Director of Financial Aid

Requisition ID: req3032

Job Title: Director of Financial Aid

Department: Financial Aid

Location: Columbus Campus

Employment Type: Administrator/Executive/Manager

Employment Status: Board Approved

Bargaining Unit: Non-Bargaining Unit

FLSA Status: Exempt

Compensation Type: Annual

Compensation Range: Commensurate with Experience

The College

Community colleges are uniquely positioned to respond to workforce needs and make higher education an affordable reality. There has never been a better time to join a two-year college, and there’s no better place to do it than at Columbus State. A laser focus on student success and a partnership mindset have established Columbus State as a key talent provider in a thriving regional economy, and a premier community college that is changing the nation’s education and workforce landscapes. With more than 46,000 students across two campuses, at several regional learning centers, and online, Columbus State is the nation’s only institution recognized as an Achieving the Dream (ATD) college, an AACC Guided Pathways institution, and a participant in The Right Signals Initiative through the Lumina Foundation. Columbus State employees at all levels benefit from an engaging, collaborative, and supportive culture that rewards innovation and vision. We provide competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and professional development opportunities. We are dedicated to ensuring that the diversity of Columbus State faculty and staff reflects that of our students and region. We are proud to be a central part of a community that embraces differences and celebrates the many cultures, beliefs, and lifestyles that define Central Ohio.

The City

Columbus, Ohio is also home to The Ohio State University and more than 30 other colleges and universities as well as the headquarters of multiple Fortune 500 companies. Columbus is one of America’s fastest-growing cities, offering a wealth of cultural experiences, dining, entertainment, shopping opportunities, and more. That’s why Central Ohio residents find living here so fulfilling, both professionally and personally.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions described in this position description. Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties just as though they were actually written out in this position description.

Position Summary

Serving as the college’s chief financial aid and scholarships administrator, the Director of Financial Aid is responsible for ensuring compliance with Federal Title IV regulations and for leading the strategic direction of financial aid and scholarships in order to advance College-wide student success. The director directly supervises a small team of administrators (two supervisees, presently) but collaborates closely with Enrollment Services Operations team members responsible for financial aid processes including student budget and need determination, verification/certification, reconciliation, and more.

Core Competencies Required

Professionalism, Managing Work, Continuous Improvement, Customer/Student/Employee Focus, Leadership, Decision Making, Adaptability, Collaboration, Business Acumen and Quality Orientation

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Financial Aid Administration

The director serves as the aid administrator of record with all federal, state, and accrediting entities, with responsibilities including: Annual reporting, including FISAP completion and submission, federal A-133 audit, federal Program Participation Agreement updates, Ohio Department of Higher Education audits, and IPEDS. Ensures adherence to audit requirements and complies with audit requests. Ensures compliance with record retention regulations and policies and other related institutional, state, federal, or accrediting requirements.

Awarding Policy & Compliance

The director is responsible for all aspects of aid compliance and awarding policies, including: 1) determining student cost of education, determining awarding policies for federal awards, ensuring that awarding meets federal regulations, and monitoring annual awarding budgets; 2) coordination of institutional and Foundation scholarships, administration of the College’s scholarship application system and processes, determination of criteria for scholarship awarding and disbursement, and the development of appropriate student communications; 3) maintenance of scholarship information on the College website; 4) coordination of external aid; 5) management of review processes of over-awards resulting from scholarships/external aid; and 6) recommends policy and business practices to support the effectiveness of the awarding of aid.

The director is responsible for ensuring the publication of required aid, policy, and concern reporting, and other disclosures required to maintain Title IV funding eligibility.

Legislative, Regulatory, Policy & Funding Level Monitoring

The director monitors federal and state legislative mandates and determines potential changes to the student aid environment; informs College leadership as appropriate. Serves as the knowledge resource for all federal and state financial aid regulations and College policies and practices and ensures compliance.

Coordinates College-wide and student-level communications regarding financial aid. Serves as the integral member of the Enrollment Services leadership team.

Scholarship Administration

The director initiates strategy, collaborates with College leadership to develop scholarship awarding criteria, develops and implements a set of robust financial aid and scholarship award strategies to leverage funds and maximize outcomes based on College recruitment, access, diversity, equity, persistence, and completion goals. Develops loan awarding criteria to support financial stability of students while minimizing loan indebtedness.

The director implements analysis tools to measure outcomes of strategic initiatives and develops trend analyses to inform decisions. Develops scholarship modeling for College and Foundation funds.

Enrollment Services Collaboration

The director collaborates with other leadership in Enrollment Services: with Integrated Systems to operationalize awarding of aid; with Integrated Processing to ensure compliance with federal and state regulations; and with Student Central and the Telephone Information Center to inform students of financial aid rules, requirements, and procedures. Serves as liaison for Enrollment Services with the Director of Institutional Effectiveness.

Other duties as assigned.

Other Duties and Responsibilities

Manages multiple assignments of varying complexity while meeting federal grant as well as internal regulations and procedures, with the ability to adapt to changing needs of the College and business partners.

Usual Physical Requirements

The employee regularly exhibits digital dexterity when entering data into computer, frequently sits for extended periods of time, and occasionally stands and walks. Employee occasionally reaches with hands or arms and stoops, kneels, crouches or crawls. Employee converses verbally with others in person and by telephone. Vision demands include close, detailed vision when focusing on computer screen. Employee occasionally lifts or exerts force up to 10 pounds.

Working Conditions

Typical office environment. Regular exposure to moderate noise typical to business offices. Must travel to various Columbus State campuses and sites.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Knowledge of: federal and state financial aid regulations, scholarship leveraging strategies, and budget management and administration; Data-driven organizational planning; policy development and implementation. Skill in: Communication with others, both verbal and written; project management; problem analysis and resolution; analytical thinking; facilitating meetings; planning and organization; working within a budget; research and analysis; time management; maintaining accurate and complete records; preparing operational and statistical management reports are required. Ability to: strategically analyze enrollment and financial data; develop and maintain effective working relationships with College associates and general public; maintain confidential and sensitive information; manage multiple assignments at once; provide administrative input and oversight; demonstrate flexibility; effectively work with persons of varying cultures and diversity.

Minimum Qualifications:

Master’s Degree in Education, Administration, Student Personnel, or a closely related field with at least five years' progressively responsible experience in financial aid administration or an appropriate combination of related education and experiences. State Motor Vehicle Operator's License or demonstrable ability to gain access to work site(s).