Director of Financial Aid

DIRECTOR OF FINANCIAL AID

 

The University of Maine at Presque Isle and the University of Maine at Fort Kent are seeking a joint appointment Director of Financial Aid to begin in the fall semester.

 

The Director of Financial Aid is a 50/50 shared position, located on both the Presque Isle and Fort Kent campuses. The successful candidate will work and travel between the two campuses as part of the position.

  

For both campuses, the Director is responsible for managing the Financial Aid Office whose primary purpose is to deliver financial aid packages to students in an efficient, timely manner. The successful candidate must assure compliance with complex federal regulations within enrollment management and services context with emphasis on quality student service. The Director develops and coordinates financial aid objectives, strategies, systems, policies, and procedures that are consistent with UMPI’s and UMFK’s role as state-supported universities in the University of Maine system. 

 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: 

• Within a quality student services context, hire, train, supervise, develop and evaluate the staff of the Financial Aid Office. This includes training in financial aid philosophies, regulations, policies, and procedures; establishing programs to facilitate staff development; and coordinating in-service training.

• Research, create and communicate need analysis, aid packaging, student personnel/payroll, and other policies and procedures to annually distribute federal, state, and private financial aid funds. 

• Prepare and develop data concerning financial aid for inclusion in funding applications and reports to federal, state, and private agencies. 

• Develop, recommend and implement policies and procedures to manage the student accounts in compliance with federal and state regulations, as well as with University policy.  Work with campus finance offices and UM System Accounting staff for drawing and managing federal funds. 

• Act as liaison with other University offices on both campuses to improve services to current and potential student financial aid applicants. 

• Reconcile the data maintained by the Financial Aid Office to comparable data maintained by other University offices and affiliated agencies. 

• Counsel students at UMPI and UMFK about the financial aid process and the availability of funds. Through this process, assist students in identifying options for funding a higher education. 

• Evaluate applications for financial aid at UMPI and UMFK, to determine eligibility and authorize the disbursement of funds. 

• Interpret regulations established for the operation of the student aid programs by federal and state agencies.  

• Additional duties as reasonably assigned. 

 

SPECIAL ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS/RESPONSIBILITIES:  

• Plan, develop, disburse and operate within the department's budgets. 

• Monitor the academic progress of student financial aid recipients on both campuses. 

• Represent the Financial Aid Office to appropriate constituencies as requested. 

• Other reasonably related duties as assigned. 

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:    

• Supervision of 2 professional staff, 1 classified staff and student workers at UMPI, and 2 professional staff and 1 classified staff at UMFK. Demonstrates knowledge and experience in maintaining a safe working/learning environment. 

 

BUDGET RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Responsible for all Federal Financial Aid Funds for both campuses including application for, disbursement of, and audit of these monies. Also, develop, recommend and administer departmental operating budget to ensure adequate support to carry out the departmental mission.  

 

PUBLIC AND PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES RELATED TO JOB PERFORMANCE: 

• This position requires the Director to maintain current knowledge about the constantly changing field. Must be involved in local, regional, and national organizations related to Financial Aid. 

 

INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL CONTACTS: 

• Internal: The director must maintain active contacts with senior administrators, mid-level managers, and directors, faculty, staff, and students on both campuses in order to appropriately respond to the financial aid needs of the student bodies. 

• External: The Director must maintain active contacts with appropriate federal, state, and regional agency administrators. 

 

Based on the qualifications and experience of the successful applicant, the salary range is $80,000 - $87,000 plus a 10% employer contribution to the UMS retirement plan.   Additional benefits include medical, dental, vision, and tuition waiver programs for employees and dependents.  The UMS is a recipient of the Wellness Councils of America’s Well Workplace Award and offers wellness programs.

 

 

ABOUT THE UNIVERSITIES:

For more than a century, the University of Maine at Presque Isle has been helping students find their path to great professional careers providing its 1,300 traditional and non-traditional students from all areas of the state, country, and world with life-changing opportunities in a caring, small-university environment. UMPI combines liberal arts and selected professional programs and serves as a cultural and educational resource for the entire region. The campus sits on 150 acres surrounded by the rolling hills and potato fields of northern Maine and the University strives to be the region’s premier learning institution while helping to stimulate cultural and economic development in Aroostook County and the State of Maine. The University serves as an educational and cultural center for the area and its facilities are utilized for lectures, programs, concerts, dance performances, exhibits, and plays that benefit the entire region.

 

Additionally, UMPI has been named as a Great College To Work For according to the 2020 survey by The Great Colleges to Work For® program. This is the very first time that a public university in Maine has received this national recognition. UMPI also received a distinguished recognition as a 2020 Honor Roll Institution by The Great Colleges to Work For® program for achieving high scores in 11 out of 12 categories.

The Great Colleges to Work For® program is one of the largest and most respected workplace recognition programs in the country. Now in its thirteenth year, it recognizes the colleges that get top ratings from their employees regarding workplace practices and policies. This is a remarkable achievement for our University.

Please visit our website at https://www.umpi.edu/

 

UMFK’s mission is to nurture and engage a diversity of undergraduate learners and aspiring professionals through affordable, technologically-enhanced, and professionally-focused educational programs. The faculty, staff, and surrounding communities help students develop into engaged and productive citizens who appreciate the natural environment and cultural opportunities in the immediate area and across the globe. 

Taught by full-time faculty, our average class size is 16 students to one faculty member. Our students come to us from throughout the United States as well as approximately 30 countries.

The great outdoor environment of the St. John Valley at the northern stretch of the Appalachian Mountains and forests of New England provides UMFK with abundant resources for learning and research, as well as easy access to the joys of outdoor sports and nature activities. The University and surrounding communities also play important roles in preserving, cultivating, and celebrating the Franco-American/Acadian culture in the St. John Valley and housing one of two Acadian Archives/Archives acadiennes in the nation. UMFK is the only institution in the United States located at the center of the French culture of northern Maine, eastern New Brunswick, and western Québec, offering opportunities for students to study and live in a bilingual region.

 Please visit our website at https://www.umfk.edu/

 

QUALIFICATIONS:

REQUIRED:

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field and a minimum of five years of experience in financial aid in higher education.  An advanced degree is preferred.

 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

Demonstrated ability to lead a financial aid operation at an institution similar to UMPI and UMFK.

Experience with online data management.

Excellent planning, organizational, interpersonal, problem-solving, written and oral communications skills.

Demonstrated ability to manage financial aid funds.

Demonstrated knowledge of and familiarity with federal regulations and guidelines.

Demonstrated understanding of the management of a large database.

Familiarity with computer systems.

Excellent organizational, analytical, planning, consultative, interpersonal, problem solving, human relations, assessment, and interpersonal skills.

Possess an attitude that fosters a respectful, non-threatening workplace environment.

 

 

OTHER INFORMATION:

 Materials must be submitted via https://umpi.hiretouch.com/  You will need to create an applicant profile, complete an application (which includes contact information for three professional references), and upload a cover letter and a resume/curriculum vitae which fully describes your qualifications and experiences with specific reference to the required and preferred qualifications. 

 

Review of applications will begin August 16, 2021 and continue until a suitable candidate is found.

 

WE ARE UNABLE TO CONSIDER APPLICANTS WHO NEED VISA SPONSORSHIP.

 

Appropriate background screening will be conducted for the successful candidate.

 

The University of Maine at Presque Isle is an EEO/AA employer, and does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender expression, national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, genetic information or veteran’s status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The following office has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Office of Equal Opportunity, University of  Maine, 101 North Stevens Hall, Orono, ME  04469 207-581-1226.  TTY 711 (Maine Relay System).