Assistant Director of Student Financial Aid

National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Carnegie Mellon University is seeking a student-centered and detail-oriented Assistant Director of Financial Aid to join our dynamic team. This role focuses on review of FAFSA and CSS Profile applications, ensuring accurate and compliant delivery of financial aid funds to our diverse student body.

You will also oversee daily processes and prepare routine status reports to management, collaborating with campus partners to resolve complex cases.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree highly desired.
• Experience in a higher education setting preferred; financial aid office experience a plus.
• Advanced proficiency with PowerFAIDS and comfort navigating federal databases (COD, NSLDS, CPS/SAIG) is essential.

Responsibilities

• Manage end-to-end processing and evaluation of federal and institutional financial aid applications.
• Conduct federal verification reviews in accordance with Department of Education regulations and university policies.
• Evaluate complex special circumstances appeals using professional judgment and equity-driven frameworks.
• Analyze data and collaborate to improve processing efficiency and remove administrative obstacles for students.
• Keep up with Title IV regulations to ensure compliance and accuracy in aid processing.
• Collaborate with campus partners to provide a seamless student experience and develop innovative solutions for complex cases.

Skills

Attention to detail

Analytical problem solving

Communication skills

Independent work

Adaptability

Education

Bachelor's degree in higher education administration or related field

Master's degree preferred

Tools

PowerFAIDS

Federal databases (COD, NSLDS, CPS/SAIG)

Job description

Carnegie Mellon is a global research university with more than 12,000 students, 80,000 alumni, and 5,000 faculty and staff. Recognized for its world-class arts and technology programs, collaboration across disciplines, and innovative leadership of education in the fields of Business Administration, Computer Science, Engineering, Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, Public Policy & Information Systems, and Science, Carnegie Mellon is consistently ranked among the top 25 universities in the United States.

Carnegie Mellon University is seeking a student-centered and detail-oriented Assistant Director of Financial Aid to join our dynamic team. This critical role focuses directly on the review of student applications, both FAFSA and CSS Profile, ensuring accurate and compliant delivery of financial aid funds to our diverse student body. Operating in a fast-paced environment with significant ongoing regulatory shifts, the Assistant Director will manage critical processing streams and serve as a vital resource for complex student cases. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who thrives in an interesting and challenging work environment. You will contribute to the department by maintaining the group’s service-oriented focus by providing clear and concise responses to inquiries from students, staff, academic departments, and external service providers. You will also oversee critical daily processes and prepare routine status reports to management, as well as participate in process changes to ensure timely awarding and disbursement of financial aid.

Core Responsibilities

• Application Processing & Review: Manage the end-to-end processing and evaluation of federal and institutional financial aid applications. This review involves verifying tax information, and other necessary supporting documentation gathered through the financial aid application process.
• Federal Verification: Perform meticulous federal verification reviews in strict compliance with Department of Education regulations and university policies.
• Professional Judgments: Evaluate and resolve complex special circumstances appeals using professional judgment and equity-driven frameworks.
• Process Optimization: Actively analyze data and collaborate with the team to identify, design, and implement better processes that remove administrative roadblocks for students.
• Compliance & File Auditing: Keep pace with changing Title IV regulations to ensure the highest standards of processing accuracy and federal compliance.
• Student & Partner Support: Work together with campus partners to create an easy, seamless experience for students, while understanding that some situations are more complex and require deep attention. Be able to develop innovative solutions to solve these complex problems.

You should demonstrate

• Strong attention to detail, strong analytical problem-solving skills, and the resilience to thrive in a high-volume, deadline-driven environment
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to maintain composure
• Ability to work independently with little direct supervision
• Adaptability, ability to prioritize and context switch, reasoning and problem-solving skills are vital qualities within the Student Financial Aid Office.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree, higher education administration, or related field required; Master’s degree highly desired. An equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.
• Experience: Prior experience in a higher education setting preferred, with financial aid office experience a strong plus. Demonstrated expertise in file review and verification is highly desirable.
• Technical Expertise: Advanced proficiency using the PowerFAIDS management system is strongly preferred. Comfort navigating federal databases (COD, NSLDS, CPS/SAIG) is essential.
• Mindset & Skillset: Must be a forward-thinking problem solver with a strong ability to analyze data, think critically about operational workflows, and collaborate cross-functionally.
• Regulatory Knowledge: A solid understanding of Title IV federal regulations, verification procedures, and application methodologies (FM/IM preferred). We highly value adaptability and a strong desire to keep learning and growing with our team.

A successful pre-employment background check is required.