Copy of Senior Director Student Finance Operations

Covista•Columbia, MD

2d•$137,847 - $241,871•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Director, Support Operations reports directly to the Vice President of Institutional Support Services (ISS) and provides strategic leadership for initiatives that enhance the student experience, support institutional priorities, and ensure regulatory compliance across Covista’s academic partners. The role drives operational excellence in new student enrollment, resource planning, process optimization, student persistence through student finance operations, technology enablement, and business consulting services. The Senior Director partners with academic institutions, Regulatory Affairs, Legal, Information Technology, and operational leaders to deliver sustainable business solutions that improve service delivery, regulatory compliance, and organizational effectiveness. The role serves as a subject matter expert on complex regulations and their intersection across operational functions and institutions, leads enterprise-wide initiatives, develops solutions to operational challenges, and represents ISS with internal and external stakeholders, including regulatory agencies. This position calls for a collaborative and influential leader who can inspire teams, navigate ambiguity, use data to drive decisions, and foster accountability, continuous improvement, and professional growth. Covista operates on a hybrid schedule with four in-office days per week, Monday through Thursday.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required.
10 years of senior-level leadership experience required, including a minimum of 10 years managing large, diverse operational teams.
8 years of higher education or comparable experience managing highly regulated functional areas required.
Knowledge of federal and state funding regulations.
Ability to facilitate execution across multiple departments and institutions, including when working without direct authority.
Strong executive leadership presence and excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Understanding of process improvement and the relationship between process optimization, metrics, analytics, and reporting.
Strong strategic-planning skills and exceptional business acumen.
Outstanding leadership capabilities.
High standards of character, ethics, and integrity.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree preferred.

Responsibilities

Partner with academic institutions and functional leaders to align operational strategies, workforce planning, and service delivery models with institutional goals and student success.
Provide enterprise-wide leadership to improve operational efficiency, the student experience, and business processes.
Use data, analytics, and performance metrics to identify opportunities, develop short- and long-term strategies, and improve service level agreements across key business functions.
Position ISS as a Center of Excellence for resource planning, process improvement, technology optimization, student persistence, and operational innovation.
Lead the design, implementation, evaluation, and expansion of pilot programs and strategic initiatives supporting institutional priorities and service excellence.
Collaborate with ISS leaders, IT partners, and institutional stakeholders to develop scalable solutions and establish success measures and reporting frameworks.
Provide guidance as a regulatory subject matter expert on federal, state, and institutional regulations across operational areas and institutions.
Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, accreditation, SOX, and organizational requirements related to student financial operations.
Partner with Regulatory Affairs and Legal teams to assess regulatory risk, implement compliance strategies, and maintain regulatory readiness.
Communicate with external regulatory agencies as needed about student financial and operational matters.
Lead responses to audits, regulatory reviews, and compliance inquiries, including developing and executing corrective action plans.
Prepare and submit regulatory responses and documentation for student finance-related matters.
Serve as an executive liaison between ISS and academic institutions, fostering proactive, transparent, collaborative relationships.
Represent ISS on committees, governance bodies, project teams, and task forces across the organization.
Consult with institutional and executive leaders on service trends, operational challenges, and strategic opportunities to improve performance.
Collaborate with ISS leadership to determine resource allocation, service commitments, and operational priorities.
Escalate resource constraints and competing priorities with recommendations aligned with institutional and organizational objectives.
Lead and develop high-performing teams by building alignment and engagement, fostering professional growth, and navigating organizational change.
Promote accountability, continuous improvement, innovation, and student-centered service.
Manage labor and operating budgets exceeding $5 million and oversee a funding portfolio exceeding $1.8 billion.
Provide staffing, financial, and operational insights to optimize resource allocation, workforce planning, and budget management across Student Financial Operations and academic partners.
Manage multiple functions and institutional relationships to ensure seamless operations, exceptional service delivery, and strong business outcomes.
Perform other duties as assigned and comply with company policies, procedures, and professional standards.