Director, Financial Aid Systems and Technology

**Job Summary:**

Reporting to the University Director of Financial Aid, the Director of Financial Aid Systems and Technology is responsible for all facets of the Student Information System (SIS) used in the processing of financial aid applications. This work involves advanced knowledge of the Oracle PeopleSoft financial aid system as well as tangential systems such as Slate, ImageNow, and various online form products. This position requires expert knowledge of the query tool embedded in the system and expert knowledge of all technical aspects of PeopleSoft Financial Aid including: Equation Editor, SQL, Communications, and the Checklist function. The person in this position has intimate knowledge of these systems but also guides the work and development of three staff members for day-to-day operations and with their own areas of technical expertise. This person supervises the technical functions involved in the operations of all levels of enrollment including Undergraduate, Graduate and Professional students. This position is a key member of the enrollment management team and works closely with the Director of Enrollment Analytics on enrollment strategy. This position is also responsible for advanced reporting for the financial aid community, and NU’s central administration. Works closely with IT, the Registrar, and Admissions, in implementing tools, regulatory updates of systems and leads the financial aid technical community.

• *Specific Responsibilities**:

_Strategic Planning_

• Works closely with school, department, and core office representatives to ensure that user requirements are met, all gaps are documented, and all deliverables approved (adhering to approved methodology and documentation standards).
• Leads a team ensuring the proper installation, configuration, and functioning of enterprise systems. Also manages knowledge transfer of contractors to staff at project completion.
• Contributes to defining methodology and documentation standards, and periodically reviewing them to integrate appropriate industry practices.
• Represents organizational area in regard to advisory groups, planning committees, and similar standing work groups whose purpose is to develop requirements related to the implementation of enterprise business systems.

_Administration_

• Reviews and verifies that documentation of training materials, process, procedures and system/application is accurate.
• Identifies implementation dependencies and constraints; ensures these are addressed.
• Leads project resources to ensure that tasks are completed on schedule and that issues, risks and variances are mitigated in a timely manner.
• Trains financial aid staff in the use of systems and technology. Facilitates or completes bulk e-mails when the need arises.

_Development_

• Leads test script execution both internally and cross functionally between systems and departments; performs detailed testing to ensure that the implemented software functions correctly.
• Manages iterative feedback processes among users, developers, and analysts to ensure software functionality aligns with requirements. Granted authority to make decisions based on knowledge of interdependency between systems and business processes.
• Develops and tests: the application process, communications, awarding, and disbursing of over $200,000,000 in Northwestern Scholarships to undergraduates. Works closely and under the supervision of the University Director of Financial Aid on policy implementation. Facilitates and guides the work of the graduate and professional financial aid offices to introduce automation and a more efficient process. Coordinates the master flow of technical work for all financial aid offices, undergraduate, graduate, and professional.
• Responsible for administering and developing ImageNow software.

_Performance_

• Leads technical, reporting and application resources to analyze and resolve production issues in a timely manner.
• Solicits feedback from users on application performance and escalates critical performance issues with technical resources and management. Granted authority to make decisions on solution approach based on in-depth system knowledge and best practices.
• Prepares, analyzes reports/data for NU’s financial aid community which includes all schools (undergraduate, graduate, and professional).
• Writes queries to retrieve data from various tables across systems and programs, including the Registrar, Admissions, and varying financial aid offices.
• Identifies and resolves data conflicts from various University wide systems (PeopleSoft, Slate, ImageNow) so staff can award a total of $515,000,000 in federal, state, private and Northwestern assistance.
• Prepares and analyzes reports for the Central Budget Office, the Vice President for Administration and Planning, and the Consortium on Financing Higher education.

_Supervises_

• Supervises three staff members who are responsible for ensuring that the workflow continues for all automated and manual processes.
• Leads work direction and/or staff such as team members, subordinates, contractors, vendors, students, etc.
• Recommends staff hires/terminations. Writes position descriptions; leads recruiting process.
• Coaches and mentors staff.
• Manages complex projects ensuring timelines, deliverables and expectations are met.

_Miscellaneous _

Performs other duties as assigned.

• *Minimum Qualifications:**
• Bachelor’s degree in computer science or related field or equivalent of education, training and experience.
• Six years of experience with financial aid and advanced financial aid management systems.
• *Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)**
• Strong knowledge of common software applications.
• Ability to meet deadlines and manage multiple and competing priorities.
• Must be an expert in Excel.
• Ability to work independently and communicate effectively with a variety of people. Superior analytical skills.
• *Preferred Qualifications: **
• Previous work with PeopleSoft, ImageNow, Technolutions (Slate)– over five years of experience in financial aid and/or PeopleSoft, Image Now
• *Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)**
• Supervisory experience, knowledge of College Board Products and experience with Federal Student Aid