Associate Director, Financial Aid Technology

Department ESA Financial Aid and Technologies

Reporting directly to the Associate Vice President and Executive Director of Financial Aid, the Financial Aid office at the University of Chicago provides exceptional service to all students and families requesting assistance in financing their education. The Office of Financial Aid has a staff of 20. For more information visit (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..

The Associate Director of Financial Aid Technology supports the technology environment that enables the deployment of all University Financial Aid, maintaining both the test and production environments in Oracle Campus Solutions (called AIS at UChicago). In addition, this role serves as a financial aid technology expert and collaborates with staff in financial aid offices across campus to develop or enhance financial aid processing.

Collaboration is key for this role, as this position leverages specialized knowledge about financial aid policies, regulations and controls to coordinate with other senior database leaders across campus to ensure accurate exchange of data between systems and the successful deployment of student financial aid. The position requires a passion for working with University technology leaders, an interest in ensuring University compliance with Federal regulations and University-required controls through effective technology, and a commitment to excellence.

The ideal candidate will be an energetic and talented technology with a record of success in complex, decentralized environments where collaboration and coalition-building are critical to success.

• Maintains AIS Financial Aid module in production and multiple test environments.
• Tracks the release of upgrades and fixes targeted for the Financial Aid module so they can be tested and installed in a timely manner.
• Leverages knowledge of best practices to review and test environment upgrade documentation for issues with database tables and dictionaries.
• Maintains efficient methods to track data and report on outcomes as needed.
• Coordinates with other database administrators to ensure accurate exchange of data between systems.
• Responds to internal and external audit requests on student controls.
• Regularly updates AIS Financial Aid module to comply with federal regulations and University required controls.
• Adapts Office of Financial Aid plans and priorities to address resource and operational challenges.
• Provides input on decisions and develops policies and procedures based on regulations and University-required controls.
• Provides technical guidance to Financial Aid employees across campus.
• Codes database descriptions and specifies identifiers of database management systems.
• Tests for consistency and reliability of data throughout database systems.
• Manages server installations, security, performance monitoring, and maintenance.
• Designs and monitors database administration procedures including backup and recovery.
• Tests and corrects errors and implements changes to databases.
• Evaluates which users can access each database and what data can be accessed by each user.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Education: Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experience: Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications: ---

Experience: A minimum of five years progressive experience administering student financial aid.

Technical Skills or Knowledge: Understanding of functional aspects of Oracle Campus Solutions modules, particularly financial aid. Analyze and troubleshoot Campus Solutions issues impacting financial aid processing. Proficient at writing queries and creating/editing equations in Oracle Campus Solutions. Demonstrated ability to master database programs and learn new technologies.

• Think strategically about how individual work aligns with broader organizational goals.
• Strong interpersonal skills, demonstrated initiative, and work both independently and collaboratively, with flexibility and adaptability.
• Demonstra…