Financial Aid Technical Lead

Iowa State University•Ames, IA

6d•Onsite

About The Position

Power the systems that help students move forward. Iowa State University is seeking a Financial Aid Technical Lead (Business Systems Analyst III) to guide the technology behind a critical part of the student experience: financing a college education. Your work will strengthen the systems that support financial aid and scholarships, helping our Cyclones in the Making—and current students—pursue their Iowa State education. We’re a “creative yes” organization. We approach challenges with curiosity, explore what’s possible, and work together to find a path forward. If you enjoy solving complex problems and building technology solutions with a clear human purpose, you’ll find meaningful work here. Your impact You’ll serve as the functional and technical owner of Student Financial Aid systems, connecting financial aid needs with reliable, effective technology. Working with Financial Aid leadership, Enrollment Solutions, campus technology teams, and vendors, you will: Own and improve essential systems. Guide the configuration, administration, and integration of financial aid and scholarship platforms, collaborating with campus partners on Workday Student. Turn needs into solutions. Translate business requirements into technical plans, build automated processes, and develop queries, reports, and dashboards that support financial aid operations. Keep services dependable. Troubleshoot complex issues, monitor system performance, and address process gaps before they disrupt work. Lead change with confidence. Coordinate upgrades, regulatory updates, testing, and releases while supporting compliance, security, and data governance requirements. Move projects forward. Lead financial aid technology initiatives from planning through implementation, coordinating resources, dependencies, and stakeholder communication. Help people succeed. Serve as a trusted technical resource, create clear documentation, and train staff to make effective use of new tools and functionality. What will help you thrive You combine technical judgment with an understanding of financial aid processes and the people who depend on them. You’re comfortable investigating a system issue, translating a complex requirement, and helping colleagues understand what comes next. You build strong partnerships, anticipate challenges, and balance opportunities for improvement with the precision that financial aid work demands. Why Iowa State Behind every financial aid process is a student making decisions about their future. Your expertise will help keep those processes reliable and responsive while giving staff better tools to support students. You’ll have opportunities to shape essential technology, guide projects across teams, and see your solutions become part of everyday university operations. Conferences, training, and a national peer network will support your continued professional growth. Bring your technical expertise and instinct for solving problems. Help us make the path forward clearer for students.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree and 5 years of related experience
Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an ongoing basis without sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

Experience translating business requirements into technical solutions
Previous experience in a higher education setting
Enrollment management experience
Experience with Workday, Docfinity, and/or NextGen

Responsibilities

Own and improve essential systems. Guide the configuration, administration, and integration of financial aid and scholarship platforms, collaborating with campus partners on Workday Student.
Turn needs into solutions. Translate business requirements into technical plans, build automated processes, and develop queries, reports, and dashboards that support financial aid operations.
Keep services dependable. Troubleshoot complex issues, monitor system performance, and address process gaps before they disrupt work.
Lead change with confidence. Coordinate upgrades, regulatory updates, testing, and releases while supporting compliance, security, and data governance requirements.
Move projects forward. Lead financial aid technology initiatives from planning through implementation, coordinating resources, dependencies, and stakeholder communication.
Help people succeed. Serve as a trusted technical resource, create clear documentation, and train staff to make effective use of new tools and functionality.

Benefits

comprehensive health and work-life benefits, including medical and dental
Retirement benefits including defined benefit and defined contribution plans
Generous vacation, holiday, and sick time and leave plans
Onsite childcare (Ames, Iowa)
Life insurance and long-term disability
Flexible Spending Accounts
Various voluntary benefits and discounts
Employee Assistance Program
Wellbeing program
Conferences, training, and a national peer network will support your continued professional growth.