Senior Director Student Finance Operations

Reporting directly to the Vice President of Institutional Support Services (ISS), the Senior Director, Support Operations provides strategic leadership for the development, implementation, and oversight of initiatives that enhance the student experience, support institutional priorities, and ensure regulatory compliance across Covista's academic partners. The role drives operational excellence in new student enrollment, resource planning, process optimization, student persistence through student finance operations, technology enablement, and business consulting services. The Senior Director serves as a subject matter expert on complex regulatory requirements and represents ISS with internal and external stakeholders, including regulatory agencies. Covista operates on a hybrid schedule with four in-office days per week (Monday–Thursday).

Responsibilities

Provide strategic leadership for the development, implementation, and oversight of initiatives that enhance the student experience, support institutional priorities, and ensure regulatory compliance; Partner with academic institutions and functional leaders to align operational strategies, workforce planning, and service delivery models; Provide enterprise-wide leadership focused on improving operational efficiency, enhancing the student experience, and optimizing business processes; Utilize data, analytics, and performance metrics to improve service level agreements (SLAs) across key business functions; Position ISS as a best-in-class Center of Excellence for resource planning, process improvement, technology optimization, student persistence, and operational innovation; Lead the design, implementation, evaluation, and expansion of pilot programs and strategic initiatives; Serve as a regulatory subject matter expert on federal, state, and institutional regulations; Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, accreditation, SOX, and organizational requirements related to student financial operations; Partner with Regulatory Affairs and Legal teams to assess regulatory risk and maintain regulatory readiness; Communicate directly with external regulatory agencies regarding student financial and operational matters; Lead responses to audits, regulatory reviews, and compliance inquiries, including corrective action plans; Prepare and submit regulatory responses and documentation for student finance-related matters; Serve as an executive liaison between ISS and academic institutions; Represent ISS on committees, governance bodies, project teams, and task forces; Lead and develop high-performing teams; Promote a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, innovation, and student-centered service; Manage labor and operating budgets exceeding $5 million; Oversee a funding portfolio exceeding $1.8 billion; Provide staffing, financial, and operational insights across Student Financial Operations and academic partners; Manage multiple functions and institutional relationships; Perform other duties as assigned; Comply with all company policies, procedures, and professional standards

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree required; Master's Degree preferred; 10 years of senior-level leadership experience with a minimum of 10 years managing large, diverse operational teams required; 8 years proven higher education or comparable experience managing highly regulated functional areas required; Can handle responsibility without authority, i.e. able to facilitate execution across multiple departments and institutions within Covista; Federal and State funding regulatory knowledge; Exhibits a strong executive leadership presence coupled with excellent written and verbal communication skills; Understand process improvement and the relationship between process optimization, metrics, analytics and reporting; Displays strong strategic-planning skills complimented with exceptional business acumen; Exhibits outstanding leadership capabilities; Demonstrates a high-level of character, ethics and integrity at all times

Nice to have

Master's Degree

Benefits

Health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance; 401k Retirement Program + 6% employer match; Participation in Covista's Flexible Time Off (FTO) Policy; 12 Paid Holidays