Assistant Director of Financial Aid Services

Assistant Director of Financial Aid Services

The Assistant Director of Financial Aid Services is a key member of Whitman College's Financial Aid team, supporting the administration and delivery of institutional, state, and federal financial aid programs for incoming and returning students. Reporting to the Director of Financial Aid Services, the Assistant Director works closely with students, families, and campus partners to ensure accurate aid processing, regulatory compliance, and high-quality service.

This position plays a critical role in managing and utilizing financial aid technology systems, serving as a liaison between the Financial Aid Office and multiple campus departments.

Principal Accountabilities

• Student & Family Engagement (30%)
• Work collaboratively with students and families by greeting visitors and responding to phone calls and emails.
• Maintain a welcoming, inclusive, and professional approach in all student- and family-facing interactions.
• Financial Aid Administration & Compliance (30%)
• Process and administer institutional, state, and federal financial aid programs for incoming and returning students.
• Perform federal verification, including requesting documentation and making required adjustments based on verified data.
• Remain current on all applicable state and federal financial aid regulations and ensure compliance.
• Conduct FAFSA/CSS Profile file review for need analysis used to determine eligibility for institutional and federal financial aid.
• Package financial aid based on annual award charts, while conducting holistic reviews of individual student eligibility.
• Systems, Data & Technical Operations (30%)
• Utilize and manage multiple financial aid and student information systems, including Colleague, PowerFAIDS, IDOC, and Slate, FSA Partner portal, NSLDS, and COD.
• Complete data uploads and processing related to fee waivers, award adjustments, private loan processing, and over-award reporting.
• Prepare and review loan documentation, verify eligibility, and adjust student aid as needed.
• Collaboration & Office Support (5%)
• Serve as a primary liaison with campus partners that interact with Financial Aid Services, including Residence Life and the Career and Community Engagement Center.
• Provide operational back-up to the Financial Aid Counselor on key office functions.
• Evolving Responsibilities (5%)
• Center diversity, equity, inclusion and antiracism as guiding principles when approaching financial aid work.
• Contribute to additional initiatives as needed, adapting to evolving priorities and organizational needs.

Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Ability to work with a high degree of flexibility, accuracy and attention to detail in a dynamic environment.
• Proficiency with common office and web-based technologies, including Microsoft and Google productivity tools, databases, and customer relationship management (CRM) and student information systems (SIS).
• Ability to maintain positive and effective working relationships with diverse internal and external constituencies while managing competing demands in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to navigate complicated financial aid cases in alignment with institutional policies and enrollment goals
• Proven ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with discretion and sound judgment.
• Strong communication and customer service skills, including the ability to articulate processes and ideas effectively both orally and in writing.
• Ability to actively and positively contribute to the College's core values of diversity, equity, inclusion, antiracism, and access.

Minimum Qualifications

• Associate's degree.
• 5+ years of experience in financial aid administration.
• OR a combination of relevant education, training and experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree.

Working Conditions

• Work is primarily performed in a private office, with the option of hybrid work some weeks with supervisor approval. Regular hybrid work scheduling is not available for this role.
• The nature of financial aid is deadline-driven, public facing, requires a high level of responsiveness, and involves making difficult decisions.
• Occasional evening and weekend work is required, primarily…