Associate Director of Financial Aid Advising

CU Denver; Aurora (CO); Hybrid; USD 95,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Retirement plan

Job summary

University of Colorado Anschutz is seeking an Associate Director of Financial Aid Advising to lead the central Advising team and coordinate services across programs. The role prioritizes accurate guidance on aid opportunities, eligibility, and award management, with responsibility for policy adoption and staff training.

The position reports to the Director of Financial Aid and Scholarships and oversees a team of professionals and work-study staff, driving strategic initiatives and timely student

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree is required; substitution allowed with related experience.
• 6 years of professional experience in financial aid administration or related field.
• Experience leading teams and managing operational processes.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for the central Advising team and cross-location staff.
• Oversee advising services for School of Medicine and other programs.
• Manage fiscal resources and address complex financial aid issues.
• Lead policy implementation, training, and documentation for staff.
• Collaborate with campus partners to ensure compliance and service excellence.
• Monitor performance metrics and drive continuous improvement.
• Support recruitment and development of staff and ensure timely student guidance.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Staff development

Policy compliance

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree (preferred)

Tools

Oracle PeopleSoft Campus Solutions

Job description

University Staff

Department: Financial Aid and Scholarships Office

Job Title: Associate Director of Financial Aid Advising

Position #: 00814556 - Requisition #: 41262

Job Summary

The Associate Director of Financial Aid Advising is a full-time leadership role responsible for overseeing comprehensive financial aid advising services. This position ensures students receive accurate, timely, and empathetic guidance on financial aid opportunities, eligibility, application processes, and award management. This position is responsible for planning, decision-making, and leading a diverse team. As a key member of the Financial Aid and Scholarship leadership team, the Associate Director helps set and implement strategic goals and ensures compliance with federal, state, and institutional policies.

The Associate Director also acts as a liaison between the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office (FASO) and various schools, colleges, and programs, keeping them informed of policy changes and providing timely information to students. This role recommends strategy, has responsibility for fiscal and/or human resources and has the authority to act on the Director's behalf when needed.

• Supervision Received: This position reports to the Director of Financial Aid and Scholarships at CU Anschutz.
• Supervision Exercised: This position directly supervises up to four (4) full time employees and provides indirect oversight of 2-6 work study student employees.

Leadership and Strategy - 40%

• Create and implement comprehensive strategic plans to optimize customer service staffing levels and enhance training programs, aligning them with the office's goals.
• Develop and implement strategies aimed at helping students manage their debt, providing them with the necessary tools and advice to make informed financial decisions.
• Assist with implementation of new policies and procedures by coordinating training sessions for staff, providing clear and comprehensive documentation, and offering ongoing support to address any questions or challenges that arise during the transition.
• Review and approve team-related standard operating procedures annually.
• Lead the recruitment and development of a skilled team, ensuring they are well-equipped to support students effectively.
• Act as a key point of contact for escalating issues, ensuring they are addressed promptly and effectively.
• Collaborate with the processing team to review and update all communications and forms to ensure messaging is aligned with advising principles.
• Implement strategies to enhance office operations and regularly prepare reports to track progress and outcomes.
• Actively participate in the management team, contributing to strategic discussions and decisions.

Student Services & Team Management - 35%

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight of the central Advising team, which consists of up to four (4) professional staff, additional temporary staff and 2-6 work study students, ensuring high levels of performance and customer satisfaction.
• Provide advising support and regular guidance to financial aid staff members assigned to the School of Medicine, ensuring consistent communication, aligned practices, and reliable service delivery across multiple locations.
• Manage fiscal resources for the Advising team such as expenses for training and development, events, and staff recognition.
• Address and resolve intricate financial aid issues, providing students with clear and effective solutions.
• Oversee daily advising operations, ensuring staff are scheduled to handle all forms of student contact, including emails, walk-ins, appointments, and phone calls.
• Conduct performance reviews and provide constructive feedback to team members, fostering professional growth and development.
• Monitor and analyze team performance metrics, implementing strategies to achieve departmental goals.
• Identifies and prioritizes training needs for advising staff, provides strategic direction for training and professional development initiatives, and monitors performance and quality outcomes to ensure compliance, accuracy, and exceptional customer service.
• Assist with advising students as needed.

Collaboration with Stakeholders - 15%

• Provide leadership and guidance to advising staff who serve as program liaisons, while personally managing high priority or complex collaborations with campus partners to ensure alignment, service excellence, and effective problem resolution.
• Provide updates and training to campus units and departments to ensure compliance with federal, state and university policies and regulations.
• Continuously seek to streamline processes and improve the student experience.
• Collaborate with colleges to offer financial aid presentations and workshops at various programs and events, including orientation, open houses, and on-campus events.
• Provide outreach presentations and workshops in the local community.

