Director of Financial Aid

Director of Financial Aid, The Graduate School of Education

Bank Street College Graduate School of Education seeks an experienced professional to join our team. For over 100 years, Bank Street has helped shape progressive education with a learner-centered, developmentally grounded approach rooted in inquiry, reflection, social justice, and collaboration. Our work has influenced national policy, pioneered innovative practices, and prepared generations of educators to lead with equity, creativity, and compassion. We seek talented professionals who embrace our mission in support of the students, faculty, and overall community we serve.

Summary

The Director of Financial Aid provides leadership and oversight of all financial aid programs and services of the Graduate School of Education to ensure the highest quality of service, efficiency in processing aid, and compliance with all federal, state, local, and college laws, regulations, and policies. Reporting to the Associate Dean for Enrollment and Student Success, the Director supervises a full-time staff of two.

Key Responsibilities

Enrollment & Student Service

• Assist in the recruitment of new students in the context of providing high quality information to prospective students through excellent communications, asynchronous and synchronous events.
• Ensure the highest quality of service to students in providing timely and accurate information, counseling, financial literacy, application review, award management and disbursement.
• Oversee all aspects of the Federal loan programs including conducting entrance and exit counseling, managing disbursements, compliance and reporting.
• Responsible for the scholarship rubric for the College, including collaboration with the Associate Dean on the review and update of the rubric as enrollment strategies evolve.
• Administer all scholarships including endowed and restricted accounts, working with the College's Development and External Relations and Business Offices.

Oversight of Financial Aid Programs and Compliance

• Work with faculty to assess the impact of programmatic changes on financial aid and offer advise around supporting students.
• Support the College through audits, compliance reviews and any other one-time inquiries around the Financial Aid process and its role in the student experience at Bank Street College of Education.
• Monitor student questions, identify solutions for common inquiries and work with the head of enrollment and student services and other stakeholders, where necessary, in implementing solutions for continuous improvement.
• Work as part of the Enrollment Management and Student Success team to support recruitment, retention, and overall student success through collaboration with colleagues across the EMSS unit and the Graduate School.

Supervision and Mission Support

• Supervise the financial aid team to develop their skills in, and knowledge of, financial aid to ensure timely, accurate, and caring support to students and faculty.
• Serve on the Enrollment Management and Student Success (EMSS) leadership team, supporting institutional decision-making, identifying issues before they escalate, collaborating with the entire EMSS team toward the goal of serving students to promote success at Bank Street.
• In collaboration with the graduate school communications team, oversee all communication and resources with students and faculty regarding Financial Aid Office business.
• Serve on Graduate School committees, as assigned, and attend Deans and other leadership meetings as appropriate.

Desired Experience, Attributes and Style

• 10+ years of progressively more responsible experience in student financial aid and enrollment management in higher education. Working in a setting that serves graduate students is a plus.
• Successful track record of leading and supervising staff to implement innovative solutions and achieve the highest standards of service, and financial aid compliance.
• Master's degree required.
• Demonstrated experience in leading a team in best practices of financial aid management, implementation of innovative solutions and achievement of the highest standards of service and data integrity.
• Strong leadership, analytic, management and people skills. Excellent track record working collaboratively with faculty, administration and students.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Understanding of teacher/leader preparation programs is desirable.
• Experience with Powerfaids student financial aid information system is a plus.

Compensation and Benefits

Bank Street College of Education will offer a highly attractive annual salary and benefit package to the hired candidate.

Proposed Salary $130,000 - $140,000