Regional Director of Financial Aid & Student Access

Unitek Learning; Tempe (AZ); On-site; USD 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental and Vision

401k with company match

Paid holidays

Tuition assistance

Life insurance

Job summary

Unitek Learning seeks a Group Director of Financial Aid to lead Directors of Financial Aid across a region, partnering with campus leaders to drive enrollment support, regulatory compliance, and student service excellence. You will set KPI targets, coach leaders, and ensure timely aid processing and training.

The role emphasizes leadership development, governance, and continuous improvement in financial aid operations across multiple campuses.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field preferred.
• 10+ years of financial aid experience, including at least two years at the Director level or above.
• Expert knowledge of Title IV regulations.
• Management experience, including leading financial aid teams and developing other leaders.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Anthology Student/CampusVue or comparable SIS and financial aid system experience preferred.
• Strong computer skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.

Responsibilities

• Establish performance expectations, measurable objectives, and action plans for Directors of Financial Aid with Campus Presidents, aligned with regional and institutional priorities.
• Drive consistent financial aid performance across assigned campuses, including timely packaging, student financial readiness, and resolution of outstanding requirements to support start conversion and persistence.
• Monitor and benchmark performance using KPIs, operational metrics, run rates, and reporting tools to identify trends, gaps, and opportunities against targets and regional results.
• With Campus Presidents, establish corrective actions for performance gaps, hold Directors accountable for results, and monitor execution through resolution, escalating unresolved issues as appropriate.
• Coach and develop Directors of Financial Aid to strengthen leadership effectiveness, staff productivity, customer service, and operational outcomes.
• Participate in recruiting, selecting, and hiring Directors of Financial Aid, and guide their onboarding and training on expectations, procedures, metrics, and compliance requirements.
• Ensure Directors provide ongoing training for financial aid administrators on regulatory changes, technology, financial aid practices, and customer service.
• Ensure Directors maintain workflows, staffing plans, and service standards that meet campus needs; identify staffing needs, leadership gaps, and succession opportunities across the region.
• Partner with Campus Presidents, Admissions, and campus leaders to ensure timely financial aid processing and proactive resolution of financial barriers before each start.
• Promote compliance with federal, state, and institutional financial aid regulations, policies, and reporting requirements; support audits, quality assurance reviews, and compliance initiatives.
• Maintain current knowledge of financial aid regulations, technology, and industry trends, and communicate relevant changes and their impact to campus leaders.
• Guide the resolution of complex, sensitive, or escalated student financial aid matters with corporate-level teams and campus leadership.
• Lead the evaluation and implementation of improvements to financial aid procedures, systems, and workflows, and share successful practices across campuses.
• Assume interim Director of Financial Aid responsibilities during absences, vacancies, or periods of increased demand, ensuring continuity of services and compliance.
• Promote a student-centered service culture that demonstrates respect, dignity, kindness, and empathy in every interaction with students, families, visitors, and employees.

Skills

Financial aid leadership

Title IV regulations

Staff development

Communication skills

SIS experience

Microsoft Office

Regulatory compliance

Education

Bachelor's degree in a relevant field

Tools

Anthology Student/CampusVue

Job description

Unitek Learning seeks a Group Director of Financial Aid to lead Directors of Financial Aid across a region, partnering with campus leaders to drive enrollment support, regulatory compliance, and student service excellence. You will set KPI targets, coach leaders, and ensure timely aid processing and training.

The role emphasizes leadership development, governance, and continuous improvement in financial aid operations across multiple campuses.