Associate Director of Financial Aid - Operations

Associate Director of Financial Aid - Operations Position: Associate Director of Financial Aid - Operations. Full‑time, 37.5 hours per week, monthly pay basis. Job Description: Provide leadership and oversight for financial aid processing operations, serve as functional owner of the Banner Financial Aid system, and ensure accurate, timely, and compliant administration of federal, state, institutional, and private aid programs while leveraging Banner technology to improve efficiency, data integrity, and student experience. Job Responsibilities Financial Aid Processing and Compliance Oversee all aspects of financial aid processing, including FAFSA/ISIR intake, verification, awarding, disbursement, reconciliation, and year‑end closeout. Ensure compliance with Title IV regulations and all applicable federal, state, and institutional policies. Monitor regulatory changes and coordinate implementation of required updates to Banner configurations, processing rules, and business procedures. Develop, maintain, and enforce documented policies, procedures, and internal controls related to financial aid processing. Assist Director with financial aid audits, program reviews, and data requests; ensure timely and accurate responses. Banner Systems Leadership Serve as primary functional lead for Banner Financial Aid, including setup, configuration, rule tables, population selection, and job submission. Lead annual rollover activities, new aid year setup, and ongoing Banner maintenance. Partner with IT and functional offices to manage Banner upgrades, patches, testing, and implementations. Troubleshoot Banner processing issues, analyze errors, and implement corrective solutions. Ensure data integrity and alignment between Banner Financial Aid, Student Accounts, Admissions, and other integrated systems. Develop and maintain Banner‑based reports, queries, and extracts to support operational and compliance needs. Process Improvement and Automation Identify opportunities to streamline workflows through Banner functionality, automation, and third‑party integrations. Lead testing and validation of new processes, regulatory updates, and system enhancements before production release. Support continuous improvement initiatives focused on accuracy, efficiency, and service delivery. Leadership and Supervision Supervise and mentor operations staff; provide training on Banner functionality, financial aid regulations, and office procedures. Establish priorities, manage workloads, and ensure processing deadlines are met. Coordinate and provide scheduled and just‑in‑time training to staff in conjunction with the Director and the Associate Director of Financial Aid for Student Engagement. Participate in staff performance evaluations and professional development planning. Serve as a member of the financial aid leadership team, contributing to strategic planning and office initiatives. Collaboration and Communications Act as a subject‑matter expert for financial aid processing and Banner systems for campus partners. Collaborate with Student Accounts, Registrar, Admissions, Institutional Research, and IT to support accurate data exchange and reporting. Communicate complex regulatory and system changes clearly to technical and non‑technical audiences. Minimum Qualifications Bachelor’s degree required from an accredited institution. Minimum of five years of progressively responsible financial aid experience, including hands‑on experience. Banner Financial Aid experience required. Strong working knowledge of Title IV regulations and financial aid compliance. Experience configuring and maintaining Banner Financial Aid rule tables and processes. Proven analytical, organizational, and problem‑solving skills. Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a high‑volume environment. Special Instructions to Applicants Employment is contingent upon successfully completing a criminal background check as mandated by Tennessee State University. Official transcripts for positions requiring a post‑secondary undergraduate degree, advanced degree, and/or certification must be presented upon hire. An unofficial transcript may be attached in the “Transcript” section. You will be required to provide names and contact information for three references during the application. If you are the recommended candidate, the hiring system will automatically generate soliciting letters using the contact information you provided. Benefits Tennessee State University offers employees a competitive benefits package that includes annual leave (vacation), sick leave, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, retirement, flexible benefits plans and more. #J-18808-Ljbffr Tennessee State University