Assistant Director of Financial Aid (Financial Aid Manager I)

Strategy and Financial Aid Administration Provide leadership and oversight for the College of Law financial aid office, serving as the primary escalation point for complex financial aid matters, providing guidance and resolution support for students, prospective students, applicants, and stakeholders while ensuring high-quality service delivery in person, via email, mail, and telephone. Lead the planning, administration, and continuous evaluation of financial aid operations, identifying process improvement opportunities, developing operational strategies to enhance efficiency and effectiveness, and implementing solutions. Lead the planning, administration, and delivery of financial aid services and programs, and present information to applicants, students, and others with an interest in financing a legal education. Develop and deliver comprehensive financial aid programming, operational policies, and initiatives that drive departmental performance, improve student experience, and ensure compliance with institutional and regulatory requirements. Provide leadership in the development of educational programming, resources, and outreach related to financing a legal education for applicants, students, and stakeholders. Student Loan Eligibility, Loan Packaging, and Compliance Exercise independent professional judgment and decision-making authority to collect and/or analyze financial data on students to determine aid eligibility under the federal need analysis and process financial aid reevaluation requests in accordance with applicable federal regulations and university policies. Oversee financial aid awarding and packaging activities, including scholarships and limited loan programs for students enrolled in College of Law post-graduate programs; provide quality assurance to promote accuracy, consistency, equity, and regulatory compliance. Ensure financial aid compliance, identifying potential areas of risk, and ensuring adherence to federal regulations, accreditation requirements, and university policies. Carefully monitor and resolve complex financial aid discrepancies, including over awards, under awards, and other circumstances that require professional judgment, analysis, and coordination with university partners. Prepare and conduct required entrance/exit counseling sessions and on-going, longitudinal debt management sessions in accordance with accreditation standard requirements. Assist students with federal work study eligibility and processes, collaborating with appropriate university partners to address student needs. Leadership and Stakeholder Engagement Represent the College at internal and external meetings relevant to Financial Aid matters, communicating college priorities and advocating for student and program needs. Serve as a partner and liaison, working collaboratively with the University Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid and the Bursar to resolve complex student matters and ensure effective financial aid administration. Supervise a program coordinator who handles named student scholarships for achievement in certain areas of law, student summer support, including internal and external funding for internships in public interest and/or rural areas. Provide guidance and mentoring. Train the program coordinator to provide certain financial aid functions during peak seasonal times and to provide additional coverage. Build and deliver training. Data Reporting and Continuous Improvement Plan, process, award, reevaluate, and compile reports of financial aid for the students enrolled in the College of Law. Work closely with other offices at the College of Law to prepare comprehensive reports when needed, including with respect to novel issues or problem-solving. Develop new approaches, methods, and techniques to improve processes and enhance student satisfaction through collaboration with students, faculty, staff, and university partners. Provide data to the Dean and the Associate Dean for Administration to assist with periodic academic accreditation reporting and US News statistical survey compilation. Provide data to the Assistant Dean for Finance to assist with the College’s budgeting and financial planning functions. Review disbursement reports, federal student aid reports, and collect and compile data for financial aid indebtedness for accreditation agency reporting, or other units by request of the Dean's Office. Professional Knowledge Development Understand and stay up to date with developments in the student loan landscape and all current federal policies. Provide regular updates to College leadership regarding the same. Utilize University systems and financial aid tools with excellent proficiency. Interact and maintain liaison with college and university staff, faculty, and outside agencies such as student loan lenders and servicers, guarantee agencies, military services, and other agencies in resolving problems/issues for students with these entities, and in facilitating program objectives. Serve as liaison for PeopleSoft (UAccess) system changes, issues and updates for the Office of Student Financial Aid COL. Assist in quality control of computer system procedures and reports and assist in testing. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Extensive knowledge and application of principles, theories and concepts. Complete knowledge of all job functions and the broad industry best practices, techniques and standards. Skilled in identifying and implementing process improvements. Ability to resolve complex financial aid issues. Ability to work with both student and faculty populations. Ability to work well in a fast-paced and team-oriented environment. Ability to exercise independent professional judgment to evaluate and resolve financial aid discrepancies. Ability to lead and support staff effectively.