Director of Financial Aid

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.