Director of Financial Aid

　　Job Department/School One-Stop Student Services Center

　　FT/PT/Temp Full time

　　Location Garden City, N.Y.

　　Director of Financial Aid

　　One-Stop Student Services Center

　　JOB SUMMARY:

　　The Director of Financial Aid at Adelphi University is a key member of the One-Stop Student Services Center and serves as the chief administrator of the Financial Aid Office. This role requires a highly collaborative leader to set the vision for the department while facilitating the planning, development, implementation, assessment, reporting and compliance activities of the University’s financial aid portfolio. The position is responsible for the oversight and coordination of financial aid policy and strategy supporting the University’s recruitment and retention efforts.

　　Responsible for more than $230 million in financial aid funds disbursed annually, the director supervises a dedicated staff working toward the goals of student access and success. The director reports to the Assistant Vice President One-Stop Student Services Center and has a team of 14, with three direct reports.

　　The Director of Financial Aid plays a pivotal role in assisting students as they prepare for impactful careers following graduation. Effective administration of federal, state and institutional funds has been, and will continue to be, essential to advancing the important mission of Adelphi University in extending opportunity and access for students and in advancing the mission of the University.

　　Positioned for influence, the director will work closely with the Assistant Vice President of One-Stop Student Services to ensure that the Director is “at the table” for consequential discussions and decisions about innovation, best practices and new program development. The director interacts regularly with the One-Stop leadership team, enrollment management, deans and other university administrators fostering communication and collaboration.

　　Title Position Reports To: Assistant Vice President of the One-Stop Student Services Center

　　SALARY INFORMATION

　　In compliance with New York’s Pay Transparency Act, the annual base salary range for this position is $94,000 - $107,000. Adelphi University considers factors such as departmental budgets, 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 above hiring range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting. An annual base salary higher than the range may be warranted in circumstances where a candidate has demonstrable equivalent prior higher education experience at another University.

　　Adelphi University provides a comprehensive benefit package for faculty and staff employees. For a list of benefits provided to employees, please click here (http://hr.adelphi.edu/benefits/faculty/#xd_co_f=MDU1M2U0NjQtNjNhMi00NjI5LWI0ZGEtMGE1ZTg3ZmEzNzVh) .

　　RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES :

　　Management of the entire operation of the Financial Aid Office. This includes fostering efficiency in office operations, updating and training staff, maintaining updated policy and procedure manuals, solving complex problems related to financial aid administration and compliance, collaborating with various Adelphi leaders and departments to resolve student problems, and monitoring curricular change and new academic programming and the impact on institutional/student aid eligibility. The director ensures continued institutional participation in the Federal Title IV Financial Aid programs by executing and maintaining the Program Participation Agreement (PPA).

　　Maintaining compliance with all federal, state and institutional aid regulations and rules . The director oversees the administration of all federal, state and institutional financial aid, including developing awarding methodologies to equitably allocate aid in collaboration with Enrollment Management, while simultaneously maintaining compliance with all financial aid regulations. The director creates strategic plans to implement new and changing regulations, including researching alternatives, testing options and evaluating outcomes. The director supervises the completion and reconciliation of all financial aid reports required by federal, state and accrediting agencies and is responsible for data stewardship of SAAS, the University's financial aid management system, in partnership with the University's Information Technology department.

　　Oversees the determination of student eligibility for federal, state and institutional financial aid funds. The director oversees the financial aid application process, federal verification, professional judgment where appropriate, and the utilization of information in SAAS, Adelphi’s information system, to ensure appropriate awarding and timely distribution of financial aid funds to students. The director also oversees the coordination of all institutional donated and endowed scholarships ensuring that donor intent is honored while advancing student success.

