Associate Director of Financial Aid

Merrimack College•North Andover, MA

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The Associate Director of Financial Aid provides operational leadership for the day-to-day administration of financial aid programs while serving as a key partner in enrollment strategy, student support, and cross-department collaboration. This role is responsible for ensuring the accurate and compliant delivery of federal, state, and institutional financial aid while supporting institutional goals related to recruitment, retention, and student success. The Associate Director works closely with the Director of Financial Aid to develop and implement policies, streamline processes, and improve the overall student financial experience. In addition to overseeing core financial aid operations, the role requires strong collaboration with Admission, Registrar, Student Accounts, and IT to support institutional priorities and maintain efficient workflows. The Associate Director of Financial Aid is responsible for the major operations to include, but not limited to application review and processing, eligibility, verification, counseling, compliance regulations, advising and financial aid initiatives, and awards and disburses financial assistance in accordance with changing institutional, federal, state, and NCAA procedures, policies, and regulations, and the supervision of the financial aid professional staff within the Office of Financial Aid. The Associate Director will assist the Director of Financial Aid in developing, interpreting, and implementing policies and procedures to provide efficient and effective delivery of financial aid. Additionally, the Associate Director trains and manages other skilled professional staff members within the Office of Financial Aid. The Associate Director will be involved in weekend events and may be needed for extended hours during high traffic time.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree; minimum of 5-7 years of progressive student financial services management experience (including staff supervision, budget and project management);
Thorough knowledge of Federal Title IV financial aid regulations as it pertains to both traditional and non-traditional programs;
Well organized, multi-tasker, effective time management, problem solver pays attention to detail
Must demonstrate ability to work in a fast-paced environment and prioritize accordingly
Ability to function independently while operating effectively within a team environment;
Must have technical competence and an ability to understand the "big picture" as well as the details of complicated systems and issues.
Must be able to exercise good judgment, be responsive and courteous, and student service oriented at all times
Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and experience with database management;
Strong verbal and written communication skills; excellent customer service skills and abilities.
Ability to work \with students, colleagues, and external constituents, including diverse populations.
High level of professionalism, leadership, diplomacy, and the ability to manage complex projects with minimal supervision.
Ability to work with sensitive and confidential material.
Enthusiastic, sense of humor, positive attitude, persistence, and passion for the work.

Nice To Haves

Proficiency with an ERP systems (Jenzabar preferred)
Experience with or knowledge of PowerFAIDS
Familiarity with federal systems such as Common Origination and Disbursement System, NSLDS, FAFSA Partner Portal; and experience with EDconnect.
Familiarity with Slate CRM helpful

Responsibilities

Manage core financial aid operations including application review, verification, eligibility determination, awarding, and disbursement of federal, state, and institutional aid.
Serve as a final reviewer for financial aid files to ensure regulatory accuracy, compliance, and ethical processing.
Process and monitor federal aid programs including Direct Loans and Pell Grants through Common Origination and Disbursement (COD) and complete monthly reconciliation and reporting.
Monitor federal and state regulatory updates and implement process changes to ensure institutional compliance.
Oversee staff members responsible for key program areas including Federal Work Study, state aid programs, and R2T4 processes.
Partner closely with Admission to support incoming undergraduate and graduate students through financial aid awarding, communication strategies, and enrollment support.
Work collaboratively with Admission, Registrar and Student Accounts leadership to improve communication, reduce processing delays, and create a more seamless student experience.
Serve as a point of contact for resolving complex student cases that require coordination across multiple departments.
Support the training of Admission and campus staff on financial aid policies, processes, and timelines.
Supervise and mentor financial aid professional staff, providing training, guidance, and support in daily operations.
Serve as a delegated authority in the absence of the Director, ensuring continuity of operations, decision-making, and leadership while upholding departmental standards and institutional priorities.
Assist in developing office policies, workflows, and best practices to improve efficiency and accuracy.
Support the Director in implementing new initiatives and improving service delivery.
Represent the institution at recruitment events, information sessions, and campus-wide programs.
Counsel prospective and current students and families on financial aid processes, eligibility, and timelines.
Develop and contribute to student communications, financial aid materials, and website content.
Deliver financial aid presentations to prospective and currently enrolled students, families, and campus partners.
Support appropriate exploration and use of AI-enabled tools in student services and administrative processing, with an emphasis on efficiency, service quality, data stewardship, and responsible operational application.
Utilize advanced Excel skills for reconciliation, financial modeling, audit preparation, regulatory reporting, and data analysis to inform decision-making and institutional planning.