Assistant Director, Financial Aid Operations (FT), MFRE13542SFA

College of DuPage

19d • $75,131 • Hybrid

About The Position

The College of DuPage is a comprehensive community college located 27 miles west of downtown Chicago, vitally connected to our local area for over 50 years. We prepare students for a lifelong passion for learning on our 273-acre campus which is home to nine associate degrees and a wide variety of professional and technical certificates. Many of these credentials prepare students to seamlessly articulate into the baccalaureate programs of our higher education partner institutions.

College of DuPage is committed to student success and values an inclusive and welcoming community environment. We are an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity in the workforce. Our connection to the larger metropolitan area is essential to our success and provides a wealth of diverse cultural and recreational opportunities.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities:
The Asst Director of Student Financial Assistance Operations is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Student Financial Assistance (SFA) office, with a focus on electronic data processing, system integrations, and compliance with federal, state, and institutional financial aid policies. The role includes managing the administration of electronic financial aid systems, maintaining compliance with regulatory guidelines, and ensuring smooth financial aid processing from application through disbursement. The Asst Director will also supervise a team of financial aid professionals and serve as the primary liaison to the IT department for systems support.

Requirements

• Bachelors degree in related field required.
• Minimum of 5-7 years of experience in financial aid operations, including experience with electronic data exchange, federal aid programs, and financial aid management systems.
• Proven experience with Electronic Data Environment (EDE), ElmResources, and Department of Education programs.
• Strong knowledge of Ellucian Colleague or other student information systems is required.
• Experience managing teams, including hiring, training, and performance evaluation.
• Solid understanding of federal and state financial aid regulations, as well as institutional financial aid policies.
• Ability to interpret complex financial aid data and regulations and apply them effectively within the department.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality control.
• Must not be in default on federal student loans to have authorization to access Federal Student Aid databases (NSLDS, COD, FAAaccess).

Nice To Haves

• Additional course work in computer science area preferred.
• Relevant financial aid certifications preferred (e.g., CASFA, NASFAA)

Responsibilities

• Oversee the daily management of the electronic financial aid process, including the retrieval, posting, and reconciliation of data from various sources (e.g., ISIRs, COD, NSLDS).
• Hire, train, supervise, and evaluate Financial Aid staff members, including Financial Aid Representatives, ensuring staff meets performance expectations.
• Maintain and monitor the U.S. Department of Education’s (USDE) Electronic Data Exchange (EDE) process with federally approved entities (e.g., CPS, NSLDS, COD), including processing Institutional Student Information Records (ISIRs), corrections, and reporting.
• Collaborate with the IT department to review and coordinate annual financial aid setup, including document tracking, rule maintenance, and communication codes.
• Ensure accurate data exchange between the financial aid office and external agencies (e.g., NSLDS, COD) and manage internal office reporting.
• Develop, update, and enforce office policies and procedures to ensure compliance with federal, state, and institutional financial aid regulations.
• Coordinate reconciliation processes between the Financial Aid office and other institutional departments (e.g., Finance, Enrollment Services).
• Manage the Return of Title IV (R2T4) process and ensure accurate implementation of the procedures.
• Oversee the federal Direct Loan and Pell Grant closeout process with the Department of Education.
• Maintain and ensure proper configuration of the student information system to meet financial aid regulatory requirements.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for IT-related support for the financial aid office.
• Monitor and ensure daily quality control of the Ellucian Colleague student information system and troubleshoot account control issues.
• Generate special reports as requested by the Director and conduct research to address unique reporting needs.
• Assist in the collection and compilation of data for annual financial aid reports and institutional audits.
• Perform additional duties as assigned by the Director of Student Financial Assistance.
• Ensure smooth communication between the financial aid office and internal departments to maintain efficient processing workflows.
• Review and recommend improvements to financial aid processes to increase efficiency and reduce processing errors.
• Provide support and training to staff and other departments on financial aid processes and systems.

Benefits

• Competitive starting pay is dependent on education and experience.
• College of DuPage also offers a generous benefits plan which includes paid time off, tuition discounts for employees and dependents, medical, dental, vision effective the first day of employment, and retirement benefits in a collaborative and friendly environment.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level