　　Operates effectively in a setting of unique complexity. Establishes short-term business plans and long-term operational objectives, including managing project timelines/deliverables and developing resource plans for multi-project/multi-phase financial aid initiatives. Manages high level assignments and allocation of financial aid team resources, including negotiating and coordinating initiatives that involve staff in other departments/areas/teams; may coordinate large-scale financial aid projects with wide audiences in support of institutional initiatives. Effective administration of financial aid in a complex context requires systems thinking – the ability to see and understand whole systems and how elements of the system interact – financial acumen, attention to detail, and the ability to recruit, retain, and develop high-performing individuals who are aligned with Adelphi’s goals and values.

　　Support the One-Stop Student Services Center Advisor team to provide extraordinary service to students and families. Within One-Stop Student Services Center, the director will provide leadership and guidance to the One-Stop leadership team, including the Assistant Vice President, the Director of Student Account Services, One-Stop’s Student Experience manager, the Director of One-Stop Center (advisor team) and the University Registrar. As our forward facing, student servicing department, the advisor team manages daily engagement with students and parents and will be dependent on the financial aid team to provide training policies and procedures to the advisor team to ensure they are delivering accurate and timely information to students regarding their financial aid application, financial aid awards, disbursements and refunds.

　　Department Specific Responsibilities:

　　Provides the highest level of operational leadership and coordination of assigned staff members to define financial aid methodologies and standards. Provides direction and guidance on high priority financial aid projects/initiatives. Conducts a variety of personnel actions to include, but not limited to hiring, promotion, performance management, and dismissal. Encourages professional development and positive problem solving among team members and One-Stop stakeholders.

　　Plans, directs, manages, and coordinates all activities of the Office. Reviews, develops, and implements policies, procedures, and technology to facilitate on-time, accurate, efficient, and innovative awarding federal, state and institutional financial aid.

　　Through research and critical analysis of financial aid and admission data and trends, manage the institutional, federal and state financial aid budgets. Work closely with the Assistant Vice President One-Stop Students Services Center, Enrollment Management, Advancement and Finance Departments to effectively use Adelphi’s restricted and unrestricted funds to maximize net tuition revenue.

　　In partnership with the Assistant Vice President One-Stop Student Services Center, the Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Management and the Director of Admissions, develop an enrollment management strategy to leverage the use of institutional financial aid and effective communication strategies of that plan for prospective students and parents, integrating financing as a critical component across the recruitment, yield, and retention continuum.

　　Manages award coordination and delivery of all federal, state, institutional and private student aid funds. Overall responsibility for ensuring compliance with federal, state, and institutional financial aid regulations. Serves as the primary Compliance Officer in the financial aid office for Title IV federal aid regulations and state aid regulations. Coordinates completion of the FISAP report with other offices and submits reports. Assists with consumer information reporting of the Common Data Set and IPEDS.

　　Manages the overall financial aid budget. Creates/updates packaging formulas and algorithms, to appropriately leverage available financial aid in alignment with established objectives. Ensures fiscal accountability in fund management, authorizations, disbursements, and recovery by coordinating technology and information systems for effective administration of student financial aid funds.

　　Plans, develops, implements, and evaluates financial aid policies and procedures to meet students' needs while supporting the College's enrollment goals. Administers and facilitates the awarding of new and continuing students financial aid packages which may include merit and need based aid, Federal Pell and SEOG Programs, State Aid and Tuition Waiver Programs, and Federal Work Study.

　　Coordinates efforts with One-Stop Student Services, Admissions, Student Life, Finance and IT and other offices to ensure that transactional activities are complementary and smoothly integrated. Collaborate with other university departments to ensure compliance with federal regulations not directly managed through the financial aid office.

　　Communicates effectively and clearly in multiple modes to diverse audiences including students, parents, staff, and faculty. Works with other offices in One-stop, in developing effective communication plans. Review, develop, and implement policies and procedures to assure that the office provides understandable, useful, and timely information to, and communication with, students, faculty, staff, university administrators, and other constituents (e.g., parents) while adhering to regulations, policies, and procedures. Utilize technology, internal collaboration, and external partnerships to enhance business processes within and across One-Stop Student Services Center.

