Associate Director, Financial Aid Operations

JOB

Who We AreWith three campuses along Colorado’s Front Range, FRCC is the state’s largest community college. We enroll close to 28,000 students annually from our diverse service area, which offers a variety of cultural and recreational activities.Each year approximately 5,000 FRCC students transfer to four-year universities and FRCC offers more than 36 career training programs that prepare students for immediate employment and rewarding careers. Last year, more than 5,000 high school students took concurrent enrollment classes with us, earning college credit without having to pay college tuition. And we were recently ranked as one of the “Top Online Colleges” in the country by Newsweek.One of FRCC’s main goals is to offer educational excellence for everyone. The college’s strong commitment to student success means we start by creating an inclusive and equitable environment—one where both students and employees feel they belong and are supported. FRCC’s focus on diversity, equity and inclusion is woven into the fabric of our college conversations and decision-making processes. We are actively seeking to hire a workforce that reflects the diversity of our student body.The college is also an emerging Hispanic Serving Institution. For us, becoming an HSI is an intentional commitment to being a college where our Latinx (and other historically marginalized) students thrive.FRCC employees and leaders work hard to create a culture of collaboration, innovation and pride. We’re looking to hire people who share these values—along with our commitment to student success, equity and excellence.

EXAMPLE OF DUTIES

Who You AreAs the Associate Director of Financial Aid Operations, you will play a critical leadership role in advancing the College’s strategic plan by ensuring equitable, timely, and compliant access to financial aid for all students. You will support student enrollment, persistence, and completion by leading operational excellence in financial aid processing, fund management, and systems management.Working collaboratively with Financial Aid leadership, you will ensure that financial aid policies, processes, and technologies remove barriers and expand opportunity. You will champion continuous improvement, data-informed decision-making, and staff development, helping to create a student-centered, inclusive financial aid experience that reflects FRCC’s commitment to equity, transparency, and student success.In this role, you will assist the Director Financial Aid in fiscal budgeting, funds management and quality assurance measures in all areas of federal, state and institutional aid. You will plan for the future and respond quickly to changes in federal, state or institutional policy. You will keep the staff engaged and apprised of current and changing processes. Ideally, you are analytical, well organized, self-motivated, with a process improvement mindset who thinks critically, solves problems and adapts well to change. This position is based out of the Westminster campus and requires a strong on-campus presence. The position will have the opportunity to work remotely occasionally and will occasionally need to travel to all three FRCC campuses.Please note: You need to be a Colorado resident on your first day of employment. Also, Front Range Community College is an E-Verify employer.SALARY: $65,579 - $68,858 annuallyThe salary range reflects the minimum and maximum starting salary for the position. When determining the starting salary for a new employee, FRCC takes into consideration a combination of the selected candidate’s education, training and experience as it relates to the requirements of the position, as well as the position’s scope and complexity, internal pay equity and external market value.BENEFITS: For information about benefits, please view APT & Faculty Benefits.SELECTION PROCESS: Position will remain open until filled with a priority deadline of March 2, 2026. This posting may be used to fill multiple or similar positions.The selection process for the Associate Director of Financial Aid Operations will be conducted through a competitive, merit-based evaluation of all qualified applicants. Preliminary screening will be based on the completed application package submitted by the candidate. In your application, please include a resume and cover letter that specifically address how your background and experience align with the requirements, qualifications, and responsibilities of the position.Primary DutiesAid Application Review and Awarding: Lead and continuously improve processes for the daily import, review, and awarding of FAFSA and CASFA applications, including federal verification and comment code resolution, ensuring timely and equitable distribution of financial aid.Ensure compliance with federal, state, and institutional regulations by maintaining current knowledge of guidance from Federal Student Aid, NASFAA, and CCCS and integrating updates into operational workflows.Manage automated student communications and batch awarding processes to provide accurate, timely notifications regarding requirements, awards, and adjustments in Banner.Partner with the Associate Director of Financial Aid Advising to address student inquiries, resolve complex issues, and identify opportunities to strengthen processes and the student experience.Fund Management and Reconciliation: Direct reconciliation and management of federal, state, and institutional financial aid funds, including Pell Grants, Direct Loans, SEOG, CSG, work-study, institutional grants, and scholarships, ensuring accuracy and regulatory compliance.Coordinate grant and loan origination and disbursement data exchanges through Federal Student Aid systems and monitor allocation of limited funds to maximize responsible use of resources.Ensure timely and compliant Return of Title IV calculations and serve as liaison with external institutions regarding transfer monitoring and overpayment resolution.Collaborate with Fiscal Affairs and Accounts Receivable to resolve financial aid–related issues affecting institutional and student accounts.Supervision and Leadership: Supervise Financial Aid Specialists and the Financial Aid Coordinator – Operations, cultivating a collaborative, inclusive, and accountable team environment.Hire, train, evaluate, and support staff development, promoting professional growth and operational excellence.Assess and improve operational workflows across Financial Aid Operations, identifying opportunities for automation, efficiency, and compliance, including programs such as Work-Study and Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).Develop, document, and update operational procedures and deliver training in collaboration with Financial Aid leadership when regulatory, process, or system changes occur.Systems Management: Provide advanced leadership in the effective use of Banner and related financial aid systems to ensure data integrity, accurate processing, and operational efficiency.Maintain expert knowledge of FAFSA and CASFA data integration to support seamless system functionality and accurate awarding.Coordinate system-related responsibilities within the team to ensure timely completion of projects and continuous improvement of automated processes.Foundation Scholarships and COSI Grants: Administer the FRCC Foundation scholarship platform and partner with Foundation leadership to establish timelines, develop processes, and define awarding procedures.Support reconciliation efforts and prepare required reports for the Foundation Board.Coordinate awarding and reporting for Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (COSI) programs in partnership with the COSI Program Manager, recommending best practices to strengthen program effectiveness.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

Welcoming. Respectful. Inclusive. Together, we are FRCC.To Apply for Position: Associate Director, Financial Aid OperationsFor information on Front Range Community College’s Security, including Clery Act/Crime Statistics for the campuses and surrounding area, view FRCC’s Annual Security Report(Download PDF reader).