EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF FINANCIAL AID (55937)

Overview

In this role you will lead the Office of Financial Aid to advance access and affordability for undergraduate and graduate students. You will partner with Enrollment Management to align aid strategies with enrollment goals and the university's mission. You will modernize systems, ensure compliance, and guide a student-centered, data-informed program. This is a strategic, impact-focused leadership position at a university committed to inclusive opportunity.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for all federal, state, institutional and private financial aid programs and scholarships
• Oversee daily operations, compliance, awarding, communication, and continuous improvement of OFA
• Manage Title IV programs, state grants, institutional scholarships, and donor-funded aid
• Coordinate audits, internal reviews, and risk management related to Title IX and aid programs
• Serve as primary liaison with the U.S. Department of Education and state aid agencies
• Lead policy development for evaluating need and packaging aid to support enrollment and retention goals
• Modernize OFA systems and processes to improve data integration, reporting, and student experience
• Foster staff development, onboarding, workload planning, and succession planning across OFA
• Represent the university in professional organizations and publications
• Oversee budgeting, reconciliation, and reporting of financial aid activities
• Ensure timely, accurate communication of financial aid policies to students

Key requirements

• Bachelor's degree in a related field; Master's degree preferred
• 5-7 years of progressively responsible experience in financial aid or higher education administration
• 2+ years in a supervisory or leadership role within Enrollment Management
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, PowerFAIDS, and J1
• Experience administering federal, state, institutional, and private financial aid programs
• Experience with Jenzabar or other higher education ERP systems
• Experience leading financial aid system implementations, upgrades, or process improvements
• Experience with federal and state financial aid audits or program reviews
• Strong knowledge of Title IV regulations and compliance
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and writing skills
• Confidentiality, integrity, and discretion
• Ability to collaborate across faculty, staff, and families

• strong interpersonal and communication skills
• customer-service orientation
• leadership and staff development
• Microsoft Excel
• PowerFAIDS
• J1