Assistant Vice President of Financial Aid

Position:
Assistant Vice President of Financial Aid

Department:
Enrollment Management, Marketing and Communications

Reporting to:
Vice President for Enrollment Management, Marketing and Communications

Appointment:
Full-time, 40 hours per week (12-month position)

Status:
Exempt

Bradley University seeks a strategic, collaborative, and analytically driven leader to serve as its inaugural Assistant Vice President of Financial Aid (AVPFA). Reporting to the Vice President for Enrollment Management, Marketing and Communications, this role is responsible for shaping and executing a comprehensive financial aid strategy that advances the University's enrollment goals, strengthens net tuition revenue, and ensures long-term fiscal sustainability.

The AVPFA serves as the University's lead architect for financial aid leveraging strategy and a key advisor to senior leadership on pricing, discounting, and enrollment performance. This leader will guide the development of multi-year modeling strategies, oversee the selection and optimization of financial aid leveraging partners, and ensure data-driven decision-making across all student populations.

Bradley seeks a highly collaborative and forward-thinking leader who brings deep expertise in financial aid strategy, predictive modeling, and regulatory compliance, while fostering a student-centered and service-oriented culture.

Experience with systems such as Power

FAIDS, Blackbaud Award Management, Workday, and Slate is preferred.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Financial Aid Leadership

* Lead the development and execution of a comprehensive, multi-year financial aid strategy aligned with the University's Strategic Enrollment Management plan

* Partner with senior leadership to align financial aid strategy with institutional priorities, including enrollment growth, academic program strength, and financial sustainability

* Serve as the University's primary advisor on financial aid leveraging, optimizing the balance of discount rate, net tuition revenue, and student profile across undergraduate, transfer, graduate, online, and international populations

* Oversee predictive modeling and scenario planning to inform enrollment and revenue projections

* Maximize the strategic value of financial aid leveraging and analytics partners, ensuring insights directly drive institutional decision-making

Compliance, Risk, and Policy Leadership

* Serve as the University's primary authority on federal and state financial aid compliance, ensuring adherence to all regulatory requirements

* Provide strategic interpretation of regulatory changes and guide institutional response across policy, systems, and communication

* Oversee financial aid reporting and audit readiness through strong internal controls and accountability structures

* Establish and maintain institutional policies that ensure compliance while supporting enrollment and student success goals

Operational Strategy and Systems Integration

* Provide executive oversight of financial aid operations, ensuring efficient, accurate, and student-centered delivery through a strong leadership team

* Lead the strategic integration and optimization of financial aid systems, including Workday, Blackbaud, and Slate, aligning technology with institutional goals and student experience

* Champion process improvement and innovation to enhance service delivery, reduce complexity, and improve outcomes for students and families

* Provide expert level experience in industry best practices, including industry best-practice system solutions

Leadership and Organizational Development

* Lead a high-performing, collaborative financial aid team with a focus on accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement

* Establish a culture of professional development, cross-training, and operational excellence

* Oversee departmental planning, resource allocation, and budget management to ensure alignment with strategic priorities

Institutional Collaboration and Influence

* Partner with Enrollment Management, Marketing and Communications, and Admissions to align financial aid strategy with recruitment and yield efforts

* Collaborate with Advancement to ensure effective stewardship and compliance of endowed scholarship funds

* Support Athletics in maintaining NCAA Division I compliance while advancing recruitment and retention goals

* Contribute to a campus-wide culture of enrollment by aligning financial aid strategy with academic and programmatic priorities

The Opportunity

This is a foundational leadership role at a pivotal time for Bradley University. The AVPFA will play a central role in advancing a modern, data-informed financial aid strategy that supports sustainable enrollment growth, enhances access and affordability, and strengthens the University's long-term financial position.

Ideal Candidate Profile

* Deep expertise in financial aid leveraging, modeling, and strategy across multiple student populations

* Strong analytical and financial acumen with the ability to translate data into actionable…