Dir, Comp.,Trng.&Student Svcs

Kennesaw State University; Kennesaw (GA); On-site; USD 75,000 - 126,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

13 paid holidays

Vacation time

Retirement plans

Tuition waiver

Wellness options

Job summary

Kennesaw State University seeks a senior leader to guide financial aid compliance, policy development, and risk management across federal, state, and institutional requirements. You will oversee audits, program reviews, and regulatory reporting while partnering with leadership to advance compliant, student-centered service.

The role demands strategic vision, strong governance capabilities, and a focus on improving processes and controls within the financial aid organization.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in a related field.
• Eight or more years in financial aid, scholarships, and compliance in higher education, including six years of management with a student population over 25,000.
• Advanced degree preferred.
• Experience with regulatory compliance and data governance.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership of the institution's financial aid compliance program.
• Interpret legislative and regulatory changes and advise executive leadership on impacts.
• Develop a comprehensive compliance framework for Title IV and related regulations.
• Lead enterprise-wide risk assessment activities and mitigation strategies.
• Direct development, implementation, and governance of policies, procedures, and controls.
• Oversee program reviews, audits, and accreditation activities and responses.
• Collaborate with senior leadership to align regulatory requirements with objectives.
• Design and oversee quality assurance, monitoring, and continuous improvement efforts.
• Ensure data governance, privacy, security, and records retention compliance.
• Develop and maintain relationships with agencies, auditors, and external stakeholders.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Initiative

Teamwork

Problem-solving

Independent judgment

Organization

Communication (verbal and written)

Time management

Project management

Presentation skills

Attention to detail

Customer service

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree (preferred)

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

About Us

Are you ready to transform lives through academic excellence, innovative research, strong community partnerships and economic opportunity? Kennesaw State University is one of the 50 largest public institutions in the country. With growing enrollment and global reach, we continue to expand our institutional influence and prominence beyond the state of Georgia. We offer more than 190 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to empower over 50,000 students to become thought leaders, lifelong learners, and informed global citizens. Our entrepreneurial spirit, high-impact research, and Division I athletics draw students from throughout the region and from more than 100 countries across the globe. Our university's vibrant culture, career opportunities, rich benefits, and values of respect, integrity, collaboration, inclusivity, and accountability make us an employer of choice. We are part of the University System of Georgia. We are searching for talented people to join Kennesaw State University in our vision. Come Take Flight at KSU!

Location

(Primary Location for Job Responsibilities)

Our Kennesaw campus is located at 1000 Chastain Road NW, Kennesaw, GA 30144.

Our Marietta campus is located at 1100 South Marietta Parkway, Marietta, GA 30060.

Job Summary

Ensures the institution's compliance with all federal, state, and institutional regulations governing student financial aid programs. Provides strategic leadership for compliance initiatives, develops and maintains policies and procedures, oversees internal audits and risk assessments, and serves as the institution's subject matter expert on regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

• Provides strategic leadership and oversight of the institution's financial aid compliance program, ensuring alignment with federal, state, accreditor, and institutional requirements
• Serves as the institution's principal authority on financial aid regulatory matters, interpreting legislative and regulatory changes and advising executive leadership on operational, financial, and compliance impacts
• Develops and implements a comprehensive compliance framework that promotes accountability, minimizes institutional risk, and ensures adherence to Title IV and other applicable financial aid regulations
• Leads enterprise-wide risk assessment activities related to financial aid administration and establishes mitigation strategies to address identified compliance vulnerabilities
• Directs the development, implementation, and governance of financial aid policies, procedures, internal controls, and documentation standards to support regulatory compliance and operational excellence
• Oversees institutional preparedness for federal and state program reviews, audits, accreditation activities, and compliance examinations, ensuring timely and effective responses to findings and recommendations
• Collaborates with senior leadership and campus stakeholders to establish strategic compliance priorities and ensure alignment between regulatory requirements and institutional objectives
• Designs and oversees quality assurance, monitoring, and continuous improvement initiatives that strengthen compliance performance, enhance operational efficiency, and support student service excellence
• Ensures compliance with institutional policies related to data governance, privacy, security, records retention, and information stewardship
• Leads the evaluation and standardization of financial aid business processes to improve consistency, efficiency, internal controls, and regulatory compliance
• Develops and maintains productive relationships with federal and state agencies, accrediting bodies, auditors, and other external stakeholders, serving as the institutional representative on financial aid compliance matters
• Directs staff training and professional development initiatives to promote regulatory knowledge, policy consistency, and a culture of compliance throughout the organization
• Provides executive reporting and recommendations to senior leadership regarding compliance trends, audit results, risk assessments, corrective actions, and emerging regulatory developments
• Fosters a culture of integrity, accountability, continuous improvement, and student-centered service within the financial aid organization

Required Qualifications

Educational Requirements

Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of higher education in a related field

Required Experience

Eight (8) or more years in financial aid, scholarships, and compliance in an institution of higher education, including six (6) years of management at an institution of higher education with a student population of more than 25,000

Preferred Qualifications

Preferred Educational Qualifications

An advanced degree from an accredited institution of higher education in a related field

Proposed Salary

The salary range is up to $125,500. Offers are based on relevant experience. Comprehensive benefits to include Medical, Dental, Vision, 13 paid holidays, vacation, generous retirement plans, tuition waiver, wellness options and much more! Visit hr.kennesaw.edu/benefits.

Abilities

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

Ability to interpret complex regulations and translate them into operational procedures.

Able to handle multiple tasks or projects at one time, meeting assigned deadlines.

Ability to manage multiple priorities while meeting regulatory deadlines.

Knowledge

Comprehensive knowledge of federal Title IV regulations and financial aid administration.

Knowledge of institutional compliance frameworks and internal controls.

Proficient with computer applications and programs associated with the position (i.e., Microsoft Office suite)

Skills

Excellent interpersonal skills, initiative, teamwork, problem-solving, independent judgment, organization, communication (verbal and written), time management, project management, and presentation skills

Strong attention to detail and follow-up skills

Strong customer service skills and phone and e‑mail etiquette

USG Core Values

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 25 institutions of higher education and learning as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Kennesaw State University is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. The University is committed to maintaining a fair and respectful environment for living, work and study. To that end, and in accordance with federal and state law, Board of Regents policy, and University policy, the University prohibits harassment of or discrimination against any person because of race, color, sex (including sexual harassment, pregnancy, and medical conditions related to pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity or national origin, religion, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran or military status by any member of the KSU Community on campus, in connection with a University program or activity, or in a manner that creates a hostile environment for members of the KSU community.

For additional information or to file a complaint under the provisions of this policy, students, employees, applicants for employment or admission or other third parties should contact the Office of Institutional Equity at English Building, Suite 225, [e-mail].

Other Information

This is a supervisory position.

This position has financial responsibilities.

This position will not be required to drive.

This role is considered a position of trust.

This position does not require a purchasing card (P-Card).

This position will travel 1 to 24%.

Background Check

• Credit Report
• Standard Enhanced
• Education

Per the University System of Georgia background check policy, all final candidates will be required to consent to a criminal background investigation. Final candidates may be asked to disclose criminal record history during the initial screening process and prior to a conditional offer of employment. Applicants for positions of trust with screening results which confirm a disqualifying criminal history will be immediately disqualified from employment eligibility.

All applicants are required to include professional references as part of their application process. Some positions may require additional job-based screenings such as motor vehicle report, credit check, pre-employment drug screening and/or verification of academic credentials.

https://www.usg.edu/hr/assets/hr/hrap_manual/HRAP_Background_Investigation_Employment.pdf