Director of Financial Aid

Hood College

Frederick, Maryland

Director of Financial Aid

Hood College, a private, comprehensive, independent, liberal arts college with a diverse, collaborative, student-centered community located in the vibrant city of Frederick, Maryland, invites applications and nominations for the Director of Financial Aid position.

Hood College offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees and post-baccalaureate certificates. The College is known for providing a quality education that challenges students to improve their critical thinking, communication and collaborative skills and prepares them not just for their first jobs, but for their careers. For high-achieving students, Hood offers a four-year honors program with a living and learning setting expanding the curriculum with an emphasis on interdisciplinary education through discussion-based seminars, collaborative projects and experiential learning opportunities. The graduate programs are designed to work in tandem with the bachelor’s degrees so that students can take advantage of five-year, dual-degree programs. Hood’s core values and traditions, its commitment to continuous improvement, comparative excellence, and exceeding student expectations have made it a treasured institution to 2,400 current students and more than 24,000 graduates living in the United States and around the world. Hood’s proximity to Washington, D.C., Baltimore and the I-270 biotechnology corridor provides students access to countless internships and research opportunities.

The Position

The Director of Financial Aid reports to the Vice President for Enrollment Management (VPEM) and is responsible for the overall management and administration of all student financial aid, as well as the efficient and customer-focused operation of the Office of Financial Aid. The Director of Financial Aid serves as a strategic partner in meeting the College’s net tuition goals and is responsible for the awarding and disbursement of annual financial aid expenditures and a comprehensive aid budget of approximately $52.5 million. The director is expected to provide a clear vision for the Office of Financial Aid and leadership in a comprehensive strategic plan to meet the ongoing challenges of educating students in today’s competitive market and current regulatory environment. In partnership with the VPEM and director of admission, the director assists in the development of an institutional financial aid leveraging program for new first-year and transfer students. The director also provides best practices to strengthen the overall financial awarding process and to meet enrollment goals, develops student cost of attendance budgets for all appropriate student populations, maintains the Policies and Procedures Manual for Financial Aid, keeps abreast of federal and state regulatory changes and acts as the key financial aid liaison for the College’s annual financial audit. In collaboration with Institutional Advancement and the CFO, the director manages the College’s endowed scholarship programs, verifying funding sources, ensures financial aid compliance with internal and external guidelines and assists in the creation of relevant budget goals. Additionally, the director works with the Vice President for Marketing and Communications to create a system of web pages, emails and print materials that effectively communicate financial aid procedures and deadlines to current and prospective students; and with the Director of Institutional Research to ensure reports are built and information is disseminated in a timely manner. The financial aid director is also responsible for supervising a staff of four, providing cross-training, mentoring professional growth and holding staff accountable for accurate and exemplary customer service.

Qualifications

A bachelor’s degree and 10 years of progressively responsible experience at a supervisory level within a college or university financial aid office is required. The successful candidate must understand federal, state, institutional and private sources of financial aid and be knowledgeable of all current federal regulations, particularly Title IV programs. The successful candidate must have the ability to communicate effectively with a broad range of constituents including current students, Hood faculty and staff, and local community members. The ideal candidate will possess strong quantitative skills, the ability to plan, organize and implement a comprehensive financial aid process and proven ability in budget development and management. Experience managing Direct Lending, alternative education loan processing, Work Study, State Programs, Private Funding, Restricted Funds, Pell Grant and other programs is expected. The ideal candidate will also possess strong technology, problem-solving and data-analysis skills, as well as excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Application and Nomination

Review of applications begins Monday, February 7, 2022. Interested candidates should apply for this position online via the Williams & Company website at: www.williamscompany.net. Confidential inquiries and/or nominations may be directed to Martha Smiles at: Martha@williamscompany.net or (802) 497.0151.

Please visit Hood College’s website at www.hood.edu

Hood College is committed to diversity and subscribes to a policy of hiring only individuals legally eligible to work in the United States. EOE.