Director of Financial Aid

ANNOUNCMENT OF POSITION VACANCY FLSA Status: United States of America (Exempt) Compensation: $90,000.00-120,000.00 Commensurate with education and experience. Excellent health and retirement benefits package: Click here for more information! SECTION I - OUR VALUES CULTIVATE OUR VISION AND CULTURE At CMU, we believe in acting from a foundation of goodwill. This belief gives us the courage to form meaningful relationships, embark on joint endeavors and take risks in the pursuit of new possibilities. It’s this courage that enables the Mavily to explore new ways of thinking and doing, knowing that there is no perfect solution, no perfect idea. From this place of humility and courage, we’ve built a culture of resilience. We invest in the future by continuously adapting to change, overcoming challenges, and seizing new opportunities. We recognize that change is constant, and our resilience allows us to embrace it with confidence. Endless curiosity drives us to approach the unexpected as if it were expected, seeing opportunities for discovery and renewal in every challenge. In this community rooted in love and dignity, curiosity thrives, leading to endless opportunities for growth and advancement. Inspired by the soul of the West—the spirit that our region embodies—we emerge as a force for positive change, harnessing our collective power to build a Human Scale University that reflects our values and brings to life our shared vision of the world we aspire to create. Colorado Mesa University Core Values Love - Extending oneself for nurturing the growth of self and others Dignity - Respecting the intrinsic value of each person and believing that others act from a foundation of goodwill Courage - Taking risks in the pursuit of new possibilities Humility - Suspending one’s ego and pride to recognize that no idea is perfect and being open to the input of others Resiliency - Investing in the future by adapting to changes, overcoming challenges and pursuing Opportunity Curiosity - Cultivating awe and exploring the unknown Power - The strength to act collaboratively with individual agency to achieve our goals SECTION II – THE SEAT At CMU, we look at every position as a seat. Every seat is vital and the individual in the seat contributes significantly to our mission of providing an affordable and accessible education and forming meaningful and mutually enriching partnerships that support the well-being and vibrancy of our community. As a human centric organization, a priority is to ensure we have the “right seats” in our organization, and that the expectations, ownership and accountabilities are defined and communicated clearly for the success of the individuals holding the seats. Review of positions will begin June 1. Applications will be accepted until position is filled. OVERVIEW AND ROLE SCOPE OF TEAM AND/OR TASKS OVERVIEW AND ROLE SCOPE OF TEAM AND/OR TASKS The Director of Financial Aid must have a dual passion for student support and data-driven fiscal management. The Director leads a diverse team responsible for awarding and communicating financial aid, managing and programming systems, analyzing data, and collaborating with the CMU Foundation, Athletics, and Student Services to support students and steward limited funds effectively. This leader must navigate complex federal and state laws and regulations while keeping CMU's mission and student needs at the forefront. Financial Aid Operations Ensure effective financial aid counseling, advising, and service delivery to students Lead process improvement initiatives to enhance the student experience, including interdepartmental coordination and problem-solving Conduct task analyses and process reviews to ensure efficient and strategic department operations Oversee communications and systems management, with particular attention to web and electronic communications and the student experience Develop and monitor the office operations budget, institutional financial aid budget, and federal and state financial aid budgets Lead and manage staff Build a positive department culture through recruiting, hiring, onboarding, training, and performance evaluation Support Enrollment Management Contribute to the development of institutional, state and federal financial aid strategy in alignment with enrollment plans Participate in enrollment planning Collaborate with others in student recruiting and yield activities on and off campus Coordinate with other Colorado Mesa University departments including Admissions, Development, and Athletics to leverage financial aid for effective recruitment and retention Work with Enrollment Management Planning Team to improve public information quality, raise public awareness, and present on financial aid availability and awarding processes Steward and Use Data Effectively Participate in CMU Data Governance Ensure coherent, consistent, and useful classification of financial aid data (e.g., fund source, fund type, etc.) Establish practices and procedures to ensure appropriate data use, security, and quality Review and present financial aid scorecard and other reports/analysis to inform enrollment management and financial strategy decisions Develop Financial Aid Policy & Ensure Compliance Ensure compliance with federal, state and institutional regulations and policies Review and updates policies and procedures regularly Provide analysis and recommendations of federal and state financial aid issues Interpret federal and state regulations and keep staff informed of changes Serve as CMU’s representative on the CCHE Financial Aid Advisory Committee and other external organizations as appropriate ROLES Leadership, Management & Accountability specifically including financial management of federal, state, institutional, and private financial aid Student support and counseling for college affordability and access to aid programs Support enrollment management with financial aid strategy and practices Steward data and use effectively Develop financial aid policy in alignment with state and federal financial aid requirements; ensure compliance with institutional policy and state and federal law and regulations Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. DISCLAIMER - This position description is only a summary of the typical functions of this seat, and not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and areas of accountability. CAPACITY REQUIREMENTS Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of legal and regulatory documents and deal with several abstract and concrete variables Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, and percentages. ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCE FOR RIGHT FIT An earned Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited institution, is required. A minimum of three years of progressively responsible management experience in a customer/student service environment Experience in higher education is preferred HOW TO APPLY: Applicants will be asked to complete an online application by creating a profile and then providing personal and demographic information. In addition, please be prepared to upload a: Cover letter Resume Copy of transcripts for all degrees completed (if your transcripts include a social security number or birthdate, please redact that information before uploading the document. Official transcripts will be required upon hire) Colorado Mesa University is particularly interested in candidates who have experience working with students from diverse backgrounds and who have a demonstrated commitment to improving the levels of access and success for underrepresented students within higher education. Colorado Mesa University is committed to providing a safe and productive learning and living community. To achieve that goal, we conduct background investigations for all final applicants being considered for employment. Background investigations include reference checks, a criminal history record check, and when appropriate, a financial and/or motor vehicle history. Applicant must be able to verify U.S. employment eligibility. Colorado Mesa University is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to a culturally diverse faculty, staff and student body. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply. Any person with a disability as defined by the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA) may be provided reasonable accommodation upon request to enable the person to complete an employment assessment. To request an accommodation, please contact the CMU Human Resources Office by phone or email. You may be asked to provide additional information, including medical documentation, regarding functional limitations and the type of accommodation needed. A comprehensive university in Grand Junction, Colorado Mesa University provides exceptional educational opportunities on a state-of-the-art campus. As western Colorado’s largest university, CMU serves students on its main campus in Grand Junction, its satellite campus in Montrose, its technical college, CMU Tech, and via online offerings. Colorado Mesa University serves as the primary intellectual and cultural center of western Colorado and promotes the exchange of ideas that are of regional, national, and international importance. Founded in 1925, it is a dynamic university enrolling 10,000 students at the associate, baccalaureate, and graduate levels. At the heart of the CMU experience is an integrative and experiential approach to higher education that encourages students to think differently and empowers them to challenge assumptions. CMU brings students together with expert scholars and thinkers from different disciplines to make connections between ideas and gain the skills to solve the unstructured, complex problems they will encounter in life. Our focus is on providing quality academic programs, built on a strong liberal arts core that supports students' interests and regional employment needs, as well as technical programs that respond to vocational workforce demands. The Grand Valley is home to some of the best outdoor recreation in the state of Colorado and you will not have to fight traffic and crowds to enjoy it. CMU is surrounded by the Grand Mesa, Book Cliffs, and the Colorado National Monument. We have world-class mountain biking, rock climbing, hiking, rafting, and a mountain resort that’s less than 45 minutes from campus for skiing, snowboarding, and cross-country skiing. Living and working in Grand Junction, you will be able to explore one of Colorado’s best kept secrets.