Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota is seeking to hire a Director of Financial Aid. This position can be located on either the Winona or the Minneapolis campus.
Reporting to the Vice President for Enrollment Management, the Director of Financial Aid provides leadership for the area of financial aid serving the needs of three physical campuses and on-line programing efforts. The director will oversee the administration, reporting, and compliance affairs for the university’s financial aid and work closely with the area of admission, business, student central, and registration to achieve the university’s enrollment objectives. The Director is responsible for operationalizing and directing all short, intermediate, and long-range planning for the financial aid program.
Management
- Provide leadership and vision for the Financial Aid department to effectively serve prospective and current students and families with a high level of customer service.
- Monitor and adjust to all changes and issues in financial aid policy, funding, and compliance.
- Allocate and monitor office workload to achieve institutional awarding, disbursement, and compliance objectives.
- Anticipate and apprise the recommended actions to address and/or resolve potential problems.
- Administer the import/export process for faculty/staff tuition benefit programs.
- Administer, control, and coordinate federal, state, and institutional financial aid funds from numerous individual programs, ensuring compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.
- Create clear and substantiated metrics to reflect the long-term goals for the position, as well as the benefit to Saint Mary’s and the impact on the communities it serves.
- Advance the use of software programs and technology to manage applications and calculate compliant federal aid awards.
- Supervise professional staff assigned to the Financial Aid department.
Compliance
- Monitor and ensure compliance with all institutional, federal, and state regulations related to financial aid.
- Maintain a high level of professional competence in best practices in financial aid, program assessment, operational budgeting, and the college software systems.
- Analyze, interpret, and oversee the implementation of governmental regulatory and institutional policy changes.
- Coordinate annual financial aid audits, respond to campus and other constituent inquiries, and conduct financial aid compliance analyses.
- Complete the annual Fiscal Operations Report and Application to Participation (FISAP), Department of Education Application to Participate, Program Participation Agreement, and numerous federal surveys including the Common Data Set, IPEDS, and the NCAA Division III Financial Aid Report.
- Supervise and monitor satisfactory academic progress (SAP) process, ensuring that review and notification to students is done according to policy and regulation.
- Establish and maintain, in accordance with best practices and compliance expectations, Policies and Procedures Manual and updated scholarship eligibility criteria.
Maintaining Relationships
- Build and maintain positive working relationships with outside constituents, such as the Minnesota Office of Higher Education, the US Department of Education, and related government and community agencies.
- Represent the University by serving as an active member of various professional financial aid groups, such as MPCC Financial Aid Directors and NAFSA.
- Ensure collaborative working relationships are maintained with a variety of university offices, including the Office of Advancement, Registrar, Academic Affairs, Admissions, and Student Central, in order to provide effective and accurate service to students.
Financial Management
- Manage budgeting, awarding, reconciliation, and reporting for scholarship, grant, work, and loan funds.
- Oversee the electronic transfer of information via US Department of Education applications to include NSLDS, COD, and state agencies.
Enrollment
- Develop and implement financial aid strategies which enhance student recruitment and enrollment efforts and meet or exceed institutional revenue targets.
- Foster and strengthen internal departmental relationships and partnerships which serve new and existing student populations.
- Promote internal and external financial aid literacy through willing availability for training and educational presentations.
Performs other duties, as assigned.
Essential Skills and Functions
- Proven track-record of successful work across matrixed organizations and teams.
- Comfortability with technology to successfully manage a financial aid department.
- Develops and maintains good working relationships and communications at all levels of the organization.
- In-depth knowledge of current financial aid policies, practices, and procedures for a variety of degree levels and delivery models.
- Understanding of non-standard terms and related policies.
- Demonstrated organizational and project management skills.
- Strong written and oral communication skills.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and experience, employing diplomacy and collaboration in a team environment.
- Ability to work effectively with diverse internal and external populations in stressful situations.
- Ability to perform research and generate reports in response to internal and external requests.
- Strong technology skills, including a solid understanding of the use of financial aid awarding systems, student information systems, Microsoft Office, CRM systems, and the internet.
- Self-motivated with the ability to work effectively alone and within a team environment.
- Support, respect, and advance the mission of Saint Mary’s University as a Lasallian Catholic University.
- Observes safety guidelines and follows safety procedures established by the University.
- Experience developing strong professional relationships and communication effectively with diverse groups of people.
Education and Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree required, master’s preferred.
- A minimum of 5 years of experience in the area of financial aid.
- Experience in the supervision and management of personnel.
- Ability to travel, with a valid driver’s license.
- Strong understanding of financial aid leveraging and projections.
- May consider other acceptable equivalent combinations of training and experience.
Apply online at https://www.smumn.edu/about/offices-services/human-resources/employment-opportunities/ and please include a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three professional references.
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota believes inclusion and human dignity contributes to a robust academic and work environment and is critical to achieving the University's mission in an increasingly diverse society. Individuals with expertise and diverse skills from underrepresented groups are especially encouraged to apply. Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. The successful candidate must support, respect, and advance the mission of Saint Mary's University as a Lasallian Catholic institution.
Saint Mary’s offers a comprehensive benefit package including health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, flexible spending, retirement pension plan, and both undergraduate and graduate tuition remission plans.
All offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.