Assistant Director - Undergraduate Financial Aid

Chapman University Careers•Irvine, CA

About The Position

As a critical member of the Undergraduate Financial Aid management team, the Assistant/Associate Director provides leadership, mentorship, support, and direction to the counseling team, while contributing insight and innovation regarding policies, procedures, programs, and regulations. The position helps ensure data integrity and compliance with university, state, and federal laws, internal controls, and service quality standards. It resolves issues beyond the counseling team's scope, including working directly with students and parents to research and resolve complex matters. The Assistant/Associate Director prepares materials and presents to large and small groups during orientation, financial aid nights, and events requested by community partners. Other duties may be assigned or requested.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
At least 4 years of undergraduate financial aid experience at a public or private nonprofit university.
Strong and current knowledge of federal and state financial aid programs.
Ability to communicate clearly and accurately with internal and external partners, students, and their families.
Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to listen, remain calm, and empathize with students and parents from diverse backgrounds.
Ability to use tact and diplomacy and maintain a high level of confidentiality, with strict adherence to FERPA standards.
Demonstrated ability to make appropriate decisions and sound judgments on routine through critical matters.
Ability to maintain and present data clearly and concisely.
Ability to work successfully both independently and as part of a team.
Strong organizational skills to prioritize projects and deadlines and help the team do the same.
Comfort with public speaking and presentations, including creating presentations and outreach materials.

Responsibilities

Serve as a member of the Undergraduate Financial Aid Office management team.
Provide leadership, mentorship, support, and direction to the counseling team, directly supervising 4 to 6 team members.
Create and maintain training materials for new team members and provide opportunities for the team to maintain proficiency in federal and state regulations and institutional policies.
Participate in setting area goals and objectives and measure performance against them.
Interpret policies and regulations and determine exception requests appropriate to the position level.
Evaluate internal practices, procedures, and policies and recommend changes or enhancements.
Promote a positive image of the Financial Aid Office and Enrollment Division by ensuring accurate, consistent, and timely information is shared in accordance with policies and procedures.
Maintain professional currency through active participation and leadership in internal and external associations and committees.
Create and maintain a master calendar, including regular meetings with the team and individual team members.
Meet with students and families as needed and diplomatically handle escalated issues involving students, parents, and others.
Present at on- and off-campus financial aid events, including financial aid nights, conferences, and enrollment events.
Serve as a primary liaison to campus partners, including Disability Services, Global Education, Student Business Services, the Office of the Registrar, and the Dean of Students Office, answering questions, providing guidance, and resolving complex problems.
Lead the annual update of forms, communications, and web-based materials.
Monitor weekly, monthly, and annual reports to ensure compliance with federal and state regulations, including transfer monitoring, over-award, housing-change, study-abroad-change, and withdrawal reports.
Provide data and analysis on the effectiveness of work to identify trends, successes, and areas for improvement.
Provide insight during leverage planning meetings and assist with annual setup or changes.
Provide quality assurance and testing of financial aid packages.
Perform other duties as assigned or requested.