Director of Financial Aid

Warren Wilson College; Asheville (NC); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Warren Wilson College seeks an experienced Director of Student Financial Aid to lead the office with a student-centered approach, balancing compliance with practical problem solving and operational efficiency.

The role reports to the Vice President of Enrollment Management and directs a small staff, coordinating with Veterans benefits and the College Business Office to support enrollment and retention goals in a collaborative campus environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
• 3–5 years of Financial Aid experience with progressive responsibility.
• Fluency with CRM systems and data analytics.

Responsibilities

• Directs all financial aid functions to enroll and maintain a diverse student body.
• Coordinate with College offices (Business Office, Registrar, IT, Admissions, programs) for customer-focused service.
• Ensure adherence to Title IV regulations and budgeting within policy parameters.
• Oversee private/state/federal loan programs and need-based/merit-based awards.
• Lead staff development, budgets, and performance evaluations.
• Maintain and optimize technology systems used in awarding (PowerFAIDS, Jenzabar EX).

Skills

CRM systems fluency

Data analytics

Leadership

Cross-stakeholder collaboration

Regulatory compliance

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master’s degree (preferred)

Tools

PowerFAIDS

Jenzabar

Slate

ED Connect

CFNC

NSLDS

Job description

Warren Wilson College is seeking an experienced and strategic leader to serve as the Director of Student Financial Aid. The Director will lead the College’s student financial aid functions to support the institution’s broader enrollment and retention goals through a consistent, student-focused approach that balances regulatory compliance with practical problem solving and efficiency.

The Director reports to and works alongside the Vice President of Enrollment Management on strategic innovations and improvements within and across the division, and supervises a staff consisting of a full-time Associate Director and a shared full-time Student Financial Services Advisor, with a split schedule between Student Accounts and Financial Aid. The Director of Financial Aid also coordinates veterans’ benefits as the School Certifying Officer. The individual in this role is expected to be a leader with a visible presence on campus, with a willingness to engage in a highly collaborative (and fun!) work environment as the resident financial aid expert. The ideal candidate brings both technical expertise, knowledge of best practices, and guidance to ensure students receive accurate, timely support while the College maintains strong compliance to navigate regulatory changes within the industry.

About the College

Warren Wilson College is located on a beautiful 1,135-acre campus in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Asheville, North Carolina. We enroll approximately 750 undergraduates and 100 graduates. Rooted in liberal arts education, the College provides educational programs that foster students’ curiosity, empathy, and integrity to prepare graduates to engage in groundbreaking scholarship and creative work; to pursue meaningful careers with professionalism; and to lead purposeful lives dedicated to fostering a just, equitable, and sustainable world.

As the National Leader for Learning in Action, the Progressive Promise articulates our innovative educational approach that intentionally integrates academics, campus work and community engagement for a rich, challenging student experience. Our students matriculate through deliberately scaffolded courses and signature capstone experiences that combine intellectual foundations with experiential skill development and problem solving.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
• Three to five years of previous Financial Aid experience, with progressive responsibility and leadership.
• Demonstrated fluency with CRM systems and data analytics.
• Experience with financial aid reporting to include IPEDS, ACTS, FVT, and FISAP.
• Working knowledge of tuition discounting practices, packaging philosophies, and Title programs.
• Previous experience managing and leading teams of people; focus on team culture with a strong sense of urgency and accountability.
• Demonstrated experience working effectively with a wide range of constituents from diverse backgrounds and perspectives.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a related field.
• Experience PowerFAIDS, Jenzabar and Slate or similar systems.
• Experience in a non-profit higher education institution.

Successful Candidates will demonstrate knowledge of

• Federal, state, institutional, and local sources of student financial assistance.
• Institutional/organizational, policies, procedures, and administrative practices generally administered in higher education.
• Finance, accounting, and management.
• Principles of training and providing work direction; developing and mentoring early- to mid-career team members.
• Best practices in financial aid needs analysis, packaging and awarding.
• The following financial aid systems/programs: ED Connect, COD, CFNC, ELM, NSLDS, FSA Partner Connect.
• Rules, regulations, requirements, and policies related to enrollment, financial aid, and student accounts.
• Interpersonal skills using tact, patience, and courtesy.

Key Responsibilities

• Directs all financial aid functions with the purpose of enrolling and maintaining a diverse student body and institutional eligibility for continued participation in Federal and State aid programs.
• Creates and maintains a customer service based focus for the Office of Financial Aid and coordinates efforts with the College Business Office, Registrar, Information Technology, Admissions, MFA/Craft and International Programs as well as other offices on campus.
• Directs the administration of financial aid; ensures applicants receive assistance in the application process for loans, grants and scholarships. Makes awards to current and incoming students while adhering to Title IV regulations, state and federal guidelines, private non-profit agencies, institutional packaging policy and budget parameters.
• Oversees the administration of private, state, and/or federal loan programs; coordinates the awarding of need-based scholarships/grants and the renewal of merit-based awards.
• Directs the completion of federal work college reports and determines eligibility for students.
• Directs the completion of reports to request funding, document expenditures or marketing. Reports include but are not limited to FISAP, IPEDS, CFNC for NC funds, Pell, and direct lending.
• Directs the personnel activities to include hiring, development, training, merit recommendations, promotions, transfers, and performance evaluations.
• Directs and oversees technology systems that financial aid uses in the awarding process, this includes PowerFAIDS and Jenzabar EX.
• Plans and directs the presentation and enforcement of policies and forms (i.e. Withdrawal and Refund, Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards, Verification forms, etc.).
• Participates in off-campus training when available and as needed. Attends the Department of Education’s annual FAS Conference (fall), any NC state meeting (usually mandatory). Attends training and professional development meetings as needed to stay abreast of regulations and changes.
• Represents Warren Wilson College during audits: Federal Program Review, North Carolina State Approving Agency, North Carolina Higher Education Assistance Authority, Department of Veteran Affairs, and the annual external audit prepared for the United States Department of Education and the State of North Carolina.
• Review appeal cases, special circumstances, and college-wide financial aid policies.
• Serves on institutional committees as needed.
• Develops, maintains, and works within a realistic budget, with specific attention to contract work for special projects and ongoing department needs.
• Reconciles credit card statements, collects and submits all departmental check requests to the office of Administration and Finance.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

We are committed to a culture of educational access and to ensuring that students and employees from a diverse range of identities and experiences will thrive in this community. We seek and support an academically and culturally diverse faculty and staff with a genuine interest in our innovative approach to education and focus on inclusive excellence, as well as a willingness to fully participate in the life of the College. We welcome applications from individuals who have experience working with diverse student populations.

Warren Wilson College is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.