipated hiring range: $80,000 Per Year

Time Base: Full-Time  

Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, 403 (b), Life, AD&D, Flex Spending

Qualifications

A doctoral degree (Ph.D., D.B.A., or equivalent) or a terminal degree in law (J.D., LL.M., J.S.D., or S.J.D.) in management, entrepreneurship, finance, information systems, economics, education, public policy, law, or a related field. Candidates who are ABD (all but dissertation) or awaiting degree conferral may begin the appointment before conferral, provided their degree is conferred and certification of conferral (diploma or official transcript) is submitted no later than August 2027.

Knowledge, specialized skills, and abilities:

For these candidates, continued appointments are contingent upon meeting this deadline. Demonstrated ability to produce rigorous written work and to draft, edit, and proofread professional documents with a high degree of accuracy. Experience organizing records and managing deadlines across multiple projects. Strong interpersonal, presentation, and communication skills, and a commitment to serving a diverse student population.

Preferred qualifications:

• A research agenda related to fintech, fintech policy and financial regulation, AI policy and governance, law and AI, AI in education or organizations, entrepreneurship, or workforce and economic mobility — candidates whose work sits at the intersection of fintech and law, AI and law, fintech policy, or AI policy are especially welcome.
• Experience with policy work, such as writing policy briefs, regulatory comments, or white papers, or engaging with regulators, legislators, or public agencies.
• Teaching or mentoring experience with undergraduates.
• Experience planning and hosting events, and in outreach to industry, government, or community partners.
• Experience in student recruitment, advising, or program coordination in a university setting.
• Experience supporting a federally funded grant, including documentation and reporting.
• Experience drafting grant proposals or comparable funder-facing narratives.
• Experience managing organizational social media and websites.
• Training or experience in a role requiring precise document preparation, records management, deadline tracking, and compliance review, such as a legal, compliance, contracts, or regulatory setting.
• Experience with design tools (Canva, Adobe), a web content management system, and campus systems such as Qualtrics, Canvas, or PeopleSoft.
• Experience hiring or supervising student employees.
• Recent doctoral and law graduates are encouraged to apply; the position is well suited to an early-career scholar.
• Advanced familiarity with AI tools and their application to research, writing, data analysis, and content creation.

THE SELECTED CANDIDATE IS REQUIRED TO PASS A THOROUGH DEPARTMENT BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION.

How to apply

Please complete the online application/resume upload submission process to be considered for any open position within the university and its auxiliaries. The hiring department will contact the best-qualified candidates and invite them to participate in the interview process.

Application Screening begins November 13, 2026 and will continue until the position is filled.

To be considered in the initial review, applications must be submitted before the date listed above.

Application submissions received after the application screening date will be reviewed at the discretion of the University.

For more detailed information on the application and hiring process, please view the link below:

http://www-admn.csun.edu/ohrs/employment/

Additional information

The University Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, gender, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, medical condition, marital status, veteran status, and disability. Applicants who wish to request an accommodation for a disability may contact the Office of Equity and Diversity at (818) 677-2077.

Learn more about this role

To learn more about this role and see the full job description, please click here.