Financial Aid Director

The approximate base compensation range is posted, but the actual offer will reflect our total compensation and benefits package. The offer will be determined by a number of factors including the selected candidate's experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, FTE, number of months worked, as well as internal equity among our team.

Position Summary

The Director of Financial Aid provides strategic vision, compliance oversight, and operational leadership for the Financial Aid Office at The College of St. Scholastica. This key leadership role ensures the equitable, accurate, and timely distribution of federal, state, and institutional funds while fostering a supportive, student-centered environment that aligns deeply with the College's Benedictine values of respect and community.

Serving as a crucial member of the Enrollment Management leadership team, the Director balances dual accountability for rigorous technical compliance and strategic enrollment contribution. This position oversees the full range of financial aid programming for both undergraduate and graduate student populations, optimizing aid packaging to support recruitment, retention, and affordability goals while stewarding tens of millions of dollars in annual student aid.

Reporting Relationships & Scope

* Reports To:

Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management

* Supervises:
Financial aid professional staff, including Associate/Assistant Directors, Financial Aid Counselors, and operations support personnel.

* Budget Management:
Oversight of the Financial Aid Office Operating Budget and the stewardship of all annual federal, state, and institutional aid funds.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Enrollment Partnership

* Enrollment Strategy:
Serve as a senior member of the Enrollment Management team, contributing financial aid expertise to recruitment and retention strategies across undergraduate, graduate, and targeted student populations.

* Aid Leveraging & Encoura Partnership:
Collaborate closely with enrollment leadership and external consulting partners Encoura to analyze first-year discount rates, net tuition revenue, and enrollment outcomes to build and optimize strategic aid packaging models.

* Budget

Collaboration:

Partner with the Associate VP for Enrollment Management and institutional leadership to establish annual aid budgets, merit scholarship parameters, and need-based aid philosophies.

* Funnel and Yield Management:
Partner with Admissions on funnel management, providing timely award data, supporting yield initiatives, and helping to shape clear recruitment messaging around college affordability.

* Committee Service:
Serve on college-wide committees and task forces dedicated to student success, retention, data governance, and strategic planning.

Compliance Oversight & Institutional Reporting

* Regulatory Authority:
Serve as the primary institutional expert and authority on federal and state financial aid policies, maintaining full compliance with Title IV regulations, FERPA, and Minnesota Office of Higher Education (MOHE) policies.

* Audits & Reconciliation:
Lead and coordinate all internal and external compliance reviews, annual audits, and federal program reviews. Implement corrective action plans immediately if deficiencies are identified.

* Mandatory Reporting:
Direct the timely preparation and accurate submission of required state and federal reports, including the FISAP, State of Minnesota grant reconciliations, National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) reporting, IPEDS, and NACUBO surveys.

* Policy Maintenance:
Ensure Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) and Return of Title IV Funds (R2T4) policies are accurately calculated, updated, consistently applied, and clearly communicated.

* Enrollment Monitoring:
Establish protocols for tracking student enrollment changes (withdrawals, leaves of absence) to guarantee compliant award revisions and disbursement timings.

Workday Transition, Systems Management & Operations

* System Migration Leadership:
Lead critical financial aid systems management and process improvement initiatives, specifically driving the institutional transition from Banner to Workday Student and managing subsequent system configuration, testing, and optimization.

* Data Integrity:
Ensure total data integrity and seamless integration between Workday/Banner, the Slate CRM platform, external lender platforms, and other institutional IT systems.

* Operational Excellence:
Oversee the day-to-day operations of the office, monitoring processing volumes, defining operating standards, and ensuring a smooth, accurate timeline for awarding and verification.

* Census Management:
Establish protocols for census day processes to ensure student data is fully verified prior to term disbursements.

Team Development & Student-Centered Culture

* Inclusive Leadership:
Recruit, supervise, evaluate, and mentor financial aid staff, intentionally fostering a collaborative, inclusive, and positive workplace culture that models Benedictine…