Director of Merit Scholarship

UMass Boston•Boston, MA

About The Position

The Director of Merit Scholarships provides strategic leadership and oversight for the university’s undergraduate and graduate merit scholarship programs within the Division of Enrollment Management. The role leads scholarship strategy and administration, including recruitment and marketing, application and selection processes, award allocation, budget oversight, and ongoing fund management. As the primary steward of university merit scholarship resources, the Director collaborates with senior university leadership and campus partners to develop strategies supporting enrollment, retention, advancement, and student success. The Director advises on scholarship policy, funding utilization, and award optimization to ensure resources are deployed effectively and equitably. The position oversees compliance with scholarship requirements, monitors recipient eligibility, and ensures adherence to federal, state, institutional, and donor guidelines. It serves as the primary Enrollment Management liaison to University Advancement, advising on scholarship criteria, donor intent, fund development opportunities, and program design. Through data-informed analysis and assessment, the Director evaluates scholarship program effectiveness and return on investment and recommends ways to maximize impact on enrollment outcomes, student achievement, and institutional priorities. The position also provides support to recipients facing academic challenges and oversees scholarship recruitment, recognition, and stewardship events.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree.
At least 5 years of progressively responsible relevant experience.
Professional experience working in or knowledge of financial aid guidelines, scholarship awarding procedures and regulations, admissions, recruiting, and/or enrollment management strategies.
Knowledge of administrative software applications, including Microsoft Office and Excel.
Ability to plan and manage multiple projects and balance priorities.
Ability to manage complex tasks under time constraints while maintaining attention to detail.
Ability to work effectively with a broad range of staff to accomplish departmental, program, and university goals.
Ability to use independent judgment and handle confidential information.
Exemplary written and oral communication skills.
Strong commitment to customer service.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree.
Five to seven years of progressively responsible relevant experience.
Experience with budget and fund management.
Familiarity with student information and CRM systems.

Responsibilities

Lead the strategic administration and distribution of approximately $23 million in merit scholarship funding, supporting approximately 4,000 undergraduate and graduate students while ensuring compliance with applicable regulations.
Partner with Admissions, Financial Aid, Administration and Finance, and senior university leadership to develop scholarship strategies that attract, enroll, and retain high-achieving students.
Direct continuing student scholarship programs, including marketing, outreach, application review, recipient selection, award determination, and disbursement.
Serve as the primary Enrollment Management liaison to University Advancement on scholarship development and stewardship; advise on endowed and restricted funds, review gift agreements, and ensure scholarship criteria align with donor intent and applicable requirements.
Cultivate collaborative relationships across the university to optimize scholarship processing and utilization.
Oversee fiscal management, expenditure monitoring, and reconciliation of endowed scholarship accounts in collaboration with relevant financial offices and UMass System administration.
Interpret scholarship policies, eligibility requirements, and donor restrictions, exercising independent judgment to ensure equitable and appropriate recipient selection.
Monitor recipients’ academic progress and ongoing eligibility, and implement processes that promote compliance, persistence, and student success.
Support scholarship recipients experiencing academic challenges by connecting them with campus resources and interventions.
Plan and oversee scholarship recruitment, recognition, and stewardship events, including award ceremonies, open houses, admitted student programs, and donor engagement activities.
Assess the effectiveness and return on investment of merit scholarship programs through data analysis and reporting, and recommend improvements aligned with institutional priorities.