Financial Aid Director

General Summary

CLOSING DATE: 8/15/21, 9:00 P.M. PST

Financial Aid Director
The Financial Aid Director reports to the Associate Dean for Student Funding Services and works in collaboration with other funding related departments (WES, WorkFirst, etc.), Enrollment Services administrators and the Student Services Leadership Team. The Financial Aid Office is part of Student Funding Services. The incumbent in this position will be expected to join and participate in sector, state, regional and national financial aid associations, which include occasional travel to meetings and conferences. In addition, travel will be required to attend annual or semi-annual training sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education.

The mission of Student Funding Services is to deliver streamlined, equitable, timely and coordinated services to prospective, current and former students, staff, faculty and administration. The Director provides leadership and management to a skilled team of professional and office staff in Financial Aid. Highline College’s Financial Aid office manages a variety of State and Federal programs, including loans, grants, scholarships, work-study and agency funds. The Director also independently advises students, staff, program participants and/or public regarding departmental operations, policies, procedures and activities.

Essential Tasks

Responsible for Student Financial Aid Awards

• Understand and apply federal and state regulations.
• Provide leadership and training to a team of professional staff.

• Make professional judgment determinations on a case by case basis.
• Establish timelines to assure aid awards are packaged and disbursed in a timely manner.
• Assist staff to utilize resources that assure compliance of federal and state regulations.
• Formulates policy, guidelines and procedures that ensure regulatory compliance and are consistent with institutional goals and responsive to student needs.
• Develop goals and schedules that ensure aid awards and tuition payments are made in a timely manner.
• Develop procedures for continuous improvement of policies, procedures and use of technology to better serve students.
• Explore and develop new financial aid procedures and processes to enhance efficient and equitable financial aid awarding including but not limited to the revision or replacement of Financial Aid Data Sheet.

Supervise Financial Aid Leadership and Advisers

• Provide effective leadership, training, and direct supervision and evaluation of Financial Aid Leadership and Adviser
• Conduct regularly scheduled staff meetings that
  • provide training
  • communicate changes in rules and regulations Title IV aid application procedures,
  • facilitates discussion and problem solving to address ongoing departmental needs
  • communicate campus initiatives, goals and eligibility determination and awarding.

• Complete staff performance evaluations within prescribed timelines.
• Resource to assist staff with complex or problematic situations, questions and daily guidance.
• Support professional development and training opportunities for office staff
• Develop and implement a Financial Aid assessment and continuous improvement plan to address operational needs and gaps to enhance services
  
  

Customer Service

• Provide customer service support regarding financial aid policies, procedures and rules.
• Assess, and collect data on the level of Financial Aid student satisfaction and responsiveness: These include but are not limited to: front desk counter operations; student communication and responsiveness; ability to respond and provide accurate and prompt information regarding status of student financial aid award.
• Integrate all available technology to streamline services, enhance customer service, and improve accuracy.
• Function as the first level to which department complaints are addressed.
• Serve as an educator, enabling students to successfully complete their academic goals through the use of various funding sources.
• Provide consultation, resource and referral to campus community.

Funds Management

• Establish awarding targets based on federal, state and local financial aid allocations.
• Responsible to ensure financial aid expenditures are within allowable maximums.
• Work closely with Financial Services to reconcile and close out accounts annually.
• Maintain auditable records for all programs and activities of the office.

Campus/Community Involvement and Professional Development

• Chair the Financial Aid Advisory Board to facilitate guidance and feedback from on and off campus partners. Utilize the guidance and recommendations by the board for continuous improvement efforts and address the financial aid needs of the campus and community.
• Serve in the Student Services Leadership Team and serve in campus-wide committees as appropriate
• Work with the Financial Aid Associate Director and staff to collaborate with the community and local high schools to ensure prospective students have accurate and timely information to apply and receive financial aid funding upon enrollment
  • These include hosting, collaborating and/or supporting Financial Aid workshops, information sessions, and events
• Participate in professional development workshops offered campus-wide .
• Represent the college to other institutions, organizations and agencies as appropriate.
• Prepare, publish and present an annual campus report on financial aid productivity, initiatives, and progress made.

