Director of Financial Aid

Director of Financial Aid

Saint Martin’s University in Lacey, WA, in partnership with the national search firm Scott Healy & Associates, invites applications and nominations for the position of Director of Financial Aid. The Director of Financial Aid works closely with students and their families in determining eligibility for financial aid to assist with their education expenses. This person is also responsible for the development of an annual plan for distribution of the financial aid resources of the University, management of financial aid policies and procedures, and gathering, maintaining and distributing essential financial aid data. The Director of Financial Aid reports to the Associate Vice President for Student Financial Services who reports to the Chief Financial Officer and will provide expertise and knowledge of best practices and leadership in guiding a model operation.

The Position: The Director is a leader on campus and provides overall management and leadership necessary for the effective administration of the University’s Office of Financial Aid Services. The Director is responsible for:

• Planning, supervising, and evaluating the financial aid operations of the University;
• Coaching, mentoring, and developing four direct reports in the Financial Aid Department including an Associate Director of Financial Aid.
• Maintaining the integrity of the financial aid recordkeeping process;
• Supervising the preparation and submission of institutional, state, and federal reports;
• Developing and implementing policies and procedures designed to maximize processing of financial aid;
• Overseeing the student financial aid compliance portions of the annual single audit.
• Maintaining accountability for internal and external audits related to financial aid, responding to audit inquiries, and participating in resolving audit issues in cooperation with the University controller’s office;
• Exercising professional judgment in the review of all appeals;
• Managing the Return of Title IV (R2T4) and the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) process;
• Supporting the enrollment management efforts of the University;
• Overall responsibly awarding, disbursing, and reconciling all federal and state aid as well as scholarships/grants in accordance with federal, state and local regulations and policies;
• Working collaboratively with Compliance Manager/IT staff to make programming changes to meet regulatory requirements and to provide constant improvements to decrease manual processing and reduce processing time;
• Working with local high schools by conducting workshops for students and parents and being a resource person to answer questions on financial aid;
• Partnering with Admissions to award Institutional Merit and Scholarships to students;
• Partnering with University Advancement to manage/award Restricted and Endowed Foundation scholarships.

Qualifications: Candidates should have the following:

• Bachelor’s degree required in an area related to higher education administration, student personnel services, Business Administration, Finance, or other related majors;
• Minimum of four years’ experience in a college or university financial aid office is required; management experience in a comprehensive financial aid office is highly preferred;
• Working knowledge of the PowerFaids/PowerCampus Systems is highly desirable, experience with a Financial Aid Software System;
• Experience with Federal and State Financial Aid Software;
• Experience assisting and participating in the audit process is highly desirable;
• Experience in the use of Microsoft Office with particular emphasis on the database and spreadsheet applications.

Saint Martin’s University and Lacey, WA:

Saint Martin’s University: Established in 1895, Saint Martin’s University is the educational mission of Saint Martin’s Abbey, a Catholic Benedictine monastery, whose members pray, work, and live together on the University campus. The physical beauty of Saint Martin’s 300-acre campus reflects the rich intellectual and spiritual nature of its presence in the Pacific Northwest.

Essential features of university life are animated by its Benedictine identity and its participation in the centuries-old traditions of Catholic intellectual thought and the search for truth. Thus, the University honors students and guides them towards achieving academic excellence. Superior teaching is the expected norm. Rooted in the long tradition of the liberal arts, the university curriculum cultivates creativity and the ability to communicate and pursue ideas, critical thinking and independent inquiry, academic proficiency, the formation of sound ethical judgments, and service to humanity.

Reflecting the Benedictine virtue of hospitality, the University welcomes and, indeed, seeks students not only from the Pacific Northwest, but also from other parts of the nation and the world at its main and extension campuses. Saint Martin’s treasures persons of all ages, religions, and nationalities as it encourages cognizance of diverse viewpoints and an appreciation of all cultures.

Lacey, WA: Lacey is home to sparkling lakes and saltwater, densely-forested parklands, championship fairways, miles of hiking and biking trails, and an adjoining 3,700-acre wildlife refuge. It is also the home of the Lacey Historical Museum as well as the largest collection of beads in the world, great shopping and food. Towering above it all is the unbelievable magnificence of Mt. Rainier. Lacey is the perfect place to live and work.

Application and Nomination Process: All correspondence relating to the position of Director of Financial Aid should be directed in confidence to the University’s executive recruitment consultant:

Mr. Jamie Marcus, Senior Associate Vice President

Scott Healy & Associates

jamiemarcus@scotthealy.com

All Applications Must Contain the Following Items:

1) A cover letter outlining your experience and expertise as it relates to The Position;

2) A complete resume highlighting your career in higher education and educational credentials; 

3) The names of five professional references including their relationship to you, their position, email, and direct phone numbers. (References will not be contacted without written permission)

Applications submitted by Friday, July 23, 2021, will receive priority consideration. This search will remain open until the position is filled.

The principles of the Catholic Benedictine tradition, equal employment opportunity, and nondiscrimination are fundamental to the mission, goals, and objectives of Saint Martin’s University. The University does not discriminate in employment or in the delivery or administration of its educational programs, policies, scholarship and loan programs, athletic or other University programs on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, race, color, religion (except as a bona fide occupational qualification for certain select positions), marital status, national or ethnic origin, military or veteran status, age, or disability.