Training and Professional Development - 10%

• Participates in training seminars, conferences, committee meetings, etc. for professional development in the areas of Title IV financial aid.
• Maintain a thorough understanding of federal, state and university policies and regulations and ensure all services adhere to these standards, safeguarding the institution's compliance.
• Maintain year-round training calendar to provide regular trainings for the Advising staff.
• Promote professional development opportunities to the Advising staff.

Work Location

Hybrid - this role is eligible for a hybrid schedule of 3 days per week on campus and as needed for in-person meetings.

Why Join Us

The Financial Aid and Scholarships office, part of the Enrollment Operations division, is responsible for the administration of federal, state, and university financial aid and scholarship programs and for supporting students who have the potential to change the world through their practice and/or research. This team is dedicated to processing aid accurately and in a timely manner and to providing the best service possible to our busy students. The team also works collaboratively with other student services, schools and colleges, and the Denver campus in a dynamic and engaging work environment.

Why work for the University?

We have AMAZING benefits and offerexceptional amounts of holiday, vacation and sick leave! The University of Colorado offers an excellent benefits package including:

• Medical: Multiple plan options
• Dental: Multiple plan options
• Additional Insurance: Disability, Life, Vision
• Retirement 401(a) Plan: Employer contributes 10% of your gross pay
• Paid Time Off: Accruals over the year
• Vacation Days: 22/year (maximum accrual 352 hours)
• Sick Days: 15/year (unlimited maximum accrual)
• Holiday Days: 15/year
• Tuition Benefit: Employees have access to this benefit on all CU campuses
• ECO Pass: Reduced rate RTD Bus and light rail service

There are many additional perks & programs with the CU Advantage.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of higher education.
  • Substitution: A combination of education and related technical/military/paraprofessional experience may be substituted for the bachelor's degree on a year for year basis.
• 6 years of professional experience in financial aid administration or a related higher education field, including experience leading teams, managing operational processes, and implementing strategic initiatives.

Applicants must meet minimum qualifications at the time of hire.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree from an accredited college or university in Business, Social Science, Communication, Finance, Public Administration, Compliance, Higher Education, Student Affairs or related field.
• Experience working with Oracle PeopleSoft Campus Solutions.
• Experience working with Federal and State aid regulations.
• Experience working with graduate and professional students, especially those in health-related programs.

Conditions of Employment

• Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without requiring sponsorship. We are unable to provide work visa sponsorship or employment authorization for this position now or in the future.
• Standard campus hours are 8am - 5pm, with public-facing office hours of 9am - 4pm
• Employees are required to work onsite a minimum of three (3) days per week, or more frequently as designated by campus policy, leadership direction, or operational needs.
• Occasional evening or weekend work may be required for events, outreach activities, or peak operating periods.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of federal, state, and institutional aid regulations and policies.
• Ability to develop and facilitate staff training programs to maintain compliance with federal, state, and institutional policies.
• Strong analytic, research, and organizational skills.
• Ability to make independent decisions.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees at all levels throughout the organization.
• Ability to communicate policies, procedures, and information with various departments/agencies, staff, and students and train personnel as relevant.
• Ability to independently assess opportunities and situations and provide reasonable solutions focused on problem resolution.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

ADA Statement

The University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities throughout the employment application process. To request an accommodation pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact the Human Resources ADA Coordinator at [e-mail].

Background Check Statement

The University of Colorado Anschutz is dedicated to ensuring a safe and secure environment for our faculty, staff, students and visitors. To assist in achieving that goal, we conduct background investigations for all prospective employees.

Vaccination Statement

CU Anschutz strongly encourages vaccination against the COVID-19 virus and other vaccine preventable diseases. If you work, visit, or volunteer in healthcare facilities or clinics operated by our affiliated hospital or clinical partners or by CU Anschutz, you will be required to comply with the vaccination and medical surveillance policies of the facilities or clinics where you work, visit, or volunteer, respectively. In addition, if you work in certain research areas or perform certain safety sensitive job duties, you must enroll in the occupational health medical surveillance program.

Anticipated Pay Range

The starting salary range (or hiring range) for this position has been established as $94,830-$99,985.

The above salary range (or hiring range) represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting. This position may be eligible for overtime compensation, depending on the level.

Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck. The University of Colorado provides generous leave, health plans and retirement contributions that add to your bottom line.

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