Director of Financial Aid

The Director of Financial Aid is responsible for administering a complex, multifaceted student financial aid program for credit and non-credit students that includes grants, loans, scholarships, and student employment opportunities. The Director provides leadership in establishing and interpreting financial aid policies. Other duties include, but are not limited to, policy and program development and evaluation; planning and budgeting; staff recruiting, development, supervision, and evaluation; and liaison with a variety of stakeholders on and off campus.

This job may be open to CCRI's work from home policy which allows 1-2 days remote per week subject to manager approval and successful onboarding.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Administer and oversee the operations of the Financial Aid Department to ensure conformity between campuses.
• Maintain a thorough and current knowledge of all federal, state, institutional, and other regulations, policies, guidelines, and financial need analysis, and develop and maintain current policies and procedures manuals. Inform staff of changes, modifications, and interpretations resulting from new or current legislation.
• Direct the development, review, evaluation, implementation, and coordination of all policies related to student financial aid and student employment.
• Assist with the preparation and management of the operating budget for the Financial Aid Department.
• Prepare statistical reports and evaluate programs and services, prepare applications for and fiscal reports on federal, state, institutional, and private and other student aid funds.
• Oversee the collection of data from students and parents to determine need and eligibility for various financial aid; processing of applications; allocating financial aid resources and authorizing the disbursement of funds; analyzing, monitoring, and reporting the distribution of financial aid funds.
• Provide leadership to the continued development of data processing systems to enhance efficient and effective delivery of services and management of programs.
• Recruit, train, coordinate, supervise, and evaluate personnel as assigned.
• Advise students and families regarding eligibility, responsibility, requirements and alternative resources for financing of post-secondary education.
• Be active in relevant professional organizations.
• Participate in College committees as assigned.
• Work collaboratively in a diverse, inclusive, and student-centered environment, and with students of various learning styles, cultures, identities, and life experiences.
• Demonstrate a commitment to the philosophy and mission of a comprehensive community college.
• Other related duties as required.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:

This position is not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master's degree
• Minimum of seven years of full-time experience in the administration of student financial aid services, primarily at a community college or university level
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively and diplomatically with others
• Demonstrated commitment to providing student-centered services in a college or university setting
• Effective problem-solving ability
• Willingness to assume leadership in promoting good public relations in dealing with college faculty, staff, students, and other agencies.
• Excellent customer service skills.
• Self-initiating individual possessing effective management, organizational, planning, and interpersonal skills; knowledge of and experience with designing, implementing, and/or refining online student information systems for administering student financial aid program
• Financial Aid experience must be progressively more responsible in nature and include supervisory elements, administering aid in a multi-campus environment.
• Expert knowledge of federal legislation and regulations governing student assistance and need analysis required
• Participation in on-site audits and program reviews
• Direct experience completing the FISAP and other federal/state reports
• Knowledge of Banner or similar system

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Full-time experience at or above the Associate Director level
• Demonstrated leadership in a collective bargaining environment

Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of any employment visa including student visas.

About Community College of Rhode Island

The Community College of Rhode Island is the states only public comprehensive associate degree-granting institution. We provide affordable open access to higher education at locations throughout the state. Our primary mission is to offer recent high school graduates and returning adults the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary for intellectual, professional and personal growth through an array of academic, career and lifelong learning programs. At CCRI, we are committed to building an inclusive and diverse campus community. We strive to hire and retain culturally competent faculty and staff members who reflect the demographics of our state and our increasingly diverse student population. We believe that our diversity is our strength. We celebrate, support and thrive on the diverse experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives that are represented across our four campuses. We are OneCCRI, working together to prepare learners to achieve their highest potential. To learn about what employees value at CCRI and what it means to work here, please read about our Guiding Principles and watch videos of our employees doing what they do best: https://www.ccri.edu/equity/culture/guidingprinciples.html