Director of Financial Aid & Student Access

CUNY Hostos Community College; New York (NY); On-site; USD 118,000 - 136,000; Full time

Job summary

Hostos Community College's Financial Aid Office seeks a seasoned leader to oversee staff and operations, leverage data to improve access and outcomes, and coordinate with Admissions, Bursar, Registrar and Academic Affairs. The role demands strong counseling and organizational skills and a commitment to compliance with Federal/State regulations.

The position reports to the Office of Financial Aid, with responsibilities including policy interpretation, reporting, and staff training.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree and eight years' related experience required.
• Master's Degree and at least five years of supervisory experience with progressively increasing responsibility and demonstrated success in managing financial aid operations at the University level.
• Knowledge of financial aid trends related to student aid management and compliance regulations.
• Experience in preparing state and federal reports.
• Knowledge of industry software and database management for financial aid systems.
• Excellent computer skills for managing an integrated financial aid system including EDE, Pell, and Web Grants.
• Excellent counseling skills to interface with students, families, faculty, and staff.
• Ability to organize and communicate thoughts clearly and interact with diverse populations.
• Ability to work outside of standard business hours.

Responsibilities

• Oversees and manages all Financial Aid Office staff and operations.
• Develops data-informed financial aid strategies by analyzing aid utilization and award outcomes.
• Leads cross-functional planning with Admissions, Bursar, Registrar, Academic Affairs, and Student Affairs.
• Establishes department goals and assesses outcomes; implements continuous improvement initiatives.
• Oversees financial aid systems and technology platforms, including EDE.
• Prepares and presents reports on trends, performance metrics, compliance, and student outcomes.
• Performs complex data analyses on financial aid processes using CUNYfirst to make projections and improvement plans.
• Oversees internal reconciliation and reports to auditors and accreditation teams.
• Develops training for staff to maximize operational efficiency.
• Communicates effectively with College leadership.

Skills

Counseling skills

Communication

Organizational skills

Flexibility hours

Education

Bachelor's Degree (8+ years)

Master's Degree with supervisory experience

Tools

EDE electronic processing system

Job description

Hostos Community College's Financial Aid Office seeks a seasoned leader to oversee staff and operations, leverage data to improve access and outcomes, and coordinate with Admissions, Bursar, Registrar and Academic Affairs. The role demands strong counseling and organizational skills and a commitment to compliance with Federal/State regulations.

The position reports to the Office of Financial Aid, with responsibilities including policy interpretation, reporting, and staff training.