Description

Position Summary:

Reporting to the Director of Financial Aid, the Associate Director of Financial Aid plays a critical leadership role in the Financial Aid Office. This individual is responsible for implementing new office operations, managing the daily workflow, coordinating functions of federal loan program, and oversees a staff of coordinators and student workers. Innovative leadership is a primary responsibility for this individual, along with developing new initiatives to optimize efficiency and accuracy while maintaining an alignment to the Seminary’s mission and vision.

Essential Functions:

• Maintain a thorough and current understanding of federal regulations as applicable to financial aid.
• Manage daily operations while overseeing coordinators and student workers.
• Develop problem-solving and strategic planning initiatives for both the federal loan program and office workflow.
• Represent the office in regard to daily operations in absences of the Director.
• Develop communication strategy to optimize student experience.
• Enforce financial aid policies and procedures, relating to both staff and students.
• Update and maintain the office procedure manual and job procedure manuals.
• Oversee federal loan program by downloading and uploading to COD, guiding coordinators in resolving COD rejects, downloading reports and report follow through, etc.
• Administer student indebtedness initiatives by counseling students who borrow in excess, provide entrance counseling for first time borrowers, conduct exit interviews for graduates and withdraws.
• Responsible for monitoring students’ Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) and scholarship guideline compliance.
• Must be cross-trained and have a working knowledge of both the Director and Coordinator positions.

Other Responsibilities:

• Coordinate staff development and training.
• Monitor Dear Colleague Letters and Electronic Announcements for applicable changes in laws/regulations/procedures.
• Oversight of Financial Aid web pages.
• Manage the process of coding church/conference checks and acquiring necessary signatures.
• Counsel students and prospective students with accurate and current information about financial aid issues.
• Coordinate yearly update of the Policy and Procedure Manual, while making revisions throughout the year.
• Other duties as assigned by the Director.

Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills and Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, education, or related field.
• Ability to exercise independent judgement in handling non-routine situations and inquiries.
• Thorough knowledge of federal regulations and policies.
• Experience with computerized integrated financial aid system.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Motivation to provide hospitality to Financial Aid/Admissions guests.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks.
• Two to five years of experience in financial aid or closely related field OR any equivalent combination of experience, training, and/or education approved by Human Resources.