Associate Director, Stu Fin Svcs Counseling

National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators; Colorado Springs (CO); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Colorado College seeks a senior leader to oversee Student Financial Services counseling, financial aid administration, and front-line operations. You will supervise SFS staff, set workload expectations, and ensure compliant delivery of aid while maintaining a limited high-priority caseload.

You will collaborate across campus to interpret regulations, improve service delivery, and strengthen training, quality control, and processes during the annual aid cycle.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree is required.
• 5 years of experience in a related field.
• Experience substituting education with coursework or vice versa is allowed as per policy.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day financial aid counseling and student services operations.
• Supervise and develop SFS staff, manage workload and performance.
• Oversee federal/state/institutional financial aid programs and processes.
• Ensure accuracy, compliance, and timely delivery of aid and services.
• Collaborate with campus partners to implement policy and regulations.

Skills

Leadership

Financial aid counseling

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a related field

Job description

At Colorado College, 2,100 students learn and live on our beautiful 99-acre campus in downtown Colorado Springs. We attract top students seeking new perspectives with an array of experiential learning opportunities possible only in an immersive learning environment. Here, students take only one class at a time to facilitate deep exploration of a topic. We call this the Block Plan. This unique approach allows members of our campus community to share a rhythm of experience as we work together to fulfill our mission.

Job Summary

Provides leadership for Student Financial Services (SFS) counseling, financial aid administration, and front-line service operations. Supervises and develops SFS Counselors and the SFS Coordinator(s), establishes workload and service expectations, and ensures timely, accurate, and compliant delivery of financial aid and student support. Maintains a limited caseload of high-priority or complex students and serves as a senior resource for financial aid eligibility, professional judgment, and escalated student concerns. Working collaboratively across Student Financial Services, the incumbent provides oversight of key financial aid processes, supports staff training and quality control, identifies opportunities to improve service and processing, and partners with SFS leadership to implement institutional policy and regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead the day-to-day financial aid counseling and student service operation, including supervision, training, onboarding, performance management, workload prioritization, and development of counseling staff.
• Establish clear service and processing expectations, provide regular coaching and feedback, and support the SFS Coordinator and Administrative Assistant by ensuring appropriate staffing and coverage throughout the annual financial aid cycle.
• Administer and provide oversight for federal, state, and institutional financial aid programs and processes, including application review, awarding, disbursement, satisfactory academic progress, return of Title IV funds, study abroad, and federal loan and grant administration.
• Serve as a working manager and backup for critical financial aid processes during peak periods, staff absences, and periods of elevated workload.
• Partner with the AVP/Director to develop and implement financial aid policies, procedures, and operational priorities.
• Interpret regulatory changes and assess their impact on students and institutional practices.
• Maintain effective quality-control processes, review work for accuracy and compliance, identify recurring errors or service barriers, and implement training or process changes to improve consistency, efficiency, and student service.
• Manage a limited caseload of students or programs requiring elevated, proactive, or specialized financial aid support, which may include recruited student-athletes, students with complex financial circumstances, campus partners, and other priority populations identified by SFS leadership.
• Counsel prospective and current students and families regarding financial aid eligibility, application requirements, financing options, student accounts, policies, and deadlines.
• Review appeals and complex student circumstances, exercise professional judgment within established authority, and serve as an escalation resource for cases requiring senior financial aid expertise.
• Develop strong working relationships with Admission and other campus partners and provide training and guidance regarding financial aid policies, procedures, and student financial issues.
• Represent Student Financial Services through campus and community outreach and, as appropriate, state, regional, and national professional development activities.
• Participate in departmental planning and provide leadership support in the absence of the AVP/Director.

Collaboration Skills:

Contact may involve support of controversial positions or the negotiation of sensitive issues, stressful or complex interactions with the community, and requires high levels of tact and the ability to respond to escalated interpersonal interactions.

Technical Knowledge:

Work requires intermediate skills and knowledge in approaches and systems, which support the design and implementation of major programs and/or processes.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field
• 5 years of experience in a related field

One year of relevant work experience may be substituted for one year of required education (OR) one year of relevant academic coursework beyond the minimum requirement may be substituted for one year of required professional experience.