Director, ESM Financial Aid

The Director has primary responsibility for planning and executing the communication, training and file review activities to advance the office's goals to effectively and accurately deliver financial aid information and funding to all undergraduate and graduate students and families while complying with federal, state and institutional policies and procedures and ensuring successful recruitment and retention. The Director devises new and proactive approaches, solves difficult problems and challenges the status quo in handling complex issues all while remaining compliant with the Department of Education's Title IV Participation Agreement and both the federal and state laws and regulations outlining financial aid administration. A professional, resourceful and enthusiastic approach is required to ensure that the customer experience incorporates a global perspective along with a commitment to issues of equal access and the ability to work in a team setting with all levels of management, faculty and staff. As part of the Enrollment Management Committee, additional cross training in activities within the Financial Aid and Admissions offices occurs as well as a commitment to service excellence across all staffing levels and serving as a leader and mentor in modeling and reinforcing professional behavior.

Responsibilities

Planning and executing the communication, training and file review activities to advance financial aid delivery; Leading the FAO in building a cohesive unit; Supervising staff including hiring, performance reviews, weekly meetings, and training; Overseeing operations and communications for efficient processing of office functions; Ensuring federal, institutional and state reporting is accurate and timely (FISAP, NYSED, Data Warehouse, IPEDS); Establishing policies, procedures, and guidelines for equitable distribution of financial aid; Managing budgeting, fiscal management, accountability, and distribution of institutional, federal, and state funds; Overseeing financial aid appeals, change of status, LOA's, withdrawals, and reinstated students; Counseling students and families on financial aid options and application processing; Reviewing and evaluating financial aid academic records; Overseeing portal software systems and Net Price Calculator; Other duties as assigned

Requirements

Bachelor's degree and 5 years of relevant experience required; Or equivalent combination of education and experience; Strong analytical, organizational, and leadership skills required; Excellent interpersonal and communication abilities required; Commitment to customer service and student advocacy required; Demonstrated knowledge of federal need analysis and federal and state financial aid regulations and their impact on institutional policy decisions required

Nice to have

Master's degree preferred; Progressive financial aid experience preferred; At least 7+ years of related experience preferred; Demonstrated skills in supervision preferred; Experience managing federal, state and institutional financial aid programs is critical preferred; PowerFAIDS experience or proven ability to learn preferred; NASFAA credentials preferred