Lead Financial Aid Specialist

Bellevue University•Bellevue, NE

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Lead Financial Aid Specialist serves as an advanced individual contributor responsible for performing complex Title IV financial aid administration while supporting operational excellence across the Financial Aid department. This position performs advanced financial aid processing requiring extensive knowledge of federal Title IV regulations, institutional policies and financial aid systems. This role provides expertise in researching, analyzing and resolving complex student and operational scenarios and serves as a subject matter expert and escalation resource for complex regulatory, operational and systems-related questions while carrying a significant portfolio of substantive financial aid responsibilities. The Specialist partners closely with department leadership to support the implementation of regulatory, procedural and technology changes through testing, documentation, training and operational execution. Serving as a bridge between policy and practice, this position translates regulatory and institutional requirements into consistent operational processes, procedures and staff guidance that promote compliance, consistency and operational effectiveness. The role also strengthens operational capability across the Financial Aid team through mentoring, cross-training and knowledge sharing while advancing operational resiliency and continuous improvement across the department.

Requirements

Advanced knowledge of federal Title IV financial aid regulations and administration.
Demonstrated ability to analyze and resolve complex operational and student scenarios.
Strong process improvement and operational problem-solving skills.
Ability to translate regulatory and business requirements into practical operational procedures.
Commitment to continuous improvement and operational excellence.
Strong organizational, analytical, and critical thinking abilities.
Ability to influence others through mentoring, guidance and knowledge sharing.
Demonstrated initiative, accountability, and sound professional judgment.
Ability to establish collaborative working relationships across departments and organizational levels.
Adaptability and resilience in a dynamic regulatory and operational environment.
Demonstrated ability to apply comprehensive knowledge across multiple functional areas of Financial Aid, while understanding the interdependencies between regulations, business processes and departmental operations.
Ability to interpret and apply complex federal regulations and institutional policies.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Excellent analytical, organizational and problem-solving abilities.
Ability to prioritize multiple responsibilities in a dynamic operational environment.
Ability to build collaborative working relationships across functional areas.
Ability to exercise sound judgement while handling confidential student information.
Advanced knowledge of Title IV regulations and financial aid administration.
Experience utilizing enterprise student information systems and financial aid management platforms (e.g., Oracle Student Financial Planning, Campus Solutions, or comparable systems).
Experience supporting system testing, process validation, and implementation of operational changes.
Ability to learn and adapt to new technologies supporting financial aid administration.
Experience developing operational documentation, procedures, and training resources.
General office and internet skills. Microsoft Office Suite: Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio

Nice To Haves

Master’s Degree a plus.

Responsibilities

Perform complex financial aid processing requiring advanced knowledge of federal Title IV regulations, institutional policies, and financial aid programs.
Research, analyze, and resolve complex student eligibility and processing scenarios.
Serve as an escalation resource for advanced financial aid questions and operational issues.
Support implementation of new federal, state, institutional, and system changes affecting financial aid operations.
Partner with department leadership to translate regulatory and institutional requirements into efficient operational processes and workflows.
Develop, document, maintain, and continuously improve departmental procedures, job aids, and operational documentation.
Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency, consistency, and service delivery.
Participate in operational improvement initiatives and special projects supporting departmental goals.
Recommend improvements to business processes, procedures and operational practices that enhance consistency, compliance and efficiency.
Serve as a subject matter expert and operational resource for Financial Aid staff.
Mentor and provide day-to-day guidance to Financial Aid Specialists and other team members.
Support onboarding, training, and cross-training initiatives to strengthen departmental capability and reduce single points of failure.
Promote knowledge sharing and consistent application of regulations, policies, procedures and operational practices across the department.
Partner with leadership in the testing, validation, and implementation of financial aid systems, enhancements, business processes and regulatory changes impacting departmental operations.
Evaluate operational impacts of technology and regulatory changes and assist in developing practical implementation strategies.
Support quality review activities to promote processing accuracy, consistency, and operational effectiveness.
Collaborate with Operations, Compliance, Scholarships, Student Accounts, Registrar, Information Technology, and other university departments to support effective service delivery.
Participate in institutional workgroups and initiatives supporting financial aid operations and strategic priorities.
Maintain current knowledge of federal regulations, industry best practices, and emerging trends affecting Title IV administration.