Associate Director of Financial Aid Programs

University of Pittsburgh; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Pittsburgh's Admissions & Financial Aid team seeks an Associate Director of Financial Aid Programs to lead and coordinate the university's financial aid portfolio, aligning aid strategies with enrollment and student success.

The role oversees multiple OAFA teams, manages budgeting for aid programs, and collaborates with campus partners and external agencies to ensure compliant, effective financial assistance across Pittsburgh campuses.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in financial aid or higher education administration.

Responsibilities

• Provides strategic leadership and direction for the University's financial aid programs, ensuring alignment with enrollment, retention, and student success goals across all campuses.
• Oversees and coordinates multiple teams within the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid (OAFA), setting priorities, allocating resources, and ensuring consistent execution of financial aid operations and policy.
• Builds and strengthens relationships across OAFA and University units, campuses, and external partners to advance shared enrollment and student support goals.
• Mobilizes teams and resources across departmental and organizational lines to execute strategic initiatives on behalf of the Director of Financial Aid Programs and Engagement.
• Provides program management for high-priority, cross-functional initiatives, including planning, timelines, stakeholder communication, risk mitigation, and outcome reporting.
• Directs the coordination of budgeting and fiscal oversight for institutional, federal, and state aid programs, including scholarships, grants, loans, and student employment funds.
• Supervises managers and staff, including hiring, performance management, and overall workforce planning across multiple teams.
• Participates in the development, revision, and implementation of financial aid policies and procedures, ensuring compliance with evolving federal, state, and institutional regulations.
• Serves as a subject‑matter expert and escalation point for complex financial aid eligibility, compliance, and policy issues requiring specialized knowledge and independent judgment.
• Represents the financial aid office in University‑wide committees, task forces, or initiatives, advocating for student financial aid needs in broader institutional planning.
• Partners with senior leadership to anticipate trends, assess risk, and recommend strategic direction for financial aid programs and services.
• Ensures effective communication and change management when rolling out new initiatives, systems, or policy changes across financial aid teams and University partners.

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Job description

Associate Director of Financial Aid Programs

Admissions & Financial Aid – Pennsylvania-Pittsburgh (25004350)

Job Summary

Directs, coordinates, and oversees the University’s financial aid program. Ensures that financial aid contributes toward enrollment goals.

Essential Functions

• Provides strategic leadership and direction for the University’s financial aid programs, ensuring alignment with institutional enrollment, retention, and student success goals across all campuses.

• Oversees and coordinates multiple teams within the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid (OAFA), setting priorities, allocating resources, and ensuring consistent execution of financial aid operations and policy.

• Builds and strengthens relationships across OAFA and University units, campuses, and external partners (e.g., federal and state agencies, lending institutions, community organizations) to advance shared enrollment and student support goals.

• Mobilizes teams and resources across departmental and organizational lines to execute strategic initiatives on behalf of the Director of Financial Aid Programs and Engagement.

• Provides program management for high-priority, cross-functional initiatives, including planning, timelines, stakeholder communication, risk mitigation, and outcome reporting.

• Directs the coordination of budgeting and fiscal oversight for institutional, federal, and state aid programs, including scholarships, grants, loans, and student employment funds.

• Supervises managers and staff, including hiring, performance management, professional development, and overall workforce planning across multiple teams.

• Participates in the development, revision, and implementation of financial aid policies and procedures, ensuring compliance with evolving federal, state, and institutional regulations.

• Serves as a subject‑matter expert and escalation point for complex financial aid eligibility, compliance, and policy issues requiring specialized knowledge and independent judgment.

• Represents the financial aid office in University‑wide committees, task forces, or initiatives, advocating for student financial aid needs in broader institutional planning.

• Partners with senior leadership to anticipate trends, assess risk, and recommend strategic direction for financial aid programs and services.

• Ensures effective communication and change management when rolling out new initiatives, systems, or policy changes across financial aid teams and University partners.

Physical Effort

Most work is sedentary, completed within an office setting. Some counseling/presenting is performed at other campuses and off‑campus sites. Employee must be able to move about the campus to meetings and travel to locations outside of the University of Pittsburgh.

The University of Pittsburgh is an equal opportunity employer / disability / veteran.

Assignment Category Full‑time regular

Job Classification Staff.Assistant Director - Financial Aid

Job Family Academic & Student Services

Campus Pittsburgh

Minimum Education Level Required Bachelor's Degree

Minimum Years of Experience Required 5

Will this position accept substitution in lieu of education or experience? No

Work Schedule Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., some mornings, evenings and weekends may be required

Work Arrangement Hybrid: Combination of On‑Campus and Remote work as determined by the department.

Hiring Range TBD Based Upon Qualifications

Relocation Offered No

Visa Sponsorship Provided No

Background Check For position finalists, employment with the University will require successful completion of a background check

Child Protection Clearances The following PA Act 153 clearances and background checks are required prior to commencement of employment and as a condition of continued employment: PA State Police Criminal Record Check, FBI Criminal Record Check, PA Child Abuse History Clearance.