Job Description

Reporting to the Assoc. Vice President of Admissions and Enrollment, the Director of Financial Aid provides leadership, direction for the financial aid team. Plans, organizes, directs, develops, implements and maintains a comprehensive student financial assistance program and aid delivery system that is responsive to student, institutional, governmental, and private funding source needs and requirements. Additionally, the position will foster collaborations within and between the academic programs as well as between and among the University's administrative and on-academic units to support enrollment and student success

Specific Duties and Responsibilities

Essential Duties:

Leads in planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluating of all federal, state, University, foundation and agency funds and other University resources related to student aid to ensure effective utilization and compliance with federal and state statutes, as well as institutional and outside agency guidelines.

Sets a clear direction and shares priorities for the staff reporting to them. Continually assess staff strengths to recruit / retain a high-quality, diverse team. Fosters an environment that rewards innovative thinking, builds confidence, and encourages teamwork and creativity.

Builds strong, collaborative, and collegial relationships with campus leaders, both academic and administrative, seeking to understand their specific priorities and identify ways to create synergy between departments that promote student success.

Establish and maintain data systems for the receipt, processing, and verification of aid application documents, and the awarding, revising, distribution, and reporting of approximately $40M in aid funds in a timely, accurate, and equitable manner.

Prepares and effectively administers Financial Aid operational budget.

Serves as Administrative leader for campus Financial Aid process. Develops the Financial Aid packaging philosophy and student cost of attendance budgets.

Creates State, Federal and institutional reports and performs audits. This includes timely and accurate completion and submission of required applications and reports to appropriate agencies.

Serves as University’s Chief Financial Aid Officer. Serves on various University committees, including University Council, Financial Aid Appeals Committee, Strategic Planning Committee, Foundation Scholarship Selection Committee, among others.

Leads in the development and implementation of office, University and system policies and procedures that meet federal, state and institutional requirements.

Effectively organize the office staff to accomplish required responsibilities and provide outstanding customer service in support of University goals.

Perform essential personnel functions to hire, train, supervise, evaluate, promote and/or terminate multiple full-time office staff, including part-time student employees and temporary/seasonal help. Promote and encourage on-going professional development and training of all office staff.

Meet with and counsel students and parents on funding for higher education. This includes participating in or presenting at student aid related events, prospective student and/or recruitment events, outside agency requests for information, or Foundation donor functions.

Serve as liaison between financial aid and athletic department so all scholarship aid awarded is in compliance with conference and NCAA rules and regulations. This includes providing estimates of aid eligibility to coaches for prospective athletes, monitoring of squad and individual eligibility throughout the academic year, and hearing appeals related to athletic aid.

Other duties may be assigned.

Education, Experience, and Licenses

Master's degree from accredited college or university or equivalent required; Four to ten years extensive federal aid regulatory experience and/or training required; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Preferred qualifications include in-depth knowledge of Banner Information system setup and operation, knowledge and understanding of NCAA, Department of Defense, and Veterans Administration regulations and requirements.

Ability to speak effectively in front of large groups, demonstrated effectiveness in working with diverse groups in a variety of situations, and demonstrated ability to work effectively and efficiently in a dynamic, fast-paced, team-oriented atmosphere required.

Demonstrated leadership experience, supervising full-time employees, required. Three (3) years’ experience in higher education administration with progressive responsibilities preferred.

Valid Driver's License and ability to meet insurance requirements to drive University provided vehicles.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, government regulations, financial reports, and legal documents. Individual must stay informed on changes in federal and state regulations to ensure University compliance.
• Demonstrated deep understanding of student aid laws and processes and ability to stay informed on changes in the law to ensure University compliance.
• Ability to work independently and use discretion, independent judgment, and thinking skills.
• Ability to use analytical skills, flexibility, interpersonal skills, and creativity.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively and collaboratively with internal and external constituencies.
• Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of administrators, board of governors, faculty, staff, students, vendors, government agencies, and the general public.
• Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from employees, students, regulatory agencies, and members of the business community.
• Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference and calculate complex numbers and figures.
• Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
• Ability to proficiently use computers for data entry; especially Microsoft Office products, web-based applications, and Financial-aid related computer applications.
• Ability to use small office equipment, including calculator, copy machines, and multi-line telephone systems.
• Ability to use (or quickly learn) University data software (Banner) and other software systems.
• Ability to multitask yet maintain close attention to detail and timeliness of work production.
• Ability to maintain the highest level of confidentiality in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and other applicable privacy laws.
• Ability to model and work in a positive team-oriented manner with a variety of people (students, faculty, administrators, staff, vendors, and members of the public).
• High level of organization and attention to detail, including the ability to anticipate needs, plan well in advance and a commitment to high standards of professional work.
• Personal qualities of integrity, professionalism, good judgment, appropriate discretion, a strong work ethic, and a commitment to service and treating others with respect.
• Commitment to diversity, inclusiveness, and positively contributing to a campus climate that supports success for students, faculty, and staff.

Physical Demands/Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, feel or use a computer keyboard and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to sit. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, or crouch. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

NOTICE: The above job profile does not include all essential and nonessential duties of this job. All employees with disabilities are encouraged to contact Human Resources to review and discuss the essential and nonessential functions of the job. An employee with a disability can evaluate the job in greater detail to determine if she/he can safely perform the essential function of this job with or without reasonable accommodation.

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