Assistant Director, Financial Aid Systems

Rice University•Houston, TX

7h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Assistant Director of Financial Aid is an integral part of the Office of Financial Aid within the Enrollment Division at Rice University, a highly selective research institution located in the heart of Houston, Texas. The Office of Financial Aid is responsible for the administration of all sources of student financial aid in a manner strategically driven to meet the enrollment goals of Rice University. The office is also responsible for ensuring that students and families are informed about the financial assistance available to them, including information on all federal, state, and institutional financial assistance programs. The Assistant Director will be responsible for projects or initiatives that have a defined scope, moderate to high levels of complexity, and external visibility, and require autonomous (independent) execution. As part of a team, the Assistant Director will provide technical support for Banner and other software to the Office of Financial Aid and administer the university’s financial aid programs and policies for undergraduate and/or graduate students. The Assistant Director is also responsible for drafting procedures, problem solving, and special projects. The ability to communicate financial aid policies and convey complex financial information is essential. The position has minimal interaction with students and families. The Assistant Director will be building skills to learn the work of the Enrollment Division at a highly selective institution. Familiarity with business processes, institutional methodology, verification, and financial aid systems, as well as knowledge of Rice University and/or experience in a higher education environment, is desired. The ideal candidate will have at least 3 years of experience in financial aid administration with progressive responsibilities and exhibit excellent functional and technical financial aid knowledge. They will have demonstrated initiative in utilizing professional development resources available to them. Experience with system testing, development of instructional materials, and implementing system solutions is desired. Current or past experience managing a Federal Student Aid fund portfolio and Banner aid-year setup is preferred. Automic experience is a plus.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree
2+ years of experience in higher education financial aid and a successful track record of working with diverse student populations in a positive manner
In lieu of the education/experience requirement, additional related education and/or experience, above and beyond what is required, may be substituted on an equivalent year-for-year basis.
Knowledge of computer system capabilities, business processes, and workflow
Banner system technical support experience
Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, including the ability to bridge functional and technical resources by communicating effectively with individuals of varying systems expertise and business needs
Demonstrated ability to set priorities, manage time and workflow, and manage multiple concurrent high‑priority projects in a time‑pressured environment
Demonstrated analytical and quantitative skills and sound judgment
Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation
Some travel expected

Nice To Haves

Three to five years of progressively responsible and successful experience in a higher education financial aid office
Institutional Methodology (IM) financial aid experience
Federal aid program management experience
Banner system technical support experience
Automic experience

Responsibilities

Analyzes and documents user needs, existing and new policies, processes, procedures, and operational methods to consider possible improvements to new and existing systems
Utilizes elicitation techniques to understand business processes and translate them into system requirements and/or development of system solutions
Defines and documents business requirements and test cases for system development
Coordinates with business and technology teams, ascertaining system requirements such as program functions, output requirements, input data acquisition, and system techniques and controls
Problem solves in areas such as system design, input/output requirements, and procedural flow between departments and/or business systems
Performs configuration of enterprise application software
Performs testing of new systems, upgrades, and patching of existing systems; may include developing test plans
May develop instructional materials, training, and job aids
Assists with analysis of applications and completing need analysis for a high volume of financial aid applications
Reviews detailed financial documents, including tax returns, for accuracy of reported financial information
Determines student awards based on computed financial need and other factors; adjusts budget and packages based on special circumstances
Reviews a wide variety of reports to identify changes or conflicting data in financial systems
Facilitates solutions and resolves complex issues regarding financial aid packaging, verification, origination, disbursement, or other financial aid concerns
Performs all other duties as assigned