Director of Financial Aid

Job Description

Job Description

Lycoming College is hiring a Director of Financial Aid to work within our Enrollment Management team

The Director of Financial Aid provides strategic leadership and operational management for all aspects of federal, state, and institutional financial aid programs. At a small Liberal Arts & Sciences college, the Director plays a critical role in advancing the institution’s mission by ensuring equitable access, regulatory compliance, student-centered service, and effective leveraging of institutional aid to support enrollment and retention goals.
The Director supervises financial aid staff, oversees financial aid awarding and compliance, collaborates closely with Admissions and Student Accounts, and serves as the primary authority on financial aid policy and regulatory matters.

Who We Are:
Founded in 1812, Lycoming College is one of the nation’s oldest and most respected liberal arts colleges. Today, our community of 1,200 active learners from 26 states and territories and 13 countries comprises a student body that is 31 percent domestic students of the global majority or international, all of whom work with our renowned scholars to craft customized combinations of market-driven majors, minors and concentrations across our 52+ academic programs. Students compete in 20 NCAA Division III sports, participate in faculty-driven research, thrive in a robust program of internship experiences, and study abroad in more than two dozen countries. Lycoming College has one of the highest endowment-per-student ratios in the country. The institution is a member of the Annapolis Group of Liberal Arts Colleges and is recognized by U.S. News as a top 100 National Liberal Arts College and the No. 21 Best Value School. Lycoming College is dedicated to providing a high-quality liberal arts and sciences education for all students. Learn more at 

The College proudly celebrates and values the principles of inclusive excellence. In its 2021 Strategic Plan, Lycoming College committed to recruiting more faculty and staff from historically underrepresented groups.  The community works to foster an inclusive campus community and to support the success of all faculty, staff and students. The College recognizes that a community formed of a wide range of backgrounds and experiences benefits all its members and serves to advance Lycoming’s goal of preparing graduates to become ethical, informed, and engaged individuals

Lycoming College is an equal opportunity employer.

What will I do in this role? 

Leadership & Strategy

• Develop and implement a comprehensive financial aid strategy aligned with institutional enrollment and net tuition revenue goals.
• Partner with Admissions to optimize institutional aid leveraging and discount strategy.
• Participate in enrollment forecasting and financial modeling.
• Serve on Enrollment Management and/or Cabinet-level committees.
• Interpret federal and state regulations and assess institutional impact.

2. Compliance & Regulatory Oversight

• Ensure full compliance with Title IV federal regulations and state aid programs.
• Serve as Primary Designated School Official (if applicable).
• Maintain policies and procedures consistent with federal guidelines.
• Oversee audits, program reviews, and reporting requirements.
• Monitor updates from the U.S. Department of Education and professional associations.
• Works closely with the Director of Institutional Research in completing initiatives including annual surveys, assessments, and data compilation for IPEDS, AICUP, and COMMON DATA SET

 
3. Operations Management

• Oversee packaging, awarding, and disbursement of financial aid.
• Ensure accurate and timely processing of FAFSA and related documentation.
• Maintain and optimize financial aid management systems.
• Coordinate verification and professional judgment processes.
• Manage reconciliation with Business Office.

4. Student & Family Engagement

• Provide high-touch counseling to students and families.
• Develop financial literacy programming.
• Resolve complex aid cases and appeals.
• Support retention initiatives for financially at-risk students.

5. Budget & Institutional Aid Management

• Administer institutional grant and scholarship budgets.
• Monitor aid expenditures relative to discount rate targets.
• Collaborate with Finance on long-range financial projections.
• Provide regular data reports to senior leadership and trustees.

6. Supervision & Staff Development

• Supervise financial aid counselors and support staff.
• Provide training on regulatory changes and customer service standards.
• Foster a collaborative, student-centered team culture.

What are we looking for? 

Required

• Bachelor’s degree (Master’s preferred).
• 5–7 years of progressive financial aid experience.
• Demonstrated knowledge of federal Title IV regulations.
• Supervisory experience.
• Experience with financial aid management systems.
• Strong analytical and data interpretation skills.

Preferred

• Experience at a small private liberal arts institution.
• Knowledge of institutional aid leveraging strategies.
• Experience with enrollment modeling.
• Familiarity with NCAA regulations (especially Division III).
• Experience preparing for and responding to internal/external audits and program reviews; ability to communicate effectively with auditors and implement corrective action plans.
• Familiarity with higher education systems such as Colleague (ERP/SIS) and SLATE (CRM).

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Net tuition revenue alignment with institutional goals
• FAFSA completion and verification turnaround time
• Compliance audit outcomes
• Student satisfaction scores
• Retention of high-need students
• Discount rate management

What We Offer! 
Lycoming College has an excellent benefits package that includes: 
Health & Wellness Benefits: 

• Health insurance – with a wide variety of health plan options available 

• Dental insurance, including orthodontia coverage. 

• Vision insurance 

• Flexible spending accounts for medical expenses and dependent care expenses 

• Life & accidental death and dismemberment insurance 

• Long-term disability insurance 

• Short-term disability insurance 

• Cancer insurance 

• Personal accident insurance 

• Wellness program 

• Employee assistance program 

Retirement Benefits: 

• 403(b) retirement plan with up to 8% contributions from the College 

Tuition Benefits: 

• Free tuition for employees, spouses, and eligible dependents at Lycoming College 

• Free tuition for eligible dependents at over 600 colleges nationwide through Tuition Exchange, Inc. 

• Free tuition for employees, spouses, and eligible dependents at the Pennsylvania College of Technology 

Paid Leave Benefits: 

• Generous paid time off (PTO) 

• Paid Parental Leave 

• 14 holidays per year 

• Summer hours 

Employee Perks: 

• 15% discount at the campus bookstore, excluding textbooks and snacks. 

• Reduced rates for meal packages for on-campus dining facilities. 

• Use of the campus recreations center and gym facilities for employees. 

• Use of the campus Library. 

How do I Join the Warrior Team? 

Please submit a cover letter, Resume/CV, and a list of three references with contact information.  Candidates will be evaluated on their ability to illustrate how their experience and skills connect to the qualifications of this position. 

 
Priority review of applications will be given to those who apply by April 3, 2026, and will cease once the position has been filled. Criminal history background check conducted post offer.

 

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