　　Maintains accountability for internal and external audits related to financial aid programs. Researches and stays up-to-date on new industry financial aid standards, technologies, policies, and procedures; responsible for the implementation of new protocols/procedures to address business needs.

　　Analyzes statistical data from both internal and external sources.

　　Demonstrates knowledge of the preparation of detailed reports at the executive level and is a competent and effective public speaker.

　　May coordinates and conducts workshops to various groups such as schools, employers, and campus and community partners.

　　Works closely with the One-Stop Advisor team to support students, parents, staff, faculty, and other stakeholders to resolve issues. Supports the One-Stop Advisor team in training and counseling to students, parents, and others.

　　Prepares management reports and summaries for senior administration, executive, steering and advisory committees; acts as advisor to executive committees; serves on various university committees, communities of practice, and task forces related to financial aid/scholarships.

　　Other duties as assigned.

　　REQUIREMENTS:

　　Ability to build strategic and sustainable cross-organizational partnerships.

　　Demonstrated supervisory skills, Excellent collaboration and team building skills

　　Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively with a variety of individuals, including senior administrators, faculty, administrative staff and students.

　　Independent judgment and the ability to multi-task and manage multiple priorities without supervision.

　　Strong analytical skills and a demonstrated commitment to using data in problem-solving and decision-making.

　　Ability to work with diverse populations and foster collaborative relationships.

　　Excellent organizational skills

　　Effectively coaches and delivers constructive feedback

　　Instills commitment to organizational goals

　　Demonstrates excellent judgment and decision-making skills

　　Effective conflict management skills

　　PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

　　N/A

　　EDUCATIONAL/EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS :

　　A bachelor’s degree in business administration, management, public administration, or a field directly related to the position. Master’s degree in these fields is preferred.

　　4 to 6 years of increasingly responsible leadership experience as Director of Financial Aid or Associate Director of Financial Aid.

　　2-4 years of supervisory experience.

　　Experience interpreting and implementing complex and changing federal and state financial aid regulations.

　　Experience managing complex financial aid programs, including creating strategic plans and developing and implementing policies and procedures.

　　Experience with federal enrollment sites and E-App updates (preferred).

　　Experience working with sophisticated and automated financial aid information systems.

　　Experience with federal Need Analysis and with awarding federal, state, and institutional funds.

　　Experience with preparing and compiling federal and state financial aid reports.

　　Combinations of related education and experience may be considered.

　　ABOUT ADELPHI

　　Adelphi University, New York, is a highly awarded, nationally ranked, powerfully connected doctoral research university dedicated to transforming students’ lives through small classes with world-class faculty, hands-on learning and innovative ways to support academic and career success. Adelphi is one of just four companies and the only university on Long Island to be named among America’s Best Employers by State for 2023 by Forbes. Adelphi offers exceptional liberal arts and sciences programs and professional training, with particular strength in our Core Four—Arts and Humanities, STEM and Social Sciences, the Business and Education Professions, and Health and Wellness. Recognized as a Best College by U.S. News & World Report, Adelphi is Long Island’s oldest private coeducational university, serving more than 7,400 students at its beautiful main campus in Garden City, at learning hubs in Brooklyn, the Hudson Valley and Suffolk County, and online. The University offers students 70 undergraduate programs, 93 master’s degree and doctoral programs, and 64 certificate programs in the liberal arts, the sciences and professional training. With powerful partnerships throughout the New York area, more than 119,000 graduates across the country, a growing enrollment of students from 44 states and 76 countries, and rising rankings from top publications and organizations, Adelphi is a dynamic community that plays a leadership role on Long Island and in the region.

　　Adelphi University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We welcome applications from all candidates, including people of color and those who are, or identify as, members of any marginalized, underserved or underrepresented group. Adelphi is an emerging Hispanic serving institution so bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply. Here is our University statement on diversity: https://www.adelphi.edu/diversity-equity-inclusion/about/.