Associate Director, Student Financial Services Counseling

Colorado College; Colorado; On-site; USD 69,000 - 84,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance

Paid vacation and sick time

Tuition benefits

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

Wellness benefits

Job summary

Colorado College in Colorado Springs seeks an Associate Director of Student Financial Services Counseling to lead SFS counseling, aid administration, and front-line service operations. You will supervise SFS Counselors and Coordinators, set expectations, and ensure timely, accurate aid delivery while maintaining a limited caseload for complex cases.

In collaboration with the AVP/Director, you will develop policies, monitor compliance, train staff, and improve processing quality across the annual

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
• 5 years of experience in a related field.
• Experience in supervisory roles is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead 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 staffing coverage throughout the annual financial aid cycle.
• Administer and oversee federal, state, and institutional financial aid programs and processes, including application review, awarding, disbursement, and satisfactory academic progress.
• Serve as a working manager and backup for critical financial aid processes during peak periods and elevated workload.
• Partner with AVP/Director to develop and implement financial aid policies, procedures, and priorities.
• Interpret regulatory changes and assess their impact on students and institutional practices.
• Maintain quality-control processes, review work for accuracy, and implement training or process changes to improve efficiency.
• Manage a limited caseload of students or programs requiring elevated or specialized financial aid support.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a related field

Job description

Job Title: Associate Director, Student Financial Services Counseling

Department: Admission Office

Campus Location: Main Campus

FLSA Status: Exempt/ Salaried

Position Type/ Work Schedule

• 2080 Hours per year
• 12 Months per year
• 40 Hours per week (Estimated)

About Us

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.

Preferred Qualifications

Applicants are welcome to apply even ifyoudo not meet the preferred qualifications.We value diverse perspectives and encourage individuals with a genuine interest in the role tosubmittheir applications.

Other Position Details

• Supervises Staff
• Position will not drive CC vehicles

Anticipated Hiring Salary Range

• $68,862 to $84,356 per year

What We Offer

As part of the total compensation for Staff and Faculty roles, we offer a competitive benefits package including:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Paid vacation and sick time - accrual of 7.34 hours of vacation per pay period (176 hours, 22 days per year) and 4 hours of sick time per pay period (96 hours, 12 days per year)
• Paid seasonal breaks and holidays (20 days per year)
• 403(b) retirement plans where employees contribute 5% of pay and CC contributes 10%
• Tuition benefits for employee and eligible dependents
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Assistance Program
• Wellness benefits include free access to the sports center, swimming pool, arts and crafts, outdoor programs, and financial consultants

Benefits and Wellness Information

Please refer to our Benefits Page

Accommodation Statement

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and Colorado College’s policies, if you have a disability and would like to request accommodations to support your application or interview process, please contact Human Resources at [e-mail] as early as possible. Positions may close on the listed deadline or, if posted as continuous, may close without prior notice.

E-Verify Information

This organization participates in E-Verify. For more information, visit www.e-verify.gov

Leave Information

Please refer to https://www.coloradocollege.edu/basics/welcome/leadership/policies/vacation-leave-and-accrual.html

In alignment with our commitment to reduce potential bias in hiring,applicants may redact any information that discloses their age, date of birth, or dates of attendance/graduation from educational institutions on resumes, certifications, transcripts, or other application materials. There will be no penalties for the omission of such information.