Director of Financial Aid & Student Access

Palo Alto University; Palo Alto (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Palo Alto University in Palo Alto, CA, seeks a Director of Financial Aid to lead the university's financial aid program, overseeing strategy, packaging, disbursement, compliance, and student counseling across federal, state, institutional, and scholarship programs.

Reporting to the VP of Enrollment Management, this role requires a strategic, data-driven leader with regulatory expertise and a strong commitment to student access and success.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; master's preferred.
• Five+ years of financial aid experience including undergraduate and graduate populations.
• Five+ years of supervisory experience.
• Expert knowledge of federal/state financial aid regulations and Title IV compliance.
• Experience with financial aid leveraging, discount rate modeling, and net tuition revenue analysis.
• Strong analytical, budgeting, and project management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; ability to explain complex aid information clearly.
• Commitment to equity, belonging, and student-centered service.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a comprehensive financial aid strategy aligned with enrollment goals and long-term sustainability.
• Partner with Enrollment Management, Finance, and Institutional Research on leverage and net tuition projections.
• Design and oversee aid packaging to support access and enrollment goals.
• Oversee all aspects of financial aid administration including applications, packaging, disbursement, communications, and scholarships.
• Ensure compliance with federal/state regulations, Title IV, and audit standards.
• Maintain policies and procedures, controls, and workflows for accuracy and audit readiness.
• Lead timely implementation of regulatory changes and best practices.
• Provide clear financial aid counseling on federal aid, institutional scholarships, and other financing options.
• Collaborate with Student Success and Admissions to reduce barriers and improve retention and yield.
• Lead the use of PowerFAIDS, Jenzabar, and related systems for accuracy and reporting.
• Develop SOPs, training resources, and audit practices for consistency and improvement.
• Lead and develop a high-performing financial aid team.

Skills

Regulatory expertise

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Project management

Budget management

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree preferred

Tools

PowerFAIDS

Jenzabar

Job description

Palo Alto University in Palo Alto, CA, seeks a Director of Financial Aid to lead the university's financial aid program, overseeing strategy, packaging, disbursement, compliance, and student counseling across federal, state, institutional, and scholarship programs.

Reporting to the VP of Enrollment Management, this role requires a strategic, data-driven leader with regulatory expertise and a strong commitment to student access and success.