Assistant Director Financial Aid Operations

Assistant Director Financial Aid Operations Job no: 529877Position Type: Staff Full TimeCampus: UMass BostonDepartment: Financial Aid OfficePay Grade: 31Date opened: 21 May 2026 Eastern Daylight TimeApplications close: 11 Jun 2026 Eastern Daylight Time Summary The Assistant Director of Financial Aid Operations will provide data, technology, and financial systems support to the Financial Aid Office. Working directly with the Senior Associate Director of Financial Aid Operations, the incumbent will assist with systems processing and reporting aspects of PeopleSoft, and will support other office technologies, including but not limited to document imaging, Campus Logic, and transactions with the Department of Education. The role focuses on data integrity, system troubleshooting, operational problems, testing system upgrades, data distribution, electronic file imports/exports, new‑year set up, documenting policies and procedures, working with financial aid staff, and staff training. The incumbent will also provide counseling to a caseload of students. Responsibilities Assist with financial aid systems setup, maintenance, enhancement, project management, data retrieval and query, report writing, and analysis; Assist the Senior Associate Director with weekly and annual packaging processes, resolving c‑flag/ISIR issues, packaging set‑up and monitoring, and awarding on an individual or population level basis; Assist with documenting financial aid processes and creating training materials for end users, including maintaining an up‑to‑date financial aid operations manual; Work collaboratively as part of the office’s operation team; adapt to competing priorities; and help develop solutions to streamline office processes; Manage and troubleshoot the Document Imaging system, including preparing documents for daily shipment to the third‑party vendor, monitoring nightly data uploads, clearing error queues, answering staff questions, performing intermittent manual document scanning, completing system updates, and helping plan long‑term strategic direction; Process documents through Image-Now Printer for staff members on an as‑needed basis, including during peak business periods; Provide backup to other members of the operational staff responsible for pre‑ and post‑ packaging quality control, including c‑flags, federal eligibility, ISIR suspense, grade‑level changes, and data entry; Complete projects assigned by the Senior Associate Director and other senior staff on an ongoing basis; Counsel a caseload of students in all aspects of financial aid including applying for aid, determination of need, packaging policies, disbursement, appeals process, changes to aid package, loan borrowing, and student employment; Keep abreast of new federal and state initiatives and make recommendations regarding implementation; maintain auditable records of aid awards, aid adjustments, appeals requests, and documentation in accordance with state and federal regulations; Collaborate with Information Technology, UITS, and other external agencies to assist with testing, implementation, and enhancements on a regular basis; Attend and present at conferences and events on and off campus; Represent the Student Financial Aid Services office on university committees, at recruitment events, and other events as assigned; Perform other duties as assigned Qualifications Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of three‑five (3‑5) years of progressive experience in an automated financial aid office, preferably in a higher education setting. Applied knowledge of regulatory requirements governing the financial aid programs required. Knowledge of Title IV regulations surrounding federal verification, student eligibility, aid applications, and other aid requirements required. Ability to work evenings and weekends, as requested. Preferred Qualifications Knowledge of and experience with PeopleSoft software preferred; Background and/or experience in counseling techniques preferred; Experience with, or willingness to learn SQL, advanced Excel formula, query, Oracle Business Intelligence, or similar; Knowledge and proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Access, Excel, Outlook) applications; Ability to deal effectively in high‑stress situations; Demonstrated skill in planning and project management; Strong oral and written communication skills; Strong interpersonal skills; Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills; Strong organizational skills, with the ability to prioritize and complete simultaneous projects with minimal supervision; Strong commitment to student and customer service Salary ranges for Pay Grade 31 can be found at the following link: [link]. All official salary offers must be approved by Human Resources. UMass Boston is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, we will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations for the hiring process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact View email address on click.appcast.io or View phone number on click.appcast.io. The University of Massachusetts Boston provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, disability, military status, genetic information, pregnancy or a pregnancy‑related condition, or membership in any other legally protected class. The University of Massachusetts Boston complies with all applicable federal, state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the university operates. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment. UMass Boston does not provide visa sponsorships for non‑academic positions. The University of Massachusetts Boston is committed to providing a safe and secure environment that is supported by qualified employees for all of its students, faculty and staff to carry out the University's teaching, research and public service missions. As a condition of employment, the University will conduct appropriate background check reviews. For more information, please see the University of Massachusetts Boston campus policy and procedures for employee background reviews. #J-18808-Ljbffr