Assistant Director of Financial Aid

National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators; New Castle (DE); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators seeks an Assistant Director to oversee the financial aid verification and awarding processes, reporting to the Assistant Vice President of Financial Aid and Financial Literacy.

You will lead the Financial Aid Office, interpret federal and state regulations, drive improvements in policy and service delivery, and collaborate across offices to ensure accurate, timely Title IV aid administration.

Qualifications

• Requirements include a bachelor’s degree; a master’s preferred.
• 3–5 years of federal student financial aid administration experience.
• Strong written and verbal communication, customer service focus, sound judgment.

Responsibilities

• Oversee financial aid verification, application review, and awarding processes with oversight to advisors.
• Identify and resolve conflicting information, potential over-awards, and eligibility issues.
• Maintain knowledge of federal and state student financial aid policies and interpret them to guide daily work.
• Collaborate with Assistant Directors to manage day-to-day FAO operations.
• Lead efforts to improve policies, processes, and service delivery for student services.

Skills

Leadership

Regulatory knowledge

Team collaboration

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree preferred

Tools

NSLDS

COD

Banner

SIS

MS Office

Excel

Word

PowerPoint

Teams

Job description

The Assistant Director will provide direct oversight of the financial aid verification and awarding processes.Reporting directly to the Assistant Vice President of Financial Aid and Financial Literacy, they will provide leadership and support to the entire financial aid office.Collaborating closely with the entire FA leadership team, they will interpret and implement federal regulations ensuring that the university remains in compliance with the delivery of federal title iv aid programs.

Responsibilities include (but are not limited to):

• Manage financial aid verification, application review, and awarding processes, providing oversight and support to Financial Aid Advisors, including the management of advisor workload and processing times.
• Oversee financial aid advisors’ responsibilities related to student eligibility, including identifying and resolving conflicting information, potential over-awards, C-flags, and other eligibility-related issues.
• Maintain current knowledge of federal and state (including DE, PA, and NJ) student financial aid policies, regulations, and trends. Interpret federal, state, and institutional policies to guide daily work and to help resolve complex issues involving program and student eligibility.
• Work collaboratively with Assistant Directors to manage and support the day-to-day functioning of the Financial Aid Office (FAO).
• Lead efforts to evaluate, prioritize, and implement enhancements to policies, processes, and service delivery methods to improve student services and office outcomes.
• Collaborate on system upgrades, testing, and configuration to ensure the accurate and timely delivery of financial aid programs.
• Assist with developing and executing the Financial Aid office's federal direct loan debt and default management programs and efforts.
• Provide leadership and support to the Financial Aid Office to ensure a smooth and efficient financial aid application process for students and their families, while identifying and implementing opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Promote and foster a supportive environment for all students, faculty, and staff.
• Perform all other duties as assigned by the Assistant Vice President of Financial Aid and Financial Literacy.

A bachelor's degree is required; a master's degree in a related field is preferred. A minimum of three to five years of experience in federal student financial aid administration is required. Prior supervisory experience is preferred. The incumbent must demonstrate excellent written and verbal communication skills, a strong commitment to customer service, and the ability to exercise sound judgment and make independent decisions. Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively are essential. Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams, is required. Knowledge of federal financial aid systems, including the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS), Common Origination and Disbursement (COD), and other Federal Student Aid (FSA) reporting systems, is necessary. Experience working with a Student Information System (SIS) is required; experience with Banner is preferred. Must demonstrate a collaborative, team-oriented approach and the ability to establish and maintain positive, effective working relationships with colleagues across the University. Must demonstrate respect for others in the workplace and a commitment to creating a supportive work environment that values the contributions of all employees.