Job Description

The Associate Dean provides leadership, direction, and management in all aspects of the Colleges student financial aid, workforce funding and military benefit certifications. The Associate Dean is an innovative and forward-thinking leader that drives student recruitment and retention by utilizing a student-centered approach to allocating financial aid & workforce funding to improve student outcomes. The Associate Dean oversees all federal, state, institutional aid, and veterans' benefits programs, determines eligibility for funding programs, and makes and approved appropriate awards. This position has the ultimate responsibility for developing and implementing a student funding distribution process that is student-centric, seamless and a user-friendly experience. The Associate Dean is an active member of the campus community, Grays Harbor and Pacific Counties and reports to the Dean of Student Services and Enrollment Management.

This is a full-time, exempt position. Grays Harbor College has an excellent benefits package to include medical, dental vision, basic life insurance, primary and supplemental retirement programs and long-term disability insurance. Full-time employees will also receive 15.34 hours of vacation leave per month, 8 hours of sick leave per month and 4 personal leave days a year. Washington State also observes 11 paid holidays per year.

About the College Grays Harbor College serves the communities of Grays Harbor and Pacific counties on the Pacific coast of Washington. Located in Aberdeen, Washington at the base of the beautiful Olympic Peninsula, the College is less than an hour away from scenic Pacific Ocean beaches and close to both the Olympic and Mount Rainier National Parks. Grays Harbor provides the perfect landscape to enjoy the abundance of excellent outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, biking, fishing, clam digging, surfing, boating, and various kayak/canoe paddling opportunities. Grays Harbor College is located on the ancestral lands of the Chehalis, Chinook, Quinault and Shoalwater Bay Peoples. For more information about working for the college and living in Grays Harbor visit https://www.ghc.edu/hr.

Grays Harbor is committed to providing excellent educational opportunities. We prioritize student learning, promote student and faculty success, foster an inclusive environment, manage our resources, and connect with the community. We strive to create a culturally relevant environment on campus and in the community by learning and practicing equity-mindedness and promoting faculty, staff, and student diversity.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

This position oversees and supervises all federal, state, and institutional funding programs, including but not limited to: Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), Washington Application for Student Financial Aid (WASFA), veterans and active-duty benefits, Worker Retraining, student emergency funding, Opportunity Grant, Basic Food Employment &Training (BFET), WorkFirst (DSHS benefits), Early Achievers Grant (EAG), and the Reduced Meal Pilot Program. The Associate Dean will manage budgets, write and edit the Workforce Funding programs while ensuring compliance of all federal, state, and institutional policies and procedures. Additional responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Foster an environment of integrity, teamwork, student-centered service and collaboration within the financial aid office, across departments and campus wide.
• Represent GHC on leadership & advisory boards, both internal and external
• Develop and maintain accurate consumer information in the form of printed materials and websites.
• Serve as a resource to assist staff with complex situations and questions, providing daily guidance. Adjudicate academic, dependency and aid extension petitions.
• Establish awarding targets based on federal, state, and local financial aid allocations.
• Remain current on best practices on the awarding of aid, including assessment of the delivery of services and awarding practices.
• Complete federal and state reports, such as the FISAP (Fiscal Operations Report and Application to Participate), state interim and end of year reports, grant reporting and writing to State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) and Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC).
• Ensure the College has exception-free financial aid audits and program reviews.
• Work closely with instructional deans and faculty to involve them in appropriate outreach activities and events.
• Inform and educate staff about behavior and performance expectations, provide timely and accurate feedback regarding performance, and ensure performance and behavioral problems are corrected promptly and effectively.
• Provide Financial Aid presentations to currently enrolled and prospective students.
• Serve as the liaison between the Student Funding department and the business office to ensure appropriate reconciliation, collaboration, and account management is properly aligned.
• Adjudication of appeals for independent status, satisfactory academic progress, and extension petitions.
• Establish timelines for review and awarding of all student aid.
• Remain current on regulations and best practices within the scope of responsibility.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES The Associate Dean will supervise and train all staff assigned to the Student Funding Department while providing an energetic and positive work environment to support and assist students attending Grays Harbor College.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and abilities required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Required:

• Bachelors degree from an accredited institution
• Two years of experience in grant management, higher education and state/federal regulations or combined experience in the listed fields
• Minimum 3 years of progressively responsible experience in student financial aid and extensive knowledge in federal and state financial aid rules and regulations (Title IV)
• Demonstrated commitment to serving diverse populations and implementing excellent customer service procedures
• Documented experience working with social service organizations and/or collaborative programming teams
• Supervisory experience (at least 2 years)
• Successful writing, procuring, and administration of federal and state grants
• Experience managing federal and state programs and budgets
• Strong leadership skills and ability to work collaboratively in a team environment
• Experience using current computer technologies including social media, Microsoft Office and online classroom software
• Excellent verbal, written communication, and interpersonal skills

Preferred:

• Masters degree from an accredited institution
• Three or more years of experience in grant management, higher education and state/federal regulations
• Documented experience working with social service organizations and/or collaborative programming teams
• Knowledge of Veterans Administration policies and procedures
• Dual language proficiency in Spanish

Supplemental Information In addition to the GHC online Application you will need to submit the following materials. Incomplete applications will not be accepted or considered.

• Letter of application addressing your qualifications for the position.
• Resume
• Contact information for 3 professional references.
• Transcripts of college work completed. Unofficial copies are acceptable.

Background checks - Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicants suitability and competence to perform in the position. Applicants considered for this position will be required to disclose if they are the subject of any substantiated findings or current investigations related to sexual misconduct at their current employment and past employment. Disclosure is required under Washington State Law.

Grays Harbor College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, creed, religion, marital status, veteran status, genetics, or age in its programs, activities, and employment. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:

• Title II/Section 504 – Erin Tofte, Associate Vice President of Human Resources
• Title IX Coordinator – Ashley Bowie-Gallegos, Dean of Student Services and Enrollment Management

For further information on notice of non-discrimination, visit https://ocrcas.ed.gov/contact-ocr for the address and phone number of the office that serves your area, or call 1-800-421-3481.