Director of Student Financial Aid

Description

Director of Student Financial Aid

About Rogers State University:

Rogers State University is located in Northeast Oklahoma in beautiful Claremore, Oklahoma.  RSU offers a variety of bachelor's and associate degrees.  The University operates three full-service campuses, in Claremore, Bartlesville.  In addition, RSU provides innovative distance learning options for students through RSU Online, RSU Public television and other delivery methods.

About the Position:

The Director of Student Financial Aid plans, directs, and administers a comprehensive financial aid program of federal, state and local aid, grants, scholarships, outreach services, loans, and other types of financial assistance at a state university.

Primary Duties:
Leadership and Professional Ability:
• Plans, directs and administers a comprehensive financial assistance program at a state university;
• Knowledge of state and federal (Title IV) financial assistance programs;
• Responsible for ensuring compliance with regulations and establishing reporting standards; financial and statistical record keeping, survey completion and other required reporting;
• Directs processing of aid applications including determining eligibility, award amounts and notification of students' award; prepares documentation, validations and resolves student appeals;
• Administer aid to student athletes in accordance with NCAA Division II regulations; serve on the university NCAA Compliance Committee;
• Prepares and administers departmental budget; assists with university budget matters relative to financial aid and state funding;
• Projects and plans for fluctuations in university growth and financial aid program size;
• Develops, reviews and advises on federal, state, college and private sources of funds, including working collaboratively with the university foundation to manage scholarship and endowment awarding protocols;
• Monitors operational activities to detect service concerns and maintain effective administrative procedures.

Supervision and Management
• Maintain exceptional customer service standards; lead continuous improvement/innovation assessment;
• Supervise professional staff and provide orientation and training;
• Coordinates with information technology and recommends enhancements to the financial aid systems;
• Represents the financial aid office to internal and external constituencies;
• Serves on committees as appropriate;
• Responsible for security and confidentiality of assigned records and departmental files;
• Develop and implement programs for students on money management and personal budgeting;
• Prepare materials for publicity, workshops and resource development; may make oral presentations;
• Coordinate federal work study program in collaboration with the university's Human Resource department;
• Performs related duties as assigned.

SECONDARY DUTIES:
The Director of Student Financial Aid is accountable for ensuring the University complies with and is effective in its execution of federal, state and local aid programs. This requires effective performance in secondary areas of:
1) Communication, Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
2) Staff Development and Training
3) Project Management and Strategic Planning
The following examples of duties and accountabilities illustrate the general range of tasks assigned to the position but are not intended to define the limits of required duties. Other essential duties may be assigned consistent with the general scope of the position.

A. Communication, Critical Thinking and Problem Solving:

The Director is accountable for possessing the professional skills necessary to do administrative work. The Director should be able to:
1. Possess interpersonal and communication skills and ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community;
2. Create and compose written material as well as evaluate and edit the content, structure, and format of a range of written materials;
3. Investigate and analyze information and draw conclusions; use independent judgement to manage and impart information to a range of clientele including students, parents, faculty, staff, administrators and the general public.

B. Customer Service, Staff Development and Operations:

The Director is accountable for establishing and maintaining excellent customer service standards within the department; securing and developing professional staff members and managing the day-to-day operations of the department. The Director
should be able to:
1. Establish, train and emulate high customer service standards for the department; monitor assessment data for service improvement and innovation initiatives;
2. Supervise and train staff, organize, prioritize, and schedule work assignments;
3. Develop appropriate staff training and professional development initiatives; foster a cooperative work environment;
4. Plan and evaluate operational initiatives; examine, reengineer, or develop new operations and procedures, formulate policy;
5. Provide professional direction, guidance and counsel to a wide range of constituencies.

C. Project Management and Strategic Planning:

The Director serves as an on-going project manager for the Jenzabar EX/PowerFAIDS enterprise system. The Director should be able to:
1. Manage and oversee the day-to-day operation of the system; configure the infrastructure, participate in maintenance activities and lead testing protocols;
2. Provide leadership for on-going system functionality improvements; work in collaboration with Academic Computing Services on system support and troubleshooting;
3. Provide technical advice, information and training to faculty, staff and students;
4. Develop, plan and implement short and long-range departmental and university related goals and plans; Budget preparation and fiscal management.

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications:
1. Bachelor's degree.
2. Five years of progressive professional experience including supervisory responsibility in higher education financial aid setting;
3. Prior experience with student financial aid computer system, preferably PowerFAIDS;
4. Highly organized and detail-oriented; Exceptional interpersonal relationship and communication skills;
5. Demonstrated ability to interact favorably with faculty, administrators, staff, students and public;
6. Sense of humor, flexibility and tolerance of a high energy, dynamic, complex work environment.

Preferred Qualifications:
1. Master's degree.
2. Five or more years increasingly responsible experience in financial aid administration, including experience as director, associate or assistant director;
3. Three or more years of direct supervisory experience;
4. Three or more years of direct experience managing a Financial Aid software system;
5. Highly organized and detail-oriented; Exceptional interpersonal relationship and communication skills
6. Demonstrated ability to interact favorably with faculty, administrators, staff, students and public.
7. Sense of humor, flexibility and tolerance of a high energy, dynamic, complex work environment.

Reports to: Vice President of Enrollment Management/Registrar
Licenses: None
Supervision Given to: Professionals Employees including but not limited to; Assistant Director(s), Aid Counselor(s), student employee(s), both non-exempt and exempt classifications.
Hours: 8:00a.m. - 5:00p.m. Mon.-Fri. Evenings and weekends as necessary.
Position Classification: Professional Employee Designation/ FLSA Exempt

Please refer to the company's website or job descriptions to learn more about them.

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