Lead Manager for Professional Programs

The Chronicle Of Higher Education, Inc.; Salt Lake City (UT); On-site; USD 58,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

The Chronicle Of Higher Education, Inc. in Utah seeks a Lead Manager for Professional Programs' Financial Aid to lead the direction, organization, and development of graduate and professional program support, including alternative financing options, within the University Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid (UOSFA).

Supports effective management of the office, including processing, services, and communications.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; four to six years of progressively responsible management experience.
• Leadership skills in planning and directing employees and processes to ensure smooth operation.
• Master's degree in related area preferred.

Responsibilities

• Supervises and directs management of designated programs ensuring funding utilization and compliance.
• Advances processing and service workloads with timely, accurate and inclusive service delivery.
• Maintains expertise in laws, regulations, policies, and high-impact practices affecting eligibility and program administration.
• Maintains current knowledge of policies, rules, regulations, and technical standards for administering federal, state, and institutional programs.
• Supervises staff, manages office operations, and ensures training and professional development.
• Completes complex reports and maintains data accuracy for audits and reviews.

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalency

Master's degree in related area

Job description

Lead Manager for Professional Programs' Financial Aid

Job Summary

Leads the direction, organization, and development of programssupporting graduate and professional programs of study, as well asalternative financing programs.Assumes primary responsibility for managing and planning for suchprograms in the University Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid(UOSFA). Supports effective management of office, includingprocessing, services, and communications

Responsibilities

1. Supervises and directs effective management of designated programsin a manner that ensures full utilization of funding; adheres torelevant rules, regulations, policies, and practices Ensures appropriate consumer information for designated programsare available to students and colleagues; ensures effective relatedcommunications, counseling, and training for students andcolleagues Ensures communications (including rights and responsibilities) tostudents, families, and colleagues are available and delivered inan accurate, timely, effective, thorough, equitable, and inclusivemanner Ensures programs' policies, procedures, and manuals governingprogram administration and services are current, accurate, andaccessible Ensures effective advice and counseling are provided for inquiriesand recipients Foster constructive working relationships with on- and off-campusprogram partners and colleagues Ensure award and disbursement records are accurate and allreporting and data submissions are completed accurately and timely;establishes effective schedule for data collection andreporting On at least an annual basis for each professional school program offinancial aid, assesses composition of and need for designatedprogram and utilization; prepares summary of analysis anddetermines appropriate distribution in collaboration withsupervisor and/or Executive Director Oversees effective execution and maintenance of all contractualagreements and/or memoranda of understanding between the Universityof Utah and relevant program partners, as necessary Serves as subject matter expert and lead for designated programs,including required reporting and compliance
2. Effectively advances processing and service workloads includingdelivery of services and processing; adjusts accordingly incollaboration with fellow managers to ensure balanced, timely,accurate, well-documented, equitable, and inclusive services andprocessing within established benchmarks Ensures compliant and timely determination of eligibility forscholarships and financial aid, including types and amounts to beawarded or adjusted, in accordance with established federal anduniversity standards and guidelines Monitors and refines relevant policies/requirements to ensure andenhance accuracy, consistency, fairness, and equity Professionally addresses and works toward resolution of complex ornovel situations encountered in processing and service work ofoffice Ensures professional delivery of services, including maintenance ofdata/information security, privacy, and confidentiality Follows appropriate records management procedures and complies withrecordkeeping and archival requirements Completes multiple complex reports used to monitor and assureservice and processing benchmarks, as well as accuracy ofeligibility and payments
3. Maintains expertise in laws, regulations, policies, procedures, andhigh impact practices affecting eligibility for and management ofdesignated programs Monitors eligibility determinations for designated programs toensure they are accurate and reasonable, and that adjustments aremade appropriately and timely; ensures maintenance of thoroughdocumentation of eligibility determinations, compliance,adjustments, and all related transactions for purposes of auditsand program reviews Maintains access to and a working knowledge of relevant internaland external systems Ensures clear and accurate documentation of transactions,conversations, and interactions affecting student eligibilityand/or compliance with applicable policies Adheres to all statutory, regulatory, and policy guidance,including office policies and procedures Maintains privacy and confidentiality of student and family dataand information Maintains security of student records and related information Actively participates in and contributes to overall officeeffectiveness
4. Maintains current knowledge of policies, rules, regulations,technical standards, and high-impact practices associated withadministering and delivering federal, state, institutional, andprivate programs, including associated systems and emergingtechnologies Actively participates in professional meetings, conferences, andworkshops; meets and communicates clearly with colleagues insimilar positions/roles; researches industry practices; sharesresulting knowledge and research with management and staff in orderto serve well the students and the institution Participates in approved professional development activities incoordination with supervisor Ensures area policies and procedures are current and accurate;Provides clear and accurate documentation of transactions,conversations, interactions, and edits to records affecting studenteligibility and/or compliance with applicable regulations,statutes, and/or policies As necessary, assists with financial aid outreach events,delivering information and responding to event questionsaccurately, timely, completely, and professionally Maintains professional appearance and demeanor, including whenengaging students, families, colleagues, and members of thepublic Collaborates with other employees on office committees regardingpolicy, procedures, and training opportunities Ensures effective training on professional school financial aidprograms for new employees (permanent and temporary, includinginterns and graduate assistants), as needed
5. Effectively supervises and manages staff within areas ofresponsibilities; monitors and ensures overall office operationsare functional, accessible, efficient, compliant, and free ofconflicts of interest Assesses needs for training and professional development for staffsupervised; ensures and supports effective training andprofessional development of staff Routinely and thoroughly reviews, and/or assigns for review, outputand reports for accuracy and compliance Establishes (and monitors) effective timelines/calendars forprojects/tasks Effectively manages priorities and situations affecting programsand operations; Communicates appropriate and timely status updatesregarding the designated programs; advises management of anomalies,trends, or patterns affecting student and program eligibility As needed, serves on and/or oversees various office committees,which may include such functions as communications plan, appealsprocesses, outreach, personnel, forms and publications, etc.;position may also be asked to serve on Enrollment Management and/orUniversity committees Maintains effective working relationships and serves as a resourceregarding scholarship and financial aid issues, policies, andprocedures Performs other duties as assigned by supervisor and/or ExecutiveDirector Performs other duties as assigned by supervisor and/or ExecutiveDirector

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in a related area or equivalency (one year ofeducation can be substituted for two years of related workexperience). Four to six years of progressively more responsiblemanagement experience. Background knowledge of hiring department'sarea of specialization in order to analyze, plan and drawconclusions for recommendations to superiors. Demonstratedleadership skills in planning and directing employees and processesin order to effectively monitor and develop subordinates and toensure the smooth operation of department. Completion of providedsupervisory training within one year of employment may be required.Master's degree in a related area may be preferred.

Applicants must demonstrate the potential ability to perform theessential functions of the job as outlined in the positiondescription.

Preferences

Master's degree in higher education preferred.

Previous work experience administering and managing financial aidprograms for students enrolled in professional school programs ofstudy.

Special Instructions

Requisition Number: PRN45804B

Full Time or Part Time? Full Time

Work Schedule Summary: Monday thru Friday; 8:00 - 5:00 withsome weekend and evening work as necessary

Department: 00294 - Financial Aid

Location: Campus

Pay Rate Range: $58,300 - $69,518

Close Date: 10/31/2026