Director of Financial Aid Processing and Awarding (Online/Remote)

Director of Financial Aid Processing and Awarding (Online/Remote)

Requisition Number: DIRFA004052
Location: United States

Director, Financial Aid Processing and Awarding
American Public Education, Inc.

The Director of Financial Aid Processing and Awarding oversees a Process and Awarding unit to guide, operationalize, train, evaluate, audit, measure and support the unit and Student Financial Aid (SFA). The Director is an important and integral lead role in central operations to assure compliant and student-friendly financial aid operations through detailed planning, review of progress and constant forward-thinking focus. This role is vital to financial aid operations and provides hands-on interaction with other enrollment management departments at the campus, regional and central level to maintain the utmost compliant financial aid operation and maintain program integrity of all financial aid programs. The Director will assist in developing financial aid policies and procedures adopted by the University and will adhere to state and federal financial aid statutes and regulations in performing the duties of the role.

Reporting Relationships and Supervision

The Director of Financial Aid Processing and Awarding reports directly to the Assistant Vice President of Student Financial Aid. The role oversees a process and awarding unit and is responsible for the work product of the teams within the unit including Managers, who oversee Officers.

Key Accountabilities

Management and Leadership - 90%

• Assigns and directs work to meet the needs of central Student Financial Aid operations.
• Ability to work inter and intra-departmentally on any student or employee complaints, challenges and concerns and escalates as necessary to the Assistant Vice President.
• Organizes and hosts regular individual and team meetings to ensure timely and accurate information is shared.
• Proposes and drafts for approval student financial aid policies and procedures to assure that the department complies with state, federal and University regulations.
• Develops process mapping and communication to assist in improving department efficiencies.
• Oversee daily activity of team and related operations to maximize achievement of individual and team objectives.
• Work collaboratively with others including members of Enrollment Management regarding financial aid applications, awards, communication and disbursement of state and federal financial aid programs.
• Build and develop team members; responsible for performance management and hiring of direct reports, including on-boarding, training, development, cross-training of direct reports.
• Serve as a subject matter expert in financial aid, audit practices and training opportunities.
• Provide complex problem resolution to team members and customers and when necessary, escalate highly unique or complex issues to SFA leadership, as appropriate.
• Serve as a working manager and assists team, when needed, to reach the goals of the department.
• Devise and execute new methods and strategies to reach challenging goals and persist until individual and team objectives are achieved.
• Keeps abreast of and maintains strict adherence to all institutional, governmental and accreditation policies and regulations, and codes of conduct at all times.
• Foster and nurture inter and intra-departmental relationships across all education units to include effective and timely communications and problem resolution in addition to identifying and recommending process improvement opportunities.
• Assist in the development of process mapping/communication to assist in improving department efficiencies.
• Possess a high level of integrity in all interactions with students and employees by showing a regard for both the stated expectation of the policy as well as its intent.
• Lead by example, demonstrating a sincere, positive, collaborative attitude towards completing tasks and achieving individual, team, and organizational goals.
• Apply fundamental awareness of the organizational culture and general knowledge of how to accomplish and complete tasks through appropriate and accurate channels.
• Demonstrate and able to explain general understanding of the reasoning behind key organizational policies, practices, and procedures, and ability to assist new employees with their comprehension and demonstration of said policies, practices, and procedures.
• Devise and execute regular supervisory and managerial contact in person as well as via email, phone, web conference, etc. with direct reports, including daily communication and regularly occurring 1:1 meetings

Other 10%

• Attend and participate in team, SFA department meetings for the purpose of obtaining and sharing information.
• Participate in strategic planning activities.
• Embody the spirit of the organization's mission and vision in daily activities.
• Support and contribute towards the organization's commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Perform other duties as directed, requested or assigned
• Per the US Department of Education Program Integrity Rules, postsecondary institutions that participate in the student financial assistance programs pursuant to Title IV of the Higher Education Act (HEA) are barred from providing incentive payments to any person or entity engaged in student recruiting and/or admissions activities

Position Requirements

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution required.
• Minimum of 5 years management and leadership experience.
• Minimum of 3 years' experience in financial aid leadership in a higher education setting.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Experience with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Ability to interact with students and staff in a positive and professional manner.
• Knowledge of financial aid regulations.
• Ability to understand and implement policies and procedures.
• Understanding of higher education learning structure and purpose.
• Excellent networking and relationship building skills.
• Strong understanding of business and management principles.
• Sound decision-making and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work under pressure, within deadlines, and independently.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• High level of professional ethics and etiquette.
• Experience in the for-profit educational setting preferred.
• Maintain eligibility to access the National Student Loan Data System, (NSLDS), as defined by the US Department of Education. Essentially, to maintain access to NSLDS, one must not have defaulted on any student loan in the past, currently be in default or otherwise negatively impact access to NSLDS.

About Us:

Online, on campus and in the workplace, we provide higher education and training to our country's heroes - military service members, veterans, nurses, government employees, and motivated professionals that want to make a difference. American Public Education, Inc. educates service-minded students, ranging from the military, public service, federal agencies, and nursing communities, through American Public University System (APUS), Hondros College of Nursing (HCON), Rasmussen University and Graduate School USA (GSUSA).

It is the policy of American Public University System (APUS) and American Public Education, Inc. (APEI) to afford equal opportunity to all qualified persons. We treat all qualified individuals equally as to their recruitment, hiring, assignments, advancements, compensation, and all other terms and conditions of employment. of American Public University System (APUS) does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, or physical, mental, or sensory disability, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Colorado Pay Law/NYC Pay Transparency Law

If you are a Colorado or New York City resident and this role is available in Colorado, New York City or remote, you may be eligible to receive additional information about the compensation and benefits for this role, which we will provide upon request. Please send an email to recruiting@apei.com


To apply, visit https://recruiting.ultipro.com/AME1070/JobBoard/b66d4325-6be5-4691-ab44-c96532dee1ff/OpportunityDetail?opportunityId=c25e648c-548b-4de7-9722-c60702fcd710

jeid-401dc349e2d9144583eec691f322843c