Assistant Director of Financial Aid

About SUNY Schenectady County Community College:

SUNY Schenectady County Community College (SUNY Schenectady) is one of the State University of New York's finest two-year colleges located in upstate New York's vibrant and growing Capital Region, with easy access to Boston, NYC, the Adirondack and Catskill Mountains, Montreal and scenic Hudson Valley, all of which are just a few hours away. SUNY Schenectady is a premier college that provides quality, comprehensive education for transfer, career, training and workforce development to a diverse population in a student centered environment. The College offers more than 50 transfer and career programs in science, aviation, culinary, music, and liberal arts, and serves more than 5,000 students. SUNY Schenectady County Community College offers an excellent benefit package including health care with dental and vision coverage, a choice of retirement systems, a deferred compensation benefit, an on-site child care program and Montessori School, professional development opportunities, and health club membership. We take pride in being an urban campus with a small town feel.

SUNY Schenectady is dedicated to cultivating an environment that celebrates diversity, prioritizes inclusion, and insists on equitable access. Diversity, equity, and inclusion is central to our vision and mission; we know that to foster a sense of belonging and preserve connectedness, we must create and maintain working and learning spaces that welcome, respect, and appreciate difference. SUNY Schenectady provides equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic disposition, neurodiversity, disability, veteran status or any other protected category under federal, state and local law. Applications from minorities, women, veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged.

Job Description:

SUNY Schenectady County Community College is seeking a full-time Assistant Director of Financial Aid. Reporting to the Assistant Dean of Financial Aid, or Director of Financial Aid, as applicable, this position is responsible for coordinating and implementing the flow of student records and student financial service information to students, families, and related departments at SUNY Schenectady.  The Assistant Director is expected to be a functional area expert in all facets of financial aid operations at the College.  This position will ensure the highest level of customer service for our students, families, faculty, staff, and community as it pertains to their relationship to the College. The Assistant Director of Financial Aid serves as a lead role in the daily processing for state, federal, and institutional aid programs while ensuring the highest quality of service to the student, faculty, and staff of the College. This position will serve as a primary point of contact to students and families, and is expected to act from a student-centered perspective while supporting institutional initiatives.          

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Federal Financial Aid

• Assess federal financial aid eligibility and analyze information within the U.S. Department of Education database.
• Maintain knowledge of federal tax return guidelines in order to complete verification of FAFSA data.
• Maintain knowledge of the College student information system and all U.S. Department of Education systems.
• Evaluate eligibility, award, reconcile, and certify various Federal financial aid programs to include, but not limited to, PELL, Direct Loans, FSEOG, FWS,
• Resolve origination and disbursement edits for federal, state, and institutional financial aid awards.

State Financial Aid

• Evaluate eligibility, award, reconcile, and certify various financial aid programs offered by New York State, including but not limited to Excelsior Scholarship, Tuition Assistance Program, and Aid for Part-Time Study, as well as state aid programs for out-of-state students.

Institutional Financial Aid

• Work with the Scholarship Foundation to award and reconcile institutional scholarships.
• Maintain student records to comply with institutional enrollment policies and procedures.

Compliance

• Ensures timely and efficient delivery of services; oversees quality control, compliance and system integrity for the unit.
• Assist in reconciliation of aid account disbursements between local systems, state systems, and federal systems in a timely manner. Assist with annual Direct Loan close-out processes.
• Ensure compliance in awarding financial aid funds to students based on regulatory requirements set by the U.S. Department of Education.
• Assist the Director of Financial Aid with review of the financial aid procedures manual; ensuring it is accurate and revised as needed.
• Maintains compliance standards for federal and state financial aid programs; ensures conformance to federal, state, and institutional policies, procedures and regulations.
• Prepares and updates written policies and procedures related to program management.

Leadership

• Serve as a point of contact in the financial aid office to various offices and departments within the College to support institutional collaboration.
• Directs activities of support staff, sets priorities and reassigns duties for special projects.
• Trains staff on guidelines, policies, procedures and general departmental functions.
• Assists in the planning, organization, implementation and evaluation of departmental processes, activities and other functions.
• Assists the department in filing all necessary reports.
• Train, supervise, and evaluate front counter/customer service personnel. Maintain front counter staffing; work front counter as needed
• Serve on various committees to support the campus wide Student Success Initiative.

Work Schedule

• Cover financial aid office during hours of operation which include day and/or evening hours with a limited number of Saturday hours.

Student Service

• Counsel students, prospective students and their families, as well as faculty and staff regarding services provided
• Represent the College and the office to appropriate agencies, organizations, and the community; develop and present financial aid workshops for various audiences.
• Interpret, articulate, and disseminate financial aid policies, procedures, and regulations to students, parents, and the public.
• Meet with students and parents who have special circumstances and unique issues by exercising professional judgment in accordance with the U.S. Department of Education regulations.
• Counsel prospective and continuing students, and their families about available sources of financial assistance, eligibility requirements, and application procedures.
• Participates in college outreach activities with an emphasis in financial aid advising and services to current and prospective students.
• Assist in the development of student financial literacy programs and initiatives to support the institution's default prevention initiatives. 
• Other duties, as assigned to support the success of our students

Requirements:

Required Qualifications:

• A bachelor's degree from an accredited university or college
• Effective oral and written communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work in a fast-paced collaborative environment with a student centered perspective
• Prior work experience in higher education; preferably in the financial aid office
• Ability to work with a diverse student body through a variety of communication methods
• A willingness to learn and become familiar with current issues and trends in higher education

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree

Special Information:

• VISA sponsorship is not available for this position.
• Offers of employment will be conditional based on the successful completion of a background check and verification of official college transcripts.

Additional Information:

Salary: $46,250, non-negotiable

Application Instructions:

Applications Due By: Applications accepted until position is filled.

Applicants must submit the following documents to be considered for this position:

• Cover letter
• Resume
• Completed SUNY Schenectady employment application
• References
• Diversity Statement:  Please include a diversity statement that addresses your commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and highlights how your prior experience will support your contributions to the goals outlined by pillar one of the current SUNY Schenectady Strategic Plan.

NONDISCRIMINATION
SUNY Schenectady County Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, gender or gender identify, disability, or age in admissions, employment, programs and activities.  As an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer with a commitment to promoting an environment of equality, inclusion, and respect for difference, SCCC encourages candidates who can contribute to this goal to apply.

CAMPUS SAFETY REPORT
The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, or Clery Act, mandates that all Title IV institutions, without exception, prepare, publish and distribute an Annual Security Report. This report consists of two basic parts: disclosure of the College's crime statistics for the past three years; and the availability regarding the College's current campus security policies. SUNY Schenectady County Community College's Annual Security Report is available here.

SUNY Schenectady is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.