Assistant Director for Financial Education and Engagement

The Assistant Director’s work is balanced across three primary areas: individualized student education, including one-on-one meetings; workshops, presentations, and outreach; and the development of accessible educational content and resources. Programming primarily serves currently enrolled undergraduate, graduate, and professional students, and may also support prospective students, alumni, families, and campus partners.

In addition to delivering individual and group education services, the Assistant Director assesses student financial educational needs, identifies emerging issues and best practices, defines meaningful measures of success, evaluates program outcomes, and provides strategic recommendations to OFA leadership regarding future programming and resource priorities. The position requires initiative, sound independent judgment, strong communication and relationship-building skills, and a commitment to helping students make informed financial decisions.

Who We Are:
The University of Michigan is a premier public research university with more than 53,488 students, including 35,358 undergraduates, and is firmly committed to serving the people of Michigan, and the world, through preeminence in creating, communicating, preserving and applying knowledge, art, and academic value. U-M is in high demand, with a record 115,957 undergraduate first-year and transfer applicants in fall 2025 and 9,711 incoming undergraduate students enrolling.
 
Reporting to the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Office of Enrollment Management (OEM) manages U-M's enrollment function to efficiently optimize students' experiences throughout their engagement, from prospect to alumni. The division collaborates with campus partners, faculty, and staff in support of the university's mission.
 

OEM comprises a dedicated team of more than 200 full-time staff members and more than 400 additional student and temporary staff and is structured in five operational units - the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, the Office of Financial Aid, the Office of New Student Programs, the Office of the Registrar, and OEM Administration. OEM strives to provide excellence in access and support to inspiring learners who will challenge the present and enrich the future.

Responsibilities: 

• Meet with and educate individuals and groups of students on personal financial literacy topics.
• Lead the development, delivery, and continuous improvement of integrated financial education and engagement programming that connects financial aid and student borrowing decisions with broader financial literacy, financial wellness, and long-term financial capability.
• Design and facilitate engaging workshops, presentations, and educational programs in multiple formats for students at all degree levels.
• Create, curate, and maintain clear, accurate, accessible, and inclusive financial education content for websites, learning platforms, presentations, communications, and other digital or print channels. Ensure that programming avoids deficit-based assumptions and responds to students’ differing circumstances and experiences.
• Assess student needs, emerging financial concerns, and relevant best practices using student interactions, institutional data, research, and campus-partner feedback. Define success measures, evaluate outcomes, and use findings to improve educational approaches, curricula, communications, and services.
• Provide regular updates to OFA leadership on program activity, outcomes, trends, and opportunities. Recommend strategies for expanding, refining, or prioritizing financial education and engagement efforts.
• Responsibly and strategically use technology to broaden access, improve engagement and content delivery, and create efficient, effective student experiences.
• Build collaborative relationships with campus partners to coordinate programming, extend the reach of financial education resources, and strengthen referral pathways for students requiring additional support.
• Provide training, consultation, and educational resources to faculty, staff, student organizations, and other campus stakeholders on relevant financial aid and financial wellness topics as needs are identified.
• Stay current on financial aid regulations, federal student loan programs, repayment options, financial education practices, student-development approaches, and issues affecting students’ financial well-being. Lead or contribute to related special projects and office-wide initiatives.
• May recruit, train, supervise, and evaluate staff, including student employees, supporting financial education programming.
• Will have opportunities to serve as an adjunct lecturer for financial education courses based on needs and availability; such teaching would be separate from the position’s regular responsibilities and effort.

Required Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• At least three years of relevant professional experience in higher education, student services, financial aid, financial education, counseling, advising, training, program development, or a related field.
• Demonstrated commitment to student-centered service and the ability to build rapport with students experiencing a wide range of financial circumstances.
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex or sensitive information clearly and without judgment.
• Demonstrated initiative, self-motivation, organizational ability, and capacity to manage multiple priorities.
• Knowledge of, or ability to learn, interpret, and apply university policies and applicable federal and state laws and regulations, including the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
• Experience handling confidential or sensitive information with discretion.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively and respectfully with individuals from a broad range of backgrounds, identities, experiences, and financial circumstances.
• Demonstrated commitment to accessibility, equal opportunity, and inclusive practices in program design, communication, and service delivery.
• Proficiency with common workplace and presentation technologies and the ability to learn new systems and digital engagement tools.

Desired Qualifications: 

• Master’s degree in higher education, student affairs, counseling, business, finance, or a related field.
• Experience working in a college or university financial aid office.
• Experience developing and delivering workshops, presentations, training, educational programs, or related content.
• Experience providing financial literacy, financial wellness, financial counseling, or financial coaching services.