"Director of Federal Aid"

Job Details

Director of Federal Aid
Requisition ID: 2026-9916
# of Openings: 1
Location: US-UT-Logan
Category: Student Programs & Services
Position Type: Benefited Full-Time
Job Classification: Exempt
College: Strategic Enrollment Management
Department: Student Financial Support
Advertised Salary: Minimum of $85,000 commensurate with experience plus excellent benefits

Overview

The Director of Federal Aid (Associate Director in HR Information System) reports to the Executive Director in Student Financial Support. This position is responsible for overseeing Federal Student Aid (Compliance, Operations, Counseling, Auditing, Reporting) and serves as the acting institutional Title IV Federal Aid Administrator.

All team members strive to possess the following characteristics:

• Friendly disposition and enjoys working with students.
• Detail oriented, accurate, and self-motivated.
• Organized and able to work in a fast-paced office as a community-minded team member.

Within Student Financial Support, we have established different teams to fulfill our mission. These teams include Federal Aid Counseling, Scholarships, Operations & Compliance, Systems & Data, Student Money Management, and Leadership. These teams work closely with each other to collaborate, reduce barriers, and enhance resources.

The Leadership Team works closely to support each other, and the other teams within the office. This team supports university programs that are large in size, scope, and complexities which are embedded within enrollment management strategies at USU. The description above indicates the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive list of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to the position.

Responsibilities

• Ensure compliance to current federal and state regulations, related to Title IV aid administration, and implementation of changes for Title IV aid processing.
• Oversight of Federal Work-Study policies & procedures.
• Oversight of default management and required internal procedures to reduce university's cohort default rate.
• Ensure accurate and timely completion of federal reporting, data submissions, and operational calendars.
• Lead the recruitment, training, development, supervision, and evaluation of a dedicated team within the Federal Aid Administration.
• Represent the institution in addressing Department of Education inquiries and required reporting.
• Serve on various institutional, state, and national committees as time and resources allow.
• Oversee budget and account management.
• Compliance: Administering federal, state, and institutional aid requires team, office, and institutional compliance to different laws, statutes, regulations and policies. All team members have a responsibility to focus on compliance.
• Data Privacy: Student Financial Support has access to sensitive data, and this data is protected through different federal laws and institutional policies. All team members have a responsibility to protect data.
• Integrity: Being honest and having strong ethical principles is vital. Embracing unity and collaboration is at the core of our culture, fostering a strong work ethic that values the diverse strengths and perspectives each team member brings.
• Collaboration: Creating a culture of open communication, respect, and purpose is essential. All team members have a responsibility to contribute to a positive, collaborative team. This includes continuous training, deductive reasoning and problem solving, customer service, willingness to learn and acquire new skills, and commitment to deadlines.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree and 8 years of progressive experience at an institution of higher education of similar scope and size as Utah State University OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience with state financial aid compliance audits, budget management, or financial aid reporting.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in Higher Education
• Utah State University Experience
• Masters Degree
• Previous supervisor/managerial leadership experience.
• Familiarity with any of the following systems: Office 365, Banner, Campus Logic (Student Forms, Campus Communicator, Scholarship Universe), ServiceNow, FSA Partner, NSLDS or similar systems.
• Familiarity with USU policies and procedures.
• Familiarity with Federal and/or State aid regulations.
• Experience developing and analyzing data.

Required Documents

Along with the online application, please attach:

• Resume to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under "Resume/CV". PDF recommended.
• Cover Letter to be typed/pasted at the end of your application

Document size may not exceed 10 MB.

Advertised Salary
Minimum of $85,000 commensurate with experience plus excellent benefits ADA
Employees work indoors and are protected from weather and/or contaminants, but not, necessarily, occasional temperature changes. The employee is regularly required to sit and often uses repetitive hand motions.

College/Department Highlights

Division Information

The Division of Strategic Enrollment Management at Utah State University is dedicated to overseeing and implementing effective enrollment strategies that help students seamlessly apply and enroll. With a focus on student success and exceptional customer service, the division promotes innovative and data-informed approaches to support student needs. It offers various admissions pathways tailored to different learners, while administering all levels of financial aid to address affordability. By fostering collaboration and staying ahead of trends, the division aims to enhance the overall student experience, guiding individuals from application to graduation.

Department Information

Student Financial Support provides resources to help students pay for school. These resources include Federal Financial Aid, State of Utah Aid, and Institutional Aid. Additionally, The Student Money Management Center provides free, one-on-one coaching sessions to help students create budgets and to discover how they can pay for college.

The heart of our work is to serve students. Recognizing finances is a concern for many students, Student Financial Support diligently strives to provide all sources of funding and coaching that may help a student achieve their educational goals. Because Student Financial Support administers federal, state, and institutional aid, we focus on discretion, accountability, and compliance. Within this framework, we will do everything we can to help students.