Executive Director, Office of Student Financial Aid

University of Washington Medical Center•Seattle, WA

2d•$185,004 - $215,004•Onsite

About The Position

The UW Office of Enrollment Management has an outstanding opportunity for an Executive Director of the Office of Financial Aid to join their team. This position provides student-centered, technically expert leadership for financial aid across all three UW campuses. Working closely with and reporting to the Vice Provost for Enrollment Management, the Executive Director assists with the development and implementation of enrollment-related strategies, policies and initiatives in order to realize University enrollment goals and desired outcomes. This position plays a key role in advancing the UW’s 2026–2030 Strategic Framework, including its commitments to a high-quality, debt-free education, unlocking opportunity, operational excellence, workforce development and Working as One UW. The Executive Director provides innovative and strategic vision, leadership and operations management in the administration of all federal, state, institutional and private financial aid and scholarship programs for all three UW campuses. The Executive Director manages approximately 32 FTE within the Office of Student Financial Aid, which includes Veterans Education Benefits Office and Childcare Assistance Program. Responsible for a financial aid program of $800 million for approximately 33,000 students, the Executive Director oversees the planning, organizing and directing of all services provided by these units. In light of institutional mission and enrollment goals, the Executive Director both integrates and ensures compliance with federal, state, institutional and private aid rules and regulations. In collaboration with the Vice Provost and the Enrollment Management leadership team, the Executive Director exercises strategic leadership in the development and implementation of institutional policies regarding the evaluation of financial need and the packaging of aid in order to realize University enrollment goals, including access for and retention of a diverse student population. In support of the University’s commitment to expand access and affordability, the Executive Director will use data, modeling, forecasting and assessment to understand how financial aid investments influence access, enrollment, persistence and student success and to inform the strategic deployment of institutional aid. In effectively and creatively managing available funds to support UW students and meet enrollment goals, the Executive Director clearly communicates with various constituencies about the use of these funds. The Executive Director works directly with UW Advancement to assist in UW scholarship fund raising and stewardship. Consistent with the University’s commitment to operational excellence, the Executive Director will lead modernization of OSFA’s systems and processes, reducing manual and duplicative work, strengthening data integration and reporting, and improving the timeliness, accuracy, transparency and student experience of financial aid services. Recognizing that sustainable, well-supported staff are essential to reliable service, the Executive Director will prioritize staff retention, sustainable workloads, onboarding and training, professional development, clear expectations and accountability, and succession planning across OSFA. The Executive Director is expected to represent the University through leadership and active participation in national, regional, and statewide professional organizations and through professional publications. The Executive Director approaches this work with humility and a genuine commitment to learning UW’s institutional context and history before implementing major change. The ideal candidate is student-centered, empathetic, calm, and approachable; is a strong listener and communicator who can explain change clearly to a wide range of stakeholders; and builds trust and credibility with OSFA staff, Enrollment Management, Student Fiscal Services, and campus partners across all three campuses.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree and at least seven years of professional leadership experience in university financial aid
A comprehensive knowledge of financial aid programs and regulations and experience with university accounting, budgeting, and disbursement policies and procedures
Experience with financial aid or compliance audits, complex or homegrown systems, and large, decentralized institutions
Thorough understanding of national and state-level issues and challenges for financial aid and enrollment
Demonstrated experience leveraging financial aid technology, integrated systems, workflow automation, data, and reporting tools to improve operational effectiveness, compliance, decision-making, and student service.
Excellent communication skills, including the ability to listen deeply and explain change clearly to a wide range of audiences
Collaborative nature and ability to work with a wide range of constituencies; a student-centered, empathetic, and approachable leadership style
Supervisory and leadership skills to direct a large, diverse staff of professional and classified employees
Knowledge of budget and personnel policies as well as the ability to plan and manage a large, complex budget
Demonstrated experience stabilizing staff capacity and leading disciplined, trust-building change management within a complex organization
Position involves some travel (valid driver's license required)
Evidence of providing strategic vision and supporting staff teams
Experience managing teams and groups

Nice To Haves

Master's degree
Experience with change management

Responsibilities

Serve as Executive Director of Financial Aid for all three campuses
Collaboratively provide strategic leadership for the use of financial aid as a key element in the University's enrollment management efforts
Build and maintain consistent, transparent financial aid practices and communication across the Seattle, Bothell, and Tacoma campuses, strengthening the tri-campus university through shared responsibility, clear coordination, and equitable service while recognizing each campus’s distinct context and needs
Coordinate activities related to the annual financial aid award cycles, developing and implementing policies and procedures to ensure compliance with applicable federal and state laws and regulations and ensure timely and accurate awarding, disbursement, reconciliation, reporting, and administration of financial aid programs
Foster, develop and maintain effective working relationships with higher education organizations and key stakeholders
Serve as a core member of the University's enrollment management leadership team, contributing to strategic planning, policy development, and institutional decision-making
In coordination with External Affairs Office, serve as financial aid representative for federal and state governmental relations and legislative advocacy efforts, monitoring proposed legislation and regulatory changes, partnering with governmental affairs leadership, and advocating for policies that support student access, affordability, and institutional priorities
Serve as the primary liaison between the University and various federal, state and local agencies providing financial aid to students
Provide strategic advice on current and proposed regulations and policy changes to central administration, faculty committees and the Board of Regents
Provide recommendations on strategy and implementation of institutional policies for evaluation of financial need and packaging of aid using data and assessment.
Provide strategic leadership for UW scholarship strategy, including the coordination, administration, and evaluation of institutional and donor-funded scholarship programs.
Work with University Advancement staff and donors on the development of scholarship funds for current and future students
Perform duties as NCAA UW designated financial aid authority and work with Intercollegiate Athletics on athletic scholarship issues and eligibility decisions
Lead institutional preparation for financial aid audits, reviews, and federal program reviews; oversee corrective action as needed; identify emerging compliance risks; and advise University leadership on regulatory and institutional risk
Act as point of contact for local and national media on financial aid issues and statistics at the UW
Champion staff retention and workforce stability across OSFA, including addressing vacancies and sustainable workloads; strengthening onboarding, training, and professional development; establishing clear expectations and accountability; and building succession planning
Develop collaborative and cooperative relationships with and advise major constituencies on financial aid and scholarship matters
Collaborate with students, faculty, parents, legislators, and other stakeholders regarding financial aid issues
Oversee the resolution of elevated and complex student financial aid cases, providing strategic guidance and ensuring appropriate, timely, and equitable outcomes.
Lead the modernization of financial aid systems and business processes, partnering with technology teams to improve automation, systems integration, reporting, and the student experience. Participate in university-wide committees to prioritize computer system resources
Serve as UW data custodian for financial aid data and strengthen the use of reporting, analytics, and assessment to support compliance, operations, and financial aid strategy
Partner with campus financial aid, admissions, advising, and registrar offices as a responsive, accessible collaborator, establishing regular communication channels and appropriate systems access for holistic student support
Fulfill other duties as assigned by Vice Provost or executive university leadership