Director of Financial Aid - Specialty Teams

Post University; Waterbury (CT); On-site; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading university is seeking a Director of Financial Aid to oversee compliance and manage financial aid teams. This role involves ensuring successful aid distribution and collaboration across departments while enhancing student experiences. Candidates should have a strong leadership background and significant financial aid experience.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of leadership experience.
• 5 years of Financial Aid experience.
• Preferred experience with Nursing/Military students.

Responsibilities

• Oversee Financial Aid specialty teams and ensure compliance.
• Develop and monitor team performance metrics.
• Motivate and develop team members to foster teamwork.

Skills

Leadership

Compliance

Customer Service

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree (preferred)

Tools

Anthology Student

Excel

Word

Job description

The Director of Financial Aid-Specialty Teams reports to the University Director of Financial Aid and is responsible for ensuring compliance with all federal and state laws, rules, and regulations related to federal student financial aid (Title IV). This role includes overseeing the eligibility of all federal aid recipients, including the Military, Grad, Nursing, and Partner Engagement teams within the Financial Aid department. The Director will be a member of the Financial Aid Leadership Team, ensuring adherence to university policies and procedures in financial aid administration. Collaboration with Admissions, Compliance, Student Accounts, Academic teams, and other university departments is essential. The goal is to provide an exceptional student and associate experience.

Essential Accountabilities:

• Ensure compliance with U.S. Department of Education regulations within the department.
• Lead the assigned team to exceed customer service standards aligned with the Post Makes it Personal ethos for students, staff, and other departments.
• Maintain benchmarks for past due amounts for Title IV aid.
• Ensure prescribed packaging rates for all areas of Financial Aid are met.

Essential Functions:

• Oversee Financial Aid specialty teams, including daily supervision and coaching of direct reports.
• Collaborate with leadership to develop and monitor team performance metrics related to Financial Aid completion, student support, and satisfaction.
• Ensure daily team objectives support students effectively, including timely processing, packaging accuracy, and minimal past due Title IV aid.
• Motivate and develop team members to foster teamwork and an exceptional experience for students and staff.
• Support cooperative communication with students, faculty, and administrative staff.
• Implement and maintain policies and procedures for financial aid awarding, ensuring efficiency and compliance.
• Work under the guidance of the University Director of Financial Aid to meet all federal and state reporting requirements.
• Utilize Anthology Student, Excel, Word, and other tools for information management.
• Serve as a liaison with Enrollment Management, Academic Affairs, Student Services, Student Accounts, Registrar, students, and families to support new student entry and retention efforts.
• Stay informed of changes in federal and state regulations regarding financial aid.

• Review and update financial aid documentation and communication materials.
• Oversee staffing, including recruitment and interviews.
• Develop a team structure that streamlines operations, aligns with university priorities, and fosters ownership among staff.

• Prepare management reports on statistical and financial data.
• Address customer service issues and concerns promptly.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications & Competencies:

Successful performance requires meeting each essential duty satisfactorily. The listed requirements reflect the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities. Reasonable accommodations will be provided for individuals with disabilities.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree required; master's preferred.
• At least 5 years of leadership experience and 5 years of Financial Aid experience.
• Preferred experience with Nursing/Military students, with a preference for candidates experienced in military financial aid.