Associate Director, Financial Aid

Department: Location: Health Sciences Center Time Type: Full time Worker Type: Regular Minimum Requirements: Bachelor's degree in a related field and six (6) years of relevant experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Grade 7 (Salaried) Position Description: The Associate Director, Financial Aid, within the University of Louisville School of Nursing provides high-level, individualized financial aid leadership and student-facing service for a complex and diverse population of nursing students with access to multiple funding streams, including institutional and endowed scholarships, work-study, employer tuition reimbursement and repayment agreements, external partnerships, federal and private loans, and other grant or contract-based aid. This position serves as the school's primary expert resource for navigating the full spectrum of financial aid options, ensuring students receive personalized, accurate, and timely guidance throughout their academic journey. The Associate Director administers the awarding and disbursement of School-based funds, resolves complex and individualized financial aid issues, and ensures strict compliance with federal and state financial aid regulations, including Title IX requirements. Working in close partnership with the University's central Office of Financial Aid, the Associate Director bridges institutional policy with the unique needs of nursing students, delivering a concierge-level standard of financial counseling and problem-solving that supports student retention, financial literacy, and long-term financial well-being. Target salary is approximately $66,000 and may vary based on experience, internal equity, etc. Essential Duties and Responsibilities Award Administration and Disbursement Administer the awarding and disbursement of work-study funds and endowed, non-endowed, institutional, and other scholarship/grant monies to students' financial aid accounts; maintain complete and accurate documentation of all such awards. Approve standardized professional judgment awards. Develop and maintain organized records and reporting systems to track student aid packages, disbursement status, and professional judgment adjustments in support of program compliance and accreditation needs. Problem Resolution and Compliance Identify and resolve issues related to delayed disbursement, fund reallocation, or changes in a student's financial status, consulting with the Office of Financial Aid as needed to ensure timely resolution. Ensure strict adherence to all federal and state financial aid guidelines, including compliance with Title IX requirements. Maintain up-to-date knowledge of federal, state, and institutional financial aid policy changes, as well as emerging private loan products and employer-sponsored tuition benefit programs, to provide students with current and accurate guidance. Individualized Student Counseling Counsel students individually on financial aid matters, providing clear guidance on navigating the financial aid process from initial application through disbursement. Counsel students on the composition of their overall aid package, including strategies for responsible loan repayment planning. Provide students with comprehensive information on private loan options, including the long-term impact of private borrowing on future repayment obligations and eligibility for loan forgiveness programs. Provide proactive, individualized outreach to students who may be at risk of financial aid shortfalls, delays, or compliance issues that could affect enrollment or academic progression. Complex Aid Evaluation Evaluate complex financial aid packages, perform detailed needs analyses, verify and reconcile conflicting tax and income documentation, and make professional judgment adjustments as appropriate. Assist students in identifying, evaluating, and accessing external offers for tuition reimbursement from employer partners and other outside organizations. Technical Support and Liaison Assist students in troubleshooting financial aid software and online portals, ensuring uninterrupted access to aid information and resources. Serve as a liaison between the School of Nursing and the University's Office of Financial Aid, the Bursar’s office, employer partners, and external lending or scholarship organizations to coordinate aid administration. Preferred Qualifications Master’s degree Minimum of 5–7 years of progressive experience in financial aid administration, preferably within a higher education or health sciences setting. Demonstrated knowledge of federal and state financial aid regulations, including Title IV and Title IX compliance requirements. Experience with financial aid management systems and student information systems. Strong analytical skills with demonstrated ability to perform needs analysis and resolve complex financial aid cases. Experience working with graduate or professional health sciences students, particularly within nursing or other clinical programs. Familiarity with employer tuition reimbursement agreements, federal/private loan repayment and forgiveness programs, and work-study contract administration. Experience supervising staff or coordinating cross‑functional partnerships with central financial aid offices. Competencies Regulatory Knowledge - Comprehensive understanding of federal, state, and institutional financial aid policy, including Title IV and Title IX requirements. Problem Solving Skills - The ability to work across departments to identify and correct problems related to the registrar’s office, bursar’s office or employers that impact the correct disbursement of financial aid. Analytical Judgment - Skilled in evaluating complex financial data, resolving discrepancies, and making sound professional judgment determinations. Communication - Strong interpersonal and counseling skills with the ability to explain complex financial concepts clearly and compassionately. Collaboration - Effective partnership with the central Office of Financial Aid, employer partners, School of Nursing leadership and external organizations. Discretion - Sound judgment in handling sensitive financial and personal information in accordance with regulatory and privacy standards. Individualized Service - Ability to deliver personalized, high-touch counseling to students navigating complex and varied funding sources. Compensation will be commensurate to candidate experience. The University of Louisville is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. The University strives to provide equal employment opportunity on the basis of merit and without unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, sex, age, color, national origin, ethnicity, creed, religion, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, veteran status, marital status, or pregnancy. In accordance with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Vietnam Era Veteran Readjustment Act of 1974, the University prohibits job discrimination of individuals with disabilities, Vietnam era veterans, qualified special disabled veterans, recently separated veterans, and other protected veterans. The University acknowledges its obligations to ensure affirmative steps are taken to ensure equal employment opportunities for all employees and applicants for employment. It is the policy of the University that no employee or applicant for employment be subject to unlawful discrimination in terms of recruitment, hiring, promotion, contract, contract renewal, tenure, compensation, benefits, and/or working conditions. No employee or applicant for employment is required to endorse or condemn a specific ideology, political viewpoint, or social viewpoint to be eligible for hiring, contract renewal, tenure, or promotion. Consistent with applicable law, demographic information is collected for aggregate reporting requirements. Demographic information provided through this application is not available to hiring managers/committees and is not considered in hiring or employment decisions. #J-18808-Ljbffr