Associate Director

C001 New Jersey Institute of Technology; Newark (NJ); On-site; USD 69,000 - 129,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

On-site presence required

NJIT benefits

Job summary

New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark seeks an Associate Director to oversee Student Financial Aid Services operations and related recruitment and retention initiatives. The role emphasizes on-site leadership, staff training, and direct interaction with students and families to enhance service quality.

The ideal candidate has 7+ years in a higher education financial aid office, strong knowledge of Title IV rules, and proven ability to manage complex processes, collaborate across offices,

Qualifications

• Minimum 7 years in a financial aid office within higher education in a supervisory role.
• Knowledge of Title IV federal financial aid regulations.
• Strong leadership and customer service focus.

Responsibilities

• Serve as primary point of contact for complex student service issues with in-person interaction with students, staff, and campus partners.
• Lead training initiatives for financial aid staff and advisors to support recruitment, retention, and service excellence.
• Coordinate financial aid outreach activities including Open Houses, Admitted Student Days, orientations, college fairs, and presentations, which primarily involve on-site participation and direct engagement with prospective and current students and their families.
• Oversee Federal Work-Study Program, including hiring processes, compliance monitoring, reconciliation, budget oversight, and preparation of FISAP reporting data.
• Interpret and communicate financial aid policies and procedures to students, families, and campus partners.

Skills

Leadership

Customer service

Communication skills

Presentation skills

Organizational skills

Strategic planning

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Tools

ERP systems

Enterprise technology platforms

Job description

Title: Associate Director

Department: Student Financial Aid Services

Reports To: Senior Vice Provost for Enrollment Management

Position Summary:

The Associate Director is a key member of the management team responsible for overseeing departmental operations related to student and family services, recruitment and retention initiatives, and financial aid outreach aligned with institutional enrollment goals, requiring a consistent on-site presence to effectively support day-to-day operations and maintain direct interaction with students, families, and staff. This role provides leadership in training customer service staff and financial aid advisors within Student Financial Aid Services and collaborating offices, with an emphasis on in-person instruction to ensure effective knowledge transfer, engagement, and skill development. Working closely with the office’s leadership team, the Associate Director recommends process improvements, develops communication strategies, and supports initiatives that enhance the student experience and operational effectiveness. The position contributes to strategic planning efforts and initiatives aligned with NJIT’s institutional goals.

Essential Functions:

• Serve as the primary point of contact for complex, multi-departmental student service issues requiring advanced review and resolution through consistent, in-person interaction with students, staff, and campus partners, ensuring concerns are appropriately vetted, documented, and coordinated with leadership across relevant offices prior to escalation to senior leadership.
• Utilize advanced communication techniques to stabilize high-emotion situations, ensuring students feel heard while maintaining institutional policy.
• Identify recurring "pain points" in student services and propose systemic fixes to reduce the overall volume of escalations.
• Lead training initiatives for financial aid customer service staff and advisors to support recruitment, retention, and service excellence.
• Provide guidance and training to University Admissions counseling staff to support prospective students and families.
• Coordinate financial aid outreach activities including Open Houses, Admitted Student Days, orientations, college fairs, and presentations, which primarily involve on-site participation and direct engagement with prospective and current students and their families.
• Maintain extensive knowledge of financial aid regulations, policies, and best practices to ensure compliant program administration.
• Identify operational challenges and implement process improvements through collaboration, project management, and technology.
• Foster strong relationships with campus partners to support effective communication and service delivery, through regular, in-person collaboration and engagement.
• Manage the Federal Work-Study Program, including hiring processes, compliance monitoring, reconciliation, budget oversight, and preparation of FISAP reporting data.
• Oversee athletic scholarship processing and collaborate with technical teams to improve system efficiencies.
• Interpret and communicate financial aid policies and procedures to students, families, and campus partners.
• Serve as a subject matter expert representing the financial aid office internally and externally.

Additional Functions:

• Ensure compliance with NCAA regulations and university policies related to athletic financial aid.
• Prepare required NCAA reports, squad lists, and scholarship data analyses.
• Counsel student-athletes regarding financial aid awards and eligibility requirements.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Prerequisite Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of 7 years of professional experience in a financial aid office within higher education in a supervisory role.
• Strong knowledge of Title IV federal financial aid regulations.
• Demonstrated leadership experience and commitment to excellent customer service.
• Excellent communication, organizational, leadership, and presentation skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Strong leadership, supervisory, and public speaking abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet project deadlines.
• Experience working with ERP systems and enterprise technology platforms.
• Experience translating business needs into technology-driven solutions.
• Strong analytical and data management skills.
• Self-motivated and collaborative professional with a strong commitment to student service.

Union:

Professional Staff Association (PSA)

Range: Professional Staff -25 Compensation: $68,703.00 - $128,638.00 NJIT considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, as well as, market and organizational considerations when extending an offer.

FLSA: Exempt Time Type: Full time Pay Rate: Salary

Additional Information:

As an EEO employer NJIT is committed to building a diverse and inclusive teaching, research, and working environment and strongly encourages applications from individuals with disabilities, minorities, veterans, and women.

Employment at NJIT is subject to the provisions of New Jersey First Act which mandates new employees, who are not NJ residents, to establish primary residence in New Jersey within one year of their appointment to certain positions. The law does not apply to any individual employed at NJIT on a temporary or per semester basis as a visiting or adjunct professor, teacher, lecturer, researcher or administrator.

If special accommodations are needed in applying for a position, please visit the Department of Human Resources located in Fenster Hall, 5th Floor, University Heights, Newark, NJ 07102 or call [phone].

If you have questions, please email the Human Resources Department at [e-mail].

Information regarding NJIT campus security, personal safety, and fire safety including topics such as, disciplinary procedures, crime prevention, NJIT Police law enforcement authority, crime reporting policies, and crime statistics for the most recent three year period is available on the NJIT Department of Public Safety here.

NJIT is an E-Verify employer and uses E-Verify to confirm work authorization of each new hire.

When you work at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), you become part of a dynamic and innovative community dedicated to advancing education, research, and technological excellence.

Recognized as New Jersey’s premier public polytechnic university, NJIT serves a diverse population of over 12,000 students across six colleges and schools, offering a forward-thinking academic environment in the heart of Newark, just minutes from New York City.

At NJIT, we are committed to fostering a workplace culture rooted in inclusion, collaboration, and excellence. Employees are empowered to grow professionally, contribute to meaningful work, and support a mission that shapes the future of technology, education, and research.

Learn more about what we offer here!