"Assistant Director, Federal Programs"

Assistant Director, Federal Programs

Job #: 042385

Location: Remote

Pay Range: $62,400

Hours: Standard University business hours
8:30am - 5:00pm (academic year)
8:00am - 4:30pm (summer)
Hours may vary based on operational needs.

Job Type: Full Time

Job Description:

The Assistant Director of Federal Programs supports the Associate Director in the administration of federal and private loan programs within the Office of Financial Aid. This position plays a key role in the setup and management of the annual aid calendar, including academic years, loan periods, and payment period dates. The Assistant Director supervises two loan processors, oversees the day-to-day workflow of loan processing operations, and ensures accurate and timely completion of required reports and processes. In addition to managing federal responsibilities such as NSLDS Transfer Monitoring and the TEACH Grant program, this role oversees the administration of private education loans.

Due to recent regulatory changes The Assistant Director also maintains ELM Select offerings, assists with interpreting and implementing federal regulatory changes, and supports the development and maintenance of policies and procedures to ensure compliance and improve operational efficiency. Additionally, this role supports the Associate Director with special projects, contributes to the strategic direction of federal and private aid initiatives, and assists with reviewing and updating the offices online reference manual.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelors degree from an accredited institution.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in financial aid administration, with a focus on federal aid programs.
• Knowledge of federal regulations governing Title IV aid, including Direct Loans, NSLDS, and TEACH.
• Experience with financial aid management systems (e.g., PeopleSoft, Banner, PowerFAIDS) and third-party platforms (e.g., COD, ELM, NSLDS).

Skills and Knowledge:

• Strong supervisory, organizational, and analytical skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook).
• Experience with ELM Select administration
• Experience using querying software such as Tableau (or similar product)
• Familiarity with recent legislative updates
• Ability to analyze and streamline operational workflows.
• Demonstrate strong attention to detail, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities, with the capacity to effectively prioritize multiple tasks in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Exceptional organizational skills and adaptability to evolving federal regulations are essential.
• Proven supervisory experience with effective communication and interpersonal skills is required to lead and support a team.
• Must possess advanced computer proficiency, including experience with complex financial aid management systems and reporting tools.
• Thorough understanding of federal and private loan programs, compliance requirements, and student aid processes is highly preferred.

Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with the Associate Director of Federal Programs to create and maintain the financial aid calendar, using published academic calendars to define academic years, loan periods, and payment periods for Federal Pell Grants and Direct Loans.
• Incorporate program-specific variations and cohort needs, including Borrower-Based Aid Year structures for summer awarding.
• Update and monitor all related dates in the Student Information System (PeopleSoft), using queries and data reports to proactively identify and resolve discrepancies throughout the year.
• Supervise and support two loan processors, managing workload distribution and deadlines in alignment with the aid year cycle and processing peaks.
• Review batch and manual awarding reports to identify and correct errors, ensuring timely and accurate processing.
• Provide guidance to the loan and counseling teams on complex aid eligibility scenarios.
• Assist directly with loan processing during peak periods, including support for summer and Winterlude awarding, Pell and loan troubleshooting, and reconciliation tasks.
• Monitor and help manage increasing private loan volume, much of which requires manual processing.
• Oversee the NSLDS Transfer Monitoring process by identifying students requiring monitoring, ensuring timely submission to NSLDS, and reviewing response files.
• Evaluate responses to confirm whether students are receiving aid at other institutions, and resolve any conflicts related to annual or aggregate loan limits.
• Make necessary adjustments to awards in compliance with federal regulations and coordinate communication with counselors and affected students.
• Manage the administration of the Federal TEACH Grant program.
• Identify eligible students at the time of admission or transfer, ensure proper coding prior to awarding, repackage aid if necessary, and confirm ongoing eligibility through SAP and other federal requirements.
• Assign and track TEACH Exit Counseling for program completers.
• Maintain ELMSelect loan presentation and offerings by reviewing lender usage reports provided by ELM.
• Update lender listings based on recent student borrowing trends, ensuring transparency and providing a historical record of lenders selected by students.

About Syracuse University:

Syracuse University is a private, international research university with distinctive academics, diversely unique offerings, and an undeniable spirit. Located in the geographic heart of New York State, with a global footprint, and over 150 years of history, Syracuse University offers a quintessential college experience.

The scope of Syracuse University is a testament to its strengths: a pioneering history dating back to 1870; a choice of more than 200 majors, 100 minors, and 200 advanced degree programs offered across the Universitys 13 schools and colleges; over 15,000 undergraduates and over 6,000 graduate students; more than a quarter of a million alumni in 160 countries; and a student population from all 50 U.S. states and 123 countries. For more information, please visit http://www.syracuse.edu.