Technology/Compliance Reporting

• Work and support the Financial Aid Systems and Compliance Officer to:
  • Prepare and submit the Fiscal Operations/Application Report to the Department of Education annually.
  • Prepare and submit the Unit Record Report, as well as interim reports, to the Washington Student Achievement Council.
  • Submit WA State Need Grant, College Bound Scholarship and State Work Study monthly cash requests to the Washington Student Achievement Council.
  • Submit Other reports as required.

• Manage the U.S. Department of Education’s software.
• Maintain and update the Financial Aid Policies and Procedures Manual.
• Utilize PeopleSoft and other technological tools to meet reporting, operational and departmental needs

Qualifications

Competencies

• Knowledge & understanding of state and federal Financial Aid programs and rules.
• Demonstrated commitment to student success and quality delivery of service.
• Ability to coordinate multiple tasks with firm deadlines.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, faculty, staff and community partners.

Minimum Qualifications

• BA Degree from an accredited college or university and three years minimum experience providing Financial Aid services including awarding aid, funds management, reporting and administrative experience.
  OR
• AA Degree and five years minimum experience providing Financial Aid services including awarding aid, funds management, reporting and administrative experience.
  OR
• High School Diploma/Equivalent and seven years minimum experience providing Financial Aid services including awarding aid, funds management, reporting and administrative experience.
  
  
• Experiencing working with automated Financial Aid management systems and databases
  
  
• Demonstrated knowledge of federal and state financial aid regulations

Desired Qualifications

• Master’s Degree from an accredited college or university
• Experience work in a multicultural and environment
• Bilingual fluency
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• demonstrated ability to conduct data analysis, abstracted computerized statistical information and manipulate data for customized reporting formats.
• Proven leadership ability
• PeopleSoft experience or working knowledge of PeopleSoft

Supplemental Information

THE COLLEGE
Highline College prides itself on its commitment to diversity and equity, its institutional culture of collegiality and innovation, its globalization of curricula and its inclusion of the community in its programming.

Founded in 1961, Highline College is situated in a diverse community just 15 minutes south of Seattle. The college annually serves more than 16,500 students –– a student population of over 70% students of color, representing 35 nations and more than 100 languages. The college embraces equity, inclusion and social justice, with core goals of student attainment, diversity, community Engagement and sustainability. The student body at Highline College is made up of Transfer students, Running Start students, Professional-Technical students, International students, Comprehensive Transition Program for students with intellectual disabilities, Adult Basic Education and English Language Learners. In addition, we offer six bachelor of applied science, four-year degrees.

MISSION AND VISION
As an essential part of our mission and vision , diversity, equity and inclusion are promoted and fostered in all aspects of college life.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Your online application must include the following three attachments to be considered complete:

A detailed resume that addresses the MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS of the position.

A letter of application (two-page maximum) that addresses your ability to meet the MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS for appointment and, to the extent applicable, the DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS of the position.

An EQUITY STATEMENT found in the Supplemental Questions tab and listed on our website here: https://humanresources.highline.edu/equity-statement/

APPLICATIONS MUST BE FILED ONLINE AT:
https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/highline

NEED APPLICATION HELP?
Should you have any difficulties uploading your documents or navigating the application process, please contact NEOGOV Technical Support at 1-855-524-5627, Monday - Friday 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM Pacific Time.

HIGHLINE COLLEGE IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Highline College is an equal opportunity employer. The College is committed to enhancing the diversity of our faculty and staff, as well as our student population. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientations, and gender identity diversity. We strongly encourage applicants to apply without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legal protected status.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS
The College complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Applicants needing accommodations in the application process in an alternative format may contact the Human Resources office at (206) 592-3812. Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing may dial 711 to place a call through Washington Relay, the state's free telecommunication access service.

TITLE IX POLICY
Highline College complies with Title IX regulations. For details on our policies, see our website https://humanresources.highline.edu/faculty-and-staff/policies/title-ix/

The College appointing authorities reserve the right and may exercise the option to make an employment decision prior to the conclusion of the recruitment process.