Assistant Director - TTU Graduate Online Financial Aid

Position Description

As an Assistant Director for Financial Aid, you will play a vital role in assisting students and their families in navigating the complex landscape of financial aid and funding options for higher education. Your primary responsibility will be to provide comprehensive guidance, support, and resources to help students achieve their educational goals without being burdened by excessive financial stress. You will serve as a knowledgeable and empathetic resource, addressing inquiries, offering personalized advice, and ensuring that students are well-informed about the various financial aid programs available to them. In addition, serving as a senior leadership member, you assist with student and family escalations while also managing a team of Advisors. This would include completing performance evaluations, training, assistance prioritizing work, reporting on progress and success and suggesting improvements for the team and its work.

Major/Essential Functions

• Assist in the development of strategic planning initiatives and unit objectives to ensure appropriate use of financial, administrative, staffing resources, and alignment with the strategic plan.
• Assists in the development of operating policies and procedures to comply with regulations, institutional policies, and unit objectives. Ensures compliance with institutional, state, and federal policies, procedures, and regulations.
• Provides clear and timely communication to online graduate students, staff, faculty, and university leadership on financial aid policies, processes, and regulatory updates.
• Delivers high-quality, personalized financial aid counseling to students, families, and campus partners by providing clear guidance, resolving concerns, and ensuring a supportive and responsive experience. Champions a student-focused service model, ensuring transparency, accessibility, and responsiveness to the unique needs of online graduate and professional students.
• In collaboration with SFAS leadership, manage and oversee the operational aspects of the graduate online area and frequently makes decisions by exercising discretion and independent judgement.
• Assist with the coordination and administration of Federal Title IV aid programs for eligible students. Maintains knowledge of federal, state, and institutional financial aid regulations, including Title IV, SAP, Gainful Employment, and accreditation standards.
• Communicates financial aid availability and eligibility criteria to potential recipients. Monitors continuing eligibility of recipients and counsels recipients whose aid eligibility is in jeopardy.
• Drives initiatives to modernize communication tools, digital workflows, and student service delivery.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in the area of specialization or closely related field. Three years of related administrative and technician experience. Additional job related education may be substituted for the required experience on a year-for-year basis.

Must be able to access all federal and state financial aid system websites in order to perform the essential functions of this position. Must not be in default on student loans, which will prevent access to these systems (NSLDS, COD, etc.)

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with financial aid systems, specifically Banner, preferred.
• Comfort working with data, as well as admissions and financial aid systems.
• Supervisory experience and ability to effectively oversee staff who must maintain a high level of accuracy.