Associate Director - Office of Student Financial Aid

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is accepting applications for an Associate Director in the Office of Student Financial Aid. The Associate Director provides strategic leadership, supervision, and direction for the Processing and Operations and Student Services and Outreach units within the Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA). The Associate Director is responsible for overseeing the administration of financial aid programs and services supporting more than 60,000 students and their families while ensuring compliance with federal, state, and institutional regulations governing more than $1 billion in annual financial aid funding.

The Associate Director provides leadership for financial aid operations, regulatory compliance, customer service, outreach initiatives, staff development, policy and procedure governance, and organizational effectiveness. This position oversees senior-level managers responsible for processing and operations, student services, training, veteran education benefits administration, and complex financial aid program management. The Associate Director collaborates with university leadership and external stakeholders to advance strategic priorities, enhance operational efficiency, promote compliance, support student success, and ensure exceptional service delivery.

This individual is expected to participate as a leader in national, regional and state financial aid organizations.

Duties And Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Unit Oversight

• Provide strategic leadership and administrative oversight for the Processing and Operations and Student Services and Outreach units within OSFA.
• Supervise and evaluate senior-level staff, establish priorities, and ensure achievement of operational and strategic goals.
• Provide leadership, coaching, and performance management for supervisory staff and support leadership development, succession planning, and organizational effectiveness within assigned units.
• Develop and implement initiatives that enhance operational effectiveness, service delivery, compliance, and exceptional customer service for students and families.
• Lead cross-functional efforts to improve business processes, organizational efficiency, and resource utilization.
• Establish performance metrics and accountability measures to assess unit effectiveness and support continuous improvement.
• Serve as a member of the OSFA leadership team and help develop office-wide strategic priorities and initiatives.

Financial Aid Operations, Compliance, and Program Administration

• Provide oversight for financial aid processing, operational workflows, systems functionality, and program administration activities.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, institutional, and program-specific regulations governing financial aid administration.
• Ensure consistent administration of financial aid programs and operational practices across units through the effective interpretation and application of federal, state, and institutional regulations.
• Lead implementation of new regulatory requirements, policy changes, and operational procedures impacting financial aid programs and services.
• Monitor compliance risks and operational performance indicators and develop corrective actions when necessary.
• Provide leadership in identifying operational and compliance risks and developing strategies to mitigate risk and improve business processes.
• Collaborate with campus and university partners to ensure consistent interpretation and application of financial aid policies and regulations.
• Advise the Executive Director regarding regulatory changes, compliance considerations, operational challenges, and program administration issues.

Student Services, Outreach, and Organizational Development

• Provide leadership for student service delivery, outreach initiatives, communication strategies, and student engagement efforts. Provide strategic oversight of office-wide training and professional development initiatives to ensure staff preparedness, consistent policy application, and organizational readiness for regulatory and operational changes.
• Ensure effective administration of specialized service areas, including veteran education benefits and resolution of complex student issues.
• Foster a student-centered service culture focused on accessibility, responsiveness, quality, and continuous improvement.
• Represent OSFA on campus committees, workgroups, and initiatives that support student success and service excellence.
• Promote collaboration between operational and student service units to ensure consistent communication, problem resolution, and service delivery across the office.

Policy, Procedure, and Organizational Governance

• Serve as the owner of the OSFA Policy and Procedure Manual, providing strategic oversight for the development, maintenance, communication, and implementation of office policies and procedures.
• Ensure policy documentation accurately reflects current federal, state, and institutional requirements and supports consistent administration of financial aid programs and services across all operational areas.
• Establish and oversee processes for the regular review, revision, approval, and communication of policies and procedures.
• Coordinate the implementation of policy and procedural changes resulting from regulatory updates, operational needs, and strategic initiatives.
• Promote consistent interpretation and application of policies and procedures through collaboration with OSFA leadership and incorporate into training and professional development activities.
• Ensure coordination between policy development, staff training, operational implementation, and compliance monitoring to promote consistent practices throughout the office.

Office Leadership and Organizational Management

• Serve as a key member of the OSFA management team and participate in office-wide planning, policy development, and decision-making.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to the Executive Director on operational effectiveness, organizational priorities, regulatory changes, and long-term planning initiatives.
• Represent OSFA with university stakeholders, external agencies, and professional organizations.
• Assume additional leadership responsibilities and strategic projects as assigned to support the mission and goals of OSFA.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in student financial aid, higher education administration, or a related field.
• Demonstrated supervisory experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree. Ten (10) years of relevant experience with a demonstrated ability to administer financial aid and manage financial aid staff at a large, complex university that delivers services to students from a wide range of backgrounds.

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Proven record of working with complex situations that require sensitivity to unique family circumstances.
• Excellent skills in providing and coaching others in professional, courteous, and tactful delivery while establishing and maintaining good working relationships.
• Skilled in collaborative and effective work relations with students, staff, faculty, and the public.
• Ability to work under pressure, set priorities, and manage multiple high-priority tasks simultaneously.
• Ability to effectively manage constituents that may have difficult financial aid queries and may be experiencing distress.

Appointment Information

This is a 100% full-time Academic Professional position, appointed on a 12-month basis. The expected start date is as soon as possible after the close of the search. The budgeted salary range for the position is $85,000 to $95,000 annually.

Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience, while also considering internal equity. Sponsorship for work authorization is not available for this position.

Application Procedures & Deadline Information

Applications must be received by 6:00 pm (Central Time) on October 22, 2026. Apply for this position using the Apply Now button at the top or bottom of this posting. For full consideration, application materials should include a cover letter, current resume (including month/ year employment dates), contact information for three professional references, and transcripts or proof of degree(s).

Please ensure your resume highlights your qualifications/experience for this position. This may include professional, academic, volunteer, or other applicable experience that aligns with the responsibilities and requirements of this role. Applications not submitted through https://jobs.illinois.edu will not be considered.

For further information about this specific position, please contact Doug Greene at dgreen21@illinois.edu. For questions regarding the application process, please contact 217-333-2137.

At the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign — the state’s flagship public university and one of the world’s leading research institutions — every staff member helps shape what’s next. Founded in 1867, Illinois is home to a vibrant community of 59,000 students from all 50 states and 129 countries, supported by 15 colleges and instructional units, more than 20 research institutes, and one of the most comprehensive student service ecosystems in the nation.

Whether you’re empowering first-generation students, fueling breakthrough innovation, or strengthening communities across Illinois and beyond, your work here has a far-reaching and deeply meaningful impact. The university offers a highly competitive benefits package designed to support your well-being, growth, and financial security. Join a top 10 public university that has launched over 330 startups and continues to redefine excellence — where the Illinois Value Proposition ensures that your contributions are recognized, your potential is nurtured, and your career can thrive.

Champaign-Urbana

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position; however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.

This position is intended to be eligible for benefits. This includes Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, a Retirement Plan, Paid time Off, and Tuition waivers for employees and dependents.

The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.

Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process. Accommodations may also be requested on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions, or religion. Requests may be submitted through the reasonable accommodation portal, or by contacting the Office for Access & Equity at 217-333-0885, option #1, or accessibility@illinois.edu.