Assistant Director, Financial Aid

Babson College•Wellesley, MA

4d•$65,822 - $73,135•Hybrid

About The Position

The Assistant Director, Financial Aid plans, publicizes, and manages policies and implementation strategies for federal, state, institutional, and private loans. The role serves as a primary point of contact for students and parents evaluating financing options and appropriate borrowing amounts based on program costs of attendance. It also works with graduate students to ensure merit scholarships and approved loans are packaged promptly. The position manages loan certification, processing, disbursement, and reconciliation; administers federal and state loan programs; advises borrowers; and coordinates with Student Accounts, Financial Services, lenders, servicers, guarantors, and government agencies. It supports compliance, financial literacy and debt counseling, loan servicing, and customer service across Student Financial Services.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree.
At least 4–6 years of related experience, including knowledge of financial aid regulations.
Ability to succeed in a customer-oriented, technology-intensive work environment.
Excellent communication and organizational skills.
Strong interpersonal skills, including advising and negotiation.
Strong attention to detail and compliance requirements.
Ability to envision and propose new methods to perform tasks that support ET&A, take thoughtful risks, and accept new and ongoing initiatives, objectives, and solutions to achieve results.
Ability to anticipate and embrace change, acquire and use new skills, take on challenging tasks, and remain flexible as conditions change.
Strong technical and analytical skills, and the ability to provide students with personalized financial counseling about borrowing and financing decisions.

Nice To Haves

Experience with Federal Direct Lending, PowerFaids, and Workday.

Responsibilities

Plan, publicize, and manage policies and implementation strategies for federal, state, institutional, and private loans.
Advise students and parents on financing options and appropriate borrowing amounts based on the cost of attendance.
Work with graduate students to ensure merit scholarships awarded by Graduate Admissions and approved student loans are packaged on time.
Provide outreach and guidance on private, federal, and parent loan options, including advising borrowers who may be requesting too much and assisting with cost-of-attendance change requests.
Identify financing options suited to individual borrower needs.
Manage daily electronic certification, processing, and return of funds for federal, state, institutional, and private student and parent loans.
Coordinate with Student Accounts and Financial Services to ensure timely disbursements and refunds and that college obligations are met before refunds are issued.
Administer the Federal Direct Loan program, including origination, disbursement, and monthly loan reconciliation; serve as the primary contact for the U.S. Department of Education's Common Origination and Disbursement site.
Approve and award private loans using ELM, manage cost-of-attendance change requests, request documentation from borrowers when needed, and certify loans submitted by lenders.
Monitor, update, and track internal and external loan change requests.
Ensure compliance with federal and state regulations related to student and parent loans, train Student Financial Services team members on updates, and attend training and conferences.
Participate in oversight of the College's Cohort Default Rate and support on-time repayments.
Conduct financial literacy and debt counseling workshops, and provide entrance and exit counseling for Federal Direct and Mass No Interest Loan programs.
Counsel students by email, phone, and Webex about loans, borrowing, and the loan process, and ensure appropriate training occurs.
Serve as liaison to lenders, servicers, and guarantors; meet with lender representatives as needed.
Conduct the annual Request for Information to select private loan options for parents and students.
Provide customer service for Student Financial Services functions in student accounts, financial aid, and financing options.
Manage the Federal Perkins Loan and Mass No Interest Loan programs, including maintaining and originating Perkins and Babson loans through UAS, handling new and past loan activity, and monthly service charges.
Assume additional responsibilities as required.

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
Group life and long-term disability insurance.
Business travel accident insurance.
Mental health benefits.
Starting at three weeks of vacation annually.
Two weeks of sick time.
One week of paid family illness time.
Six weeks of paid parental leave.
Twelve paid holidays per year; President's holidays are determined each year.
403(b) retirement plan with mandatory employee contributions and a 4:1 employer match.
Wellbeing programs.
Virtual fitness platform.
Employee assistance program.
Performance- and budget-based bonuses.