Associate Director, Financial Aid

Fairfield University is a co-educational, comprehensive Jesuit university with a 200-acre campus located along the scenic shoreline community of Fairfield, CT. The University is comprisedof approximately 3,500 undergraduate and 1,200 graduate studentspursuing degrees within 5 schools:
The College of Arts and Sciences, The Charles

F. Dolan School of Business, The School of Engineering, The Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies, and School of Education and Human Development. As an expression of our Jesuit, Catholic mission and identity, Fairfield embraces a liberal humanistic approach to education, encouraging critical thinking, cultivating free and open inquiry, and fostering ethical and religious values.

The Associate Director of Financial Aid is a key member of Fairfield University’s Financial Aid leadership team, supporting the administration, compliance, and continuous improvement of financial aid operations. In alignment with the University’sJesuit, Catholic mission and commitment to cura personalis, thisrole advances access, affordability, and student success throughethical, student-centered service. The Associate Director partners with the Executive Director to implement strategy, oversee coreprocesses, and enhance systems that support efficient and equitabledelivery of financial aid.

• Partner with the Executive Director to support strategic planning, policy development, and operational effectiveness.
• Provide leadership for day-to-day operations, including staffguidance, workflow coordination, and process improvement.
• Create and maintain office policies and procedures manual in accordance with federal, state and university policies.
• Oversee verification and satisfactory academic progress (SAP) processes, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and clear communication.
• Manage financial aid systems and technology (e.g., Net Partner), including implementation of enhancements and electronicprocesses.
• Support institutional reporting requirements, including FISAP,and collaborate with Institutional Research on data analysis and reporting.
• Prepare audit documents and act as liaison to auditing firmduring the annual A-133 audit and/or state audit as needed.
• Manage state grant program awarding, reconciling and reporting requirements.
• Lead development and maintenance of financial aidcommunications, including website content, publications, and outreach materials.
• Serve as liaison to campus partners to support a coordinated,student-centered approach to service delivery.
• Assist in the administration of the appeals process and serveon the appeals committee.
• Advise and counsel students and families regarding financialaid programs, application processes, and financing options.
• Serve as liaison to the advancement and development office insupport of the university endowment selection and awarding process.
  
  Maintain and manage the endowment selection process.
• Collaborate with the university School Certifying Official onmatters related to Veteran’s Benefits and eligibility.
• Manage an assigned student caseload and perform file review and verification as needed.
• Support onboarding, training, and professional development ofstaff. Conduct performance reviews of direct reports.
• Present financial aid and financial literacy information at on-and off-campus events.
• Monitor updates from the U.S. Department of Education, NASFAA,and other professional organizations and implement changes asneeded.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and institutionalfinancial aid regulations and policies.
• Promote a collaborative, inclusive, and mission-driven work environment.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in financial aid administration.
• Demonstrated knowledge of federal, state, and institutionalfinancial aid regulations.
• Experience with financial aid systems and data management.
• Demonstrated experience managing and overseeing members of the financial aid team.

• Master’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience with PowerFAIDS, Workday Student, or similar systems.
• Experience with Federal…