Assistant Director Financial Aid

American University; Washington; Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive benefits package

Job summary

American University is seeking an Assistant Director for Financial Aid Communications & Service to oversee daily service delivery within the Office of Financial Aid and manage the Yellow Ribbon Program. The role involves supervising front desk operations, monitoring service levels, and coordinating with multiple university offices to ensure compliant, student-centered aid administration.

The ideal candidate will have 3–5 years in financial aid administration, a bachelor's degree or equivalent,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent required.
• 3–5 years of relevant experience required.
• Financial aid administration and counseling experience required.
• Master's degree or equivalent preferred.
• Experience with automated systems and strong written and verbal communication skills preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day service delivery operations of the Office of Financial Aid, supervising staff and ensuring front desk coverage.
• Manage Yellow Ribbon Program coordination with key university offices and prepare annual awards and applications.
• Advise students and families on federal/state/institutional aid programs, regulations, and budgeting considerations.
• Train staff, maintain case management, reconcile student records and aid activity, and enforce service standards.

Skills

Customer service

Information analysis

Decision making

Customer advocacy

Team leadership

Talent management

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Master's degree or equivalent (preferred)

Job description

Company

American University is a student-centered research institution located in Washington, DC, with highly-ranked schools and colleges, internationally-renowned faculty, and a reputation for creating meaningful change in the world. Learn more about American University

Department: Financial Aid Communication & Service

Time Type: Full time

Job Type: Regular

FLSA Status: Exempt

Work Modality: Hybrid 01 (On Campus 3-4 Days/Week)

Union: Excluded

Job Description

Summary: This position plays a key role in the administration and oversight of American University's financial aid programs, with primary responsibility for the daily service delivery operations within the Office of Financial Aid and the administration of Yellow Ribbon Program. The position manages day-to-day service delivery operations by supervising customer service representative staff, ensuring adequate front desk coverage, monitoring phone agent availability and service levels, compiling and disseminating monthly service metrics, and assisting with troubleshooting disruptions related to Webex phone, ServiceNow CRM, and Zoom Scheduler. The Assistant Director manages Yellow Ribbon Program coordination with the Office of Admissions, Veteran Services Office, Student Accounts, Washington College of Law, and Office of Graduate Studies; oversees timely identification, awarding, revision, and reconciliation of Yellow Ribbon awards; and coordinates the annual calculation, update, and submission of the university's Yellow Ribbon Program application. The incumbent also advises students and families, supports staff training and case management, and ensures effective, student-centered service delivery.

Essential Functions

• 1.) Financial Aid Office Service Delivery Management Manage the day-to-day service delivery operations of the Office of Financial Aid. Supervise customer service representative staff; ensure adequate coverage at the financial aid front desk; monitor phone agent availability and service levels; compile and disseminate monthly service metrics, including phone and walk-in statistics; and assist in troubleshooting disruptions related to Webex phone, ServiceNow CRM, and Zoom Scheduler. Support consistent, responsive, and student-centered service delivery across communication channels
• 2.) Management of the Yellow Ribbon Program Manage the Yellow Ribbon Program in coordination with the Office of Admissions, Veteran Services Office, Student Accounts, Washington College of Law, and Office of Graduate Studies. Identify eligible students in a timely manner; award, revise, and reconcile Yellow Ribbon awards; and coordinate with university stakeholders to annually calculate, update, and submit the Yellow Ribbon Program application. Ensure program administration aligns with applicable federal, institutional, and university requirements.
• 3.) Counseling and Financial Aid Advising Advise and counsel prospective and enrolled students, families, and university administrators regarding federal, state, and institutional aid programs. Explain regulations, policies, compliance expectations, need analysis, verification requirements, budgeting considerations, and the application of aid within the financial aid process.
• 4.) Training, Case Management, and Reconciliation Train financial aid staff and support case management by maintaining deep knowledge of federal and institutional regulations and office procedures. Reconcile student records and aid activity as needed, support issue resolution, and promote consistent application of policies, procedures, and service standards across the office.

Supervisory Responsibility

Yes. Supervises customer service representative staff and one Financial Aid Counselor.

Competencies

• Serving Customers.
• Acquiring and Analyzing Information.
• Making Accurate Judgments and Decisions.
• Championing Customer Needs.
• Building and Supporting Teams.
• Managing Talent.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

Full-time.

35 hours per week.

Salary Range

$70,000.00 - $80,000.00 annually.

Required Education and Experience

Bachelor's degree or equivalent.

3 - 5 years of relevant experience.

Financial aid administration and counseling experience required.

Preferred Education and Experience

Master's degree or equivalent.

Experience with automated systems and strong written and verbal communication skills preferred.

Travel Required

Minimal travel may be required for conferences and professional development activities.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Benefits

AU offers a competitive benefits package.

Other Details

Hiring offers for this position are contingent on successful completion of a background check.