Associate Director, Financial Aid
About The Position
The Associate Director of Financial Aid is a member of Westminster University’s Enrollment Management Division and reports to the Director of Financial Aid. This position works with undergraduate and graduate populations. Enrollment Management is a collaborative team committed to providing and supporting services that attract, enroll, and retain students. The Enrollment Management division seeks to offer a student-centered, service-focused, and innovative enrollment experience that supports the University’s strategic priorities. As part of these efforts, the Associate Director of Financial Aid oversees daily operations of financial aid awarding, compliance, and student communications. The Associate Director also ensures accurate and timely administration of federal, state, and institutional funding while promoting an environment of excellent student service. As a member of the financial aid team, this position organizes and executes financial aid programs and initiatives to attract, enroll, and retain students to the University. It is required that the employee be on-campus, in-person but occasional remote work is possible. This role supports student success by supporting a dynamic and diverse student population.
Requirements
- B.A. or B.S. degree and five years of higher education or other relevant experience.
- Ability to adapt to changes in work environment where the workload, speed, and type of work varies throughout the admissions cycle.
- Commitment to providing a highly responsive and service-oriented enrollment experience.
- Exceptional writing, communication, and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to work well with diverse populations in group and individual settings
- Ability to prioritize multiple tasks, demonstrate organizational skills, and meet deadlines.
- Demonstrated organizational skills and ability to coordinate programs, projects, and volunteers with high level of autonomy.
- Ability and willingness to accept constructive feedback in order to improve work performance.
- Willingness to stay engaged and aware of national trends in higher education.
- Desire to have fun in a professional team setting.
Nice To Haves
- Preference given to those with experience coordinating federal, state, and institutional financial aid and scholarship programs.
- Periodic overnight travel may be required.
- Regular travel throughout the year and/or at specified times.
- Occasional extended hours, including evenings and weekends for project and events.
- Ability to climb, balance, stoop, kneel, and crouch required.
- Education or professional experience in a liberal arts setting.
- Leadership experience in a customer service focused environment (preferred).
- Experience with Ellucian Colleague or Banner (preferred).
Responsibilities
- As an extended member of the Enrollment Management Leadership Team, the Associate Director of Financial Aid regularly attends scheduled leadership meetings and contributes to the department strategy.
- Takes an active role in student recruitment and retention by counseling students and their families regarding aid programs, processes, and financing options.
- Assists in overseeing an effective and comprehensive student financial aid counseling and support program which maintains relationships with students, parents, faculty, and other college administrators.
- Serves on various Financial Aid, Enrollment Management, and campus-wide committees. Designs, develops, implements, and participates in outreach activities with emphasis on financial aid advising and service to current and prospective students. This includes high school college nights, admissions open houses, FAFSA nights, and other outreach programs targeted at informing current and prospective students of financial aid availability and application process.
- Monitors daily operations to ensure timely awarding of financial aid awards offers and responses to phone calls, emails walk-in traffic and virtual appointments.
- Assists in the coordination of campus communication regarding new processes, email reminders and website maintenance.
- Manages financial aid awarding to ensure accuracy and completeness of all financial aid application materials including verification documents, citizenship status and subsequent ISIRs.
- Responsible for maintaining knowledge of NCAA Division II regulations, timing, and student support.
- This role ensures posting of athletic scholarship to students’ accounts while maintaining scholarship data in the Compliance Assistant System.
- Monitors the processing of Return of Title IV calculations for students who withdraw or have ceased attendance. Ensures verification is completed in accordance with federal regulations.
- Assists in conducting verification review when necessary.
- Manages student and parent requests for special circumstance reviews.
- Requires the ability to apply professional judgement principles when reviewing complex family circumstances.
- Serves as a resource in the review of and processing of exceptions to regulatory definitions if dependent/independent student status, modification of financial need through adjustments to information reported on the FAFSA and appeals for failure to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards
- Trains staff in new regulations, policies and procedures.
- Meets with direct reports regularly to develop professional skills and provide support
- Acts as a knowledge source to financial aid staff and other campus offices
Benefits
- Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
- Paid Time Off (PTO)
- Paid Parental Leave
- Paid Family and Medical Leave
- 403(b) Retirement Plan with a 5.5% employer contribution
- Tuition Remission (after a qualifying period of employment)
- 18 Paid Holidays Annually
- Cell Phone Plan Discounts
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
