Director of Financial Aid

ABOUT SIMMONS

Located in Boston’s historic Fenway area, Simmons University has a strong tradition of empowering women and challenging traditional gender roles. Simmons was founded for equality 125 years ago as one of the first higher education institutions dedicated to helping women become leaders. Today, our university continues to grow and evolve and now offers Boston’s only women’s undergraduate program and graduate programs open to all.

You’re joining our community at an especially exciting time as we continue to innovate for the future. Simmons recently launched a six-school academic structure that leverages our expert faculty and longstanding expertise in professions that make our communities stronger. In addition, we continue to highlight our high-value education proposition that is delivering greater ROI to students and putting them on the fast track to career growth and success.

You’ll find that people who work here truly believe in our mission of preparing students to become social justice-oriented leaders who excel in their professions and their communities. This commitment and pride make for a dynamic workplace. As a university that values diversity, equity, and inclusion, Simmons encourages applications from all under-represented groups. Simmons is committed to creating, developing, promoting, and enhancing inclusive hiring practices–at all levels, for all positions–ensuring diverse talent pools and the delivery of a consistent positive candidate experience.

Simmons is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to continuing to develop a more diverse faculty, staff, student body, and curriculum.

The Director of Financial Aid provides strategic and operational leadership for the University’s financial aid programs and services. The Director ensures compliant, accurate and timely administration of federal, state and institutional aid; stewards financial aid resources in support of affordability, enrollment, student success and access; and leads a knowledgeable, service-oriented financial aid team. As the University’s principal financial aid subject matter expert and a member of the enrollment leadership team, the Director advises senior leaders, translates regulatory and policy changes into institutional action, and works across the University to create a coordinated and understandable student financial experience.

• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.
• Lead the Office of Financial Aid, including staff supervision, workload and performance management, professional development, succession planning, service standards and achievement of departmental and institutional priorities.
• Oversee the accurate and timely administration of all federal, state and institutional financial aid programs for new and continuing undergraduate and graduate students, including application review, awarding, verification, professional judgment, disbursement, reconciliation, satisfactory academic progress and return of Title IV funds and reconciliation of conflicting information.
• Serve as the University’s principal authority for financial aid compliance; maintain policies, procedures, internal controls, appropriate segregation of duties, records and reporting; monitor regulatory changes; and lead preparation for and responses to audits, program reviews and other federal and state requirements.
• Manage financial aid resources and planning, including development and monitoring of the annual aid budget, cost of attendance, packaging and awarding policies (in partnership with financial aid partner), forecasting and analysis of expenditures, fund reconciliation, and recommendations regarding…