Associate Director of Financial Aid

Colby-Sawyer College is seeking an Associate Director of Financial Aid to assist in the planning, administering, monitoring and evaluating of all functions and services of the financial aid department. The Associate Director of Financial Aid is a key member of the 2.5-person office, overseeing applicant and transfer student awarding. The Financial Aid Office is a key element to Colby-Sawyer’s recruitment and retention of students and drives our daily operations.

Responsibilities

• Manage and implement new student, international and transfer student packaging, collaborating specifically with consultants, admissions and IT.
• Oversee the administration and reconciliation of Title IV Federal Student Aid programs, including the Pell Grant and Federal Direct Student Loans. Monitor the federal inbox to ensure timely review of ISIRs, federal loans and grants and ensure the integrity of the financial aid database.
• Assist the director of financial aid to ensure compliance with all institutional, federal and state regulations and reporting requirements.
• Assist the vice president of admissions and financial aid and the director of financial aid in all efforts and initiatives to ensure campus recruitment and retention goals – including open houses, information sessions and orientations.
• Student advocacy. Strong communication skills with the ability to counsel students and families with empathy and clarity.
• Work closely with the financial services office to maintain procedures that ensure sound fiscal control including coordination of federal loan processing and federally required monthly Direct Loan reconciliation.  
• Attention to detail and research skills. Must remain abreast of ever-changing government regulation and optimization of FA software, currently Powerfaids.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in an appropriate discipline, Master’s degree desirable.
• A minimum of 3-5 years’ experience in a similar function, or a combination of education and experience from which comparable knowledge and skills are acquired.
• Superior communication skills required to communicate sensitive, complicated, and confidential information to prospective students, families and colleagues.  
• Knowledge of government rules and regulations concerning financial aid.
• Experience working with admissions to meet institutional recruitment goals.
• Technical expertise related to online resources and processes.