Associate Director of Technology in the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships

James Madison University•Harrisonburg, VA

23h

About The Position

We are seeking an experienced information technology professional and leader, preferably with experience in higher education financial aid, to provide strategic and operational leadership for an office managing over $240 million in financial aid funds on an annual basis. James Madison University is a selective, public institution with a growing national reputation for offering experiences that lead to an outstanding education and supportive environment for students, faculty and staff. The student body includes approximately 21,000 undergraduate and 1,800 graduate students, with over 1,000 full-time instructional faculty. JMU offers thriving programs in the liberal arts, science and technology, and professional disciplines at the undergraduate, master’s and doctoral levels. JMU has achieved national recognition for the high quality of its academic programs, focus on maintaining strong student/faculty interaction, and innovative faculty research.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Higher Education Administration, Information Systems, Business Administration, or a related field with significant experience directly related to the position.
Demonstrated experience providing leadership for technology supported operations in a complex, highly regulated environment, preferably within higher education.
Supervisory or leadership experience, including oversight of staff and the ability to foster staff development.
Expertise with enterprise systems, preferably a student information system or financial aid system, including system functionality, security access, reporting, and troubleshooting.
Coding and website development.
Demonstrated proficiency in working with cross-functional teams.
Demonstrated problem-solving abilities and strong strategic thinking skills, including long term planning for system upgrades and integration of technology.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of Federal Title IV financial aid regulations

Responsibilities

Serve as a member of the Financial Aid & Scholarships senior leadership team to: Develop, revise, and implement policies and procedures that support efficient, compliant business practices.
Serve as a member of the Financial Aid & Scholarships senior leadership team to: Establish and communicate a clear vision and tone for the office of Financial Aid & Scholarships.
Serve as a member of the Financial Aid & Scholarships senior leadership team to: Identify and advocate for resources and support that promote staff effectiveness and job satisfaction.
Provide direct supervision to the Financial Aid Customer Service team, which is tasked with counseling current and prospective students and parents by providing guidance on application processes, eligibility criteria, federal regulations, application status, and available financial aid options; administering financial aid in compliance with federal, state, and institutional regulations, policies, and procedures.
Provide direct supervision to the Financial Aid Technology team, which is responsible for the technical and functional processes required for the delivery of financial aid awards and funds.
Maintain oversight of all technology functions for the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships and implement technology strategies to streamline daily operations so the office can keep up with the increased volume of transactions that need to be processed.
Serve as the Data Point Administrator for the administration of the Title IV Aid Programs.
Act as the security manager for the PeopleSoft financial aid module, serving as an adjunct security manager to the SIS Security Manager.
Ensure uninterrupted, secure continuity of services across all Department of Education and other relevant third-party sites for daily office operations.
Successfully troubleshoot technical issues and process technical requests in a timely manner.
Management of the financial aid automated system, including the development and documentation of procedures, and monitoring any and all changes in current financial aid software programs.
Serve as the office point of contact between JMU’s IT department and serve as the departmental leader for Reengineering Madison initiatives.