Associate Director of Financial Aid

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Works with university leaders to develop admissions and financial aid goals and targets. Determines appropriate metrics to evaluate success and measure results. Makes data-informed decisions and recommendations regarding financial aid strategies
• Leads the financial aid application and award process. Oversees the review and determination of award packages for new, continuing, transfer, and re-entry students
• Directs the development and execution of financial plans for students in compliance with applicable university policies, laws, and regulations. Ensures financial aid packages are awarded, paid in a timely manner, and documented appropriately
• Advises current and prospective students, families, high school counselors, and stakeholders regarding complex financial aid, scholarship, or other financial assistance questions. Works collaboratively across the university to support and address financial aid or admissions related questions or problems
• Manages the accurate calculation of tuition and tuition adjustments. Reviews and approves any required Title IV fund returns
• Oversees audits to validate awards, supporting documents, and compliance with applicable policies, laws, and regulations
• Other duties as assigned

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Knowledge of financial aid programs, including scholarships, emergency loans, and eligibility requirements
• Skill in managing multiple projects simultaneously and motivating teams effectively and efficiently to achieve institutional goals
• Ability to communicate complex laws, regulations, or policies and assist stakeholders with empathy, cultural awareness, and confidentiality
• Ability to establish, define, and communicate program goals and objectives that support the strategic plan and planning, implementing, and evaluating programs

Minimum Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in related field
• 6 years of relevant experience
• Equivalent combination of experience and education may be considered

Job Level Overview

Management and People Leadership Level 2 - Manages the operations of a function within a department. Shapes overall success within team or department through planning, coordination, resource allocation, strategy execution, and determination of staffing to ensure achievement of operational results.

Additional Details

Under the direction of the Assistant Vice President, the Associate Director serves in a leadership role in the development of policies and procedures to ensure that financial aid is in compliance with federal, state, and institutional policies.

The Associate Director serves as a member of the office leadership team in developing strategies that support the successful attainment of goals related to compliance, enrollment, retention, and persistence to graduation, as well as net tuition revenue targets. The Associate Director serves in a lead position in the office to establish training and measurement toward established goals, including proper administration of financial aid in accordance with statutory and regulatory guidelines, as well as exceptional service to students and parents.

The Associate Director works closely with other administrative and academic departments to ensure consistent awarding policies, practices, and compliance.

The Associate Director also provides leadership, training, supervises, and evaluates designated exempt and/or non-exempt staff within the department. This includes daily oversight, establishment of goals, and professional development and evaluation. They must have demonstrated the ability to lead, motivate, build teams, and develop growth within their direct reports.

RIT, as an institutional member of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA), requires all members to exemplify the highest level of ethical behavior and demonstrate the highest level of professionalism by following the Statement of Ethical Principles.

Major responsibilities include:

Office Leadership and Management - Serve in a leadership role on the office management team. Actively participate in developing strategies that support successful enrollment, retention, and persistence to graduation. Assist the Executive Director with the strategic planning of operations and client services. Implement programs and communications that maximize students' understanding of, access to, and securing of financial aid in support of enrollment, retention, and on-time graduation. Make data-driven decisions to plan for the new aid year, review statistical data, and evaluate trends.

Staff Supervision - Provide leadership, selection, management, training,g and evaluation of assigned employees with knowledge in each area of supervision. This includes daily oversight, training, mentoring, and performance evaluations, establishment of goals and professional development, and conflict resolution. Assist in the mentoring and growth of human resources, knowledge, and skill capital within the department.

Campus Collaboration - Fully support the RIT Strategic Plan and the Enrollment Management division enrollment interests. Areas include targeted financial aid programs that leverage maximizing enrollment and providing access to an RIT/NTID education. Collaborate effectively with campus departments to actively support student recruitment and retention. This includes: Undergraduate Admissions, Graduate Admissions, Student and Academic Advising Services, Registrar, Student Financial Services, Co-op, Student Employment, Marketing, Office of Development, Office of Intercollegiate Athletics, all Colleges, including NTID, and the Controller's Office. Prepare and present information at workshops regarding financial aid processes for Admissions recruiting events, orientation programs, and various on-and off-campus groups.

Financial Aid Merit and Need-based Appeals Lead - Lead a small team in the review of and responding to roughly 3,000 appeals annually for additional merit and need-based funding. Use professional judgment to determine whether additional RIT/NTID grant funding is appropriate, consistent with established enrollment and net tuition revenue objectives, and in support of the university's strategic plan.

Special Scholarship Coordination: Coordinate with other offices (such as Admissions, NTID, and Alumni Office) to ensure special scholarships are awarded appropriately and paid properly. Special scholarships include Performing Arts Scholarships, RIT Alumni Referral Awards, the William A. Johnson Jr. Scholarship, and NTID-specific programs, etc.

Undergraduate Admissions Liaison - act as primary contact in financial aid for initiatives related to incoming undergraduate students. These initiatives include developing and helping to implement new scholarship opportunities for RIT incoming students. This position is involved in the administration of most merit scholarships offered to incoming students, ensuring that funds are applied accurately and effectively for students who enroll. This position works with several unique populations, including Global Scholars, Canadian students applying for need-based financial aid, and students readmitted to RIT.

Professional Development - Maintain an active role in professional development as a means for remaining current and knowledgeable about the higher education financial aid profession. Regularly review professional journals and periodicals, and actively participate in professional organizations at the state, regional, and national levels. Share knowledge with staff.

Compose and conduct presentations to students, parents, colleagues, and as outreach to the community.

FLSA Category
Exempt

Work Location
On Campus

Compensation
$65,000 to $95,000

Application Materials

When you are ready to complete an application for this position please be prepared to submit the below requested information. This will be required to ensure your application is processed in a timely manner.
Cover Letter, Curriculum Vitae or Resume

Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States.

Additional Details

In compliance with NYS's Pay Transparency Act, the salary range for this position is listed above. Rochester Institute of Technology considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, as well as, market and organizational considerations when extending an offer. The hiring process for this position may require a criminal background check and/or motor vehicle records check. Any verbal or written offer made is contingent on satisfactory results, as determined by Human Resources. RIT provides equal opportunity to all qualified individuals and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, age, marital status, sex, gender, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, veteran status or disability in its hiring, admissions, educational programs and activities. RIT provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities under the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the New York Human Rights Law, or similar applicable law.

If you need reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please contact the Human Resources office at 585-475-2424 or email your request to hr@rit.edu. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

To apply, visit https://rit.wd12.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/careers/job/Rochester-NY/Associate-Director_JR101225

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