Associate Director- Office of Student Financial Aid; OSFA

Position: Associate Director- Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA)
Associate Director
- Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA)

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is accepting applications for an Associate Director, Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA). The Associate Director is a senior leader in the Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA) and a key member of the office's executive management team. Reporting to the Executive Director, this position partners closely with executive leadership on the overall management and strategic direction of the office, while providing oversight, risk management and accountability for the Systems and Reporting functions that support the administration.

The Associate Director is responsible for setting vision, priorities, and policy for financial aid systems, data governance, reporting, and technology infrastructure. The position focuses on long range planning, cross campus coordination, compliance, and continuous improvement. This role requires close collaboration with campus and system partners and engagement in national, regional, and state financial aid organizations.

Duties & Responsibilities

Systems, Technology, and Infrastructure Oversight

* Provide high level oversight and accountability for financial aid systems, reporting infrastructure, quality assurance frameworks, internal controls, web and communication tools, call center technology, and related hardware and software.

* Responsible for outcomes, performance, and alignment with institutional goals.

Executive Leadership and Strategic Direction

* Serve as a senior member of the OSFA leadership team, providing strategic guidance for office wide planning, policy development, regulatory compliance, fiscal stewardship, and organizational priorities.

* Contribute to executive level decision making that shapes the direction and effectiveness of the office.

Enterprise Systems Strategy and Campus Partnership

* Serve as the senior campus lead for the Banner Financial Aid System, establishing strategic direction and priorities in collaboration with central IT and university partners.

* Provide executive oversight for system enhancements, upgrades, and automated solutions, while ensuring the security, integrity, and appropriate governance of student financial aid data.

Strategic Planning, Performance, and Risk Management

* Lead long range systems planning and assess infrastructure needs to support institutional growth, regulatory change, and evolving business requirements.

* Establish metrics, monitoring processes, and reporting structures to evaluate performance, manage risk, and communicate results to leadership.

Leadership of Systems Unit Management

* Provide leadership and direction to the Assistant Director of the Systems Unit, setting expectations, priorities, and strategic objectives.

* Ensure alignment with broad office and institutional strategies.

Policy Development and Regulatory Oversight

* Lead the development, approval, and implementation of policies and procedures related to systems, data, and reporting.

* Ensure sustained compliance with federal, state, and institutional regulations and proactively assess the impact of regulatory or system changes.

Continuous Improvement and Strategic Problem Solving

* Identify systemic challenges, emerging risks, and opportunities for innovation.

* Lead cross functional initiatives to improve efficiency, accuracy, and service delivery, focusing on long term impact rather than operational troubleshooting.

Financial Aid Reporting Governance

* Provide executive oversight of complex financial aid reporting and data requests, ensuring appropriate prioritization, data integrity, and consistency.

* Maintain accountability for the reporting framework and inventory while operational execution is handled by the Systems Unit.

Data Analysis and Executive Decision Support

* Oversee the use of financial aid data for institutional research, external reporting, surveys, and executive decision making.

* Ensure analyses are accurate, timely, and aligned with strategic objectives.

Other Duties as Assigned

* Perform additional responsibilities as assigned by the Executive Director in support of the mission and strategic…