Associate Director of Scholarships - Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships - UTK

The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) invites applications and nominations for our Associate Director of Scholarships position. We are seeking candidates who can contribute in meaningful ways to enhance the accessibility of higher education, fostering a diverse and inclusive academic environment, and improving the recruitment and graduation of our students. The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has been ranked by Forbes as one of America’s best large employers, as recognized on the 2026 list.

The minimum starting salary for this position is $71,792 . Final compensation will be determined based on the candidate’s qualifications and experience.

This is an on-campus position with some hybrid/remote work schedule flexibility.

The Associate Director of Scholarships executes vision and provides strategic and operational leadership for the University’s scholarship and state aid programs, overseeing staff, maintaining policies, budgeting, fund management, awarding, and compliance for institutional, departmental, foundation, private, and state-funded scholarships and aid. The position partners with academic and administrative leaders across the University to align scholarship strategy with enrollment, recruitment, retention, and net revenue goals; ensures compliance with university, state, and federal requirements; manages key scholarship committees and campus relationships; uses data analysis to guide program development and resource optimization; and provides strategic leadership and guidance to the scholarship and state aid team in support of effective and efficient aid awarding.

Required Education and Experience:

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.

• Minimum of five years of supervisory or managerial experience in an assistant director, associate director, or director-level financial aid role at a Title IV-eligible U.S. institution.

• Demonstrated experience supervising and managing staff.

• Experience coordinating federal, state, and institutional financial aid and scholarship programs.

• Experience advising senior institutional leadership on financial aid strategy and its role in enrollment management and student success.

• Demonstrated ability to manage conflict and resolve situations professionally.

• Evidence of commitment to high-quality customer service.

• Experience using integrated student information systems.

• Excellent written communication skills.
  

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to supervise and train professional and clerical staff, demonstrating superior interpersonal skills.

• Ability to evaluate and implement new technologies to improve customer service and our methods for processing internal and external scholarship and state aid applications.

• Attention to detail, strong oral and written communication skills, and up-to-date knowledge of the rules and regulations governing the various internal and external scholarships and TN state aid programs.

• Oversees all regulatory reporting requirements with accuracy and timeliness.

• Ability to foster strong relationships and partnerships across institutional units, auditors, and external organizations.

• Experience managing operations, system upgrades, data integrity, student information systems, state and scholarship manager systems, ensuring effective workflow, professional development, and continuous improvement.
  

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without need now or in the future for sponsorship for employment-based visa status.

Preferred Education and Experience:

Master's level or terminal degree from an accredited college/university.

• At least five years of experience in a scholarship leadership capacity.

• Knowledge of and experience administering Tennessee programs such as HOPE, Pledge, and Promise.

• Experience with Ellucian Banner Financial Aid.

• Experience collaborating with senior leadership on enrollment-focused initiatives.

• Experience identifying operational challenges, implementing solutions, managing projects, and improving efficiency through technology.

• Experience working with and serving diverse populations.
  

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Previous financial aid or scholarship and supervisory experience; working knowledge of Banner system; strong administrative, supervisory and interpersonal skills.

• Experience managing and developing scholarship awarding policies

• Experience writing and developing policy and procedures

• Experience providing leadership in scholarship review committees and awarding panels

• Ability to evaluate and implement new technologies to improve customer service and our methods for processing scholarship applications.
  

Benefits:

University of Tennessee employees are eligible for a comprehensive suite of benefits that includes:

• Generous paid leave , accruing up to 24 days of vacation and 12 days of sick leave annually, plus 14 paid holidays and administrative closing days

• Flexible work arrangements, offering a hybrid schedule to most team members

• Education benefits for employees and their dependents at UT System campuses

• Retirement and deferred compensation plans, including 401(k), 403(b), etc.

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance plans

• Employee discounts to attractions, services, and goods
  

The Division

The Enrollment Management (EM) division comprises more than 190 full-time staff who serve our students through the following departments and functions: Undergraduate Admissions, International Recruitment, Transfer Center, One Stop Student Services, Financial Aid and Scholarships, the Center for Financial Wellness, University Registrar, Pre-college Research Excellence Programs, EM Research & Analytics, EM Communications, and EM Operations. The Division of Enrollment Management is committed to our Vision, Mission and Values . We are passionate about fulfilling our land-grant mission of accessible education and making an impact that will transform lives through the student experience.

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville is the state of Tennessee’s flagship university and is classified as a Carnegie Research 1 institution. As a land-grant university and as Volunteers, serving our state and nation is key to our mission. UT enrolls over 35,000 students (more than 6000 graduate/professional students) at its Knoxville campus. Led by the example of our Chancellor’s Cabinet and their Principles for Engagement , the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, builds and supports an inclusive community that provides opportunities to lead, serve and engage as Volunteers and citizens. We strive to create a welcoming community rich with diverse experiences. We seek colleagues who are committed to teamwork and have a passion for working with and serving all constituents. We especially seek candidates who have an ability to contribute in meaningful ways to the goals of the university.

The Knoxville Community: Nestled in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, Knoxville has a metropolitan statistical area population of more than 850,000 people. We enjoy a dynamic culture that includes numerous theaters and museums, a vibrant and diverse music scene including a symphony orchestra and an opera company, world-class restaurants, numerous cultural festivals and an active downtown market square. Surrounded by lakes and the Tennessee River, the Knoxville area boasts wonderful year-round water activities, including boating, fishing, and swimming that make for scenic and breathtaking views of the area. Knoxville is located within easy driving distance to Asheville, Nashville, Atlanta, and the Great Smoky Mountains, and a day’s drive to Memphis, Chicago and Washington D.C.

For full consideration, applicants should submit a cover letter detailing relevant experience along with a resume and the name, e-mail address, and telephone number of three to five professional references. References will not be contacted without explicit permission of the candidate.