Director of Financial Aid
Director of Financial Aid
We have an opening for a Director of Financial Aid at our Chattanooga State campus!
Our Purpose - We support and empower everyone in our community to learn without limits.
Our Values:
- We cultivate a welcome and caring environment.
- We care about the well-being of each other.
- We instill trust through integrity and transparency.
- We encourage fearless innovation and resilience.
- We collaborate to build a better future.
Our Mission - We are Chattanooga State, a dedicated team that delivers accessible, innovative learning opportunities that surpass expectations. Together, we enrich the lives of students, and their families; develop a talented workforce; and partner with our community to lead boldly into the future.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Director of Financial Aid provides vision, leadership, and management for the Financial Aid Office (FAO). The Director ensures compliance with federal, state, and institutional regulations; fosters a culture of student-centered service; and leads initiatives that support student access, affordability, and success. This role requires a balance of regulatory expertise, strategic planning, fiscal oversight, and collaboration across the College community. The Director of Financial Aid reports to the Vice President of Student Affairs.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Holistic Student Support
- Develop and implement policies, procedures, and processes that ensure access to financial aid programs while supporting student retention and completion.
- Collaborate with faculty, staff, and student service areas to share information, align support services, and create seamless experiences for students.
- Respond to escalated student, parent, or faculty/staff issues with professionalism, empathy, and timely resolution.
- Initiate communication strategies, workshops, and events to increase student and family understanding of financial aid, financial literacy, and affordability.
Organizational Culture
- Recruit, supervise, and develop an adequate number of qualified staff in accordance with 34 CFR 668.16, ensuring the office has the capacity to administer all aid programs.
- Provide training and professional development for FAO staff and cross-campus partners to strengthen service delivery.
- Conduct annual staff performance reviews, support career growth, and foster a collaborative, accountable, and student-focused work environment.
- Represent the Financial Aid Office on campus committees, working groups, and at institutional events, promoting a culture of inclusivity and shared responsibility.
Fiscal Stewardship
- Oversee administration, reconciliation, and reporting of federal, state, and institutional funds, including Return of Title IV calculations, ensuring accuracy and compliance.
- Develop, manage, and monitor the FAO budget, aligning resources to institutional priorities and student needs.
- Lead compliance with all reporting requirements, including federal, state, and institutional submissions, audits, program reviews, and data requests.
- Coordinate with third-party vendors and external partners to ensure efficient and cost-effective operations.
Program Innovation
- Partner with campus stakeholders and external vendors to implement innovative technologies, software, and business processes that streamline aid delivery.
- Explore and adopt new strategies to expand student awareness and utilization of financial aid resources.
- Support cross-campus collaboration to design and deliver interoffice training, process improvements, and integrated service models.
- Lead initiatives that promote continuous improvement and modernization of financial aid services.
Teaching Excellence
- Provide training for financial aid staff and customer-facing employees to ensure accurate, timely, and student-friendly information sharing.
- Partner with faculty and academic affairs to integrate financial literacy and aid awareness into curricular and co-curricular programming.
- Maintain expertise in current federal, state, and institutional guidelines, policies, and regulations, and serve as a resource for faculty and staff on related topics.
- Develop educational resources and presentations to enhance financial literacy and student decision-making skills.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Master’s degree in Higher Education, Business Administration, Public Administration, or related field preferred; Bachelor’s degree with significant related experience required.
- Minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in financial aid administration, with at least two years in a supervisory role.
- Demonstrated knowledge of Title IV regulations, state aid programs, and federal compliance requirements.
- Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to foster a culture of service, accountability, and innovation.
Salary Range: $78,225 - $97,782