Senior Director, Financial Aid

Role Description

The Senior Director of Financial Aid serves as the systemwide leader of financial aid operations within a centralized service model across The Community Solution Education System. This role reports to the Vice President of Student Financial Affairs and is responsible for the overall administration, performance, and compliance of financial aid functions supporting all institutions within the system.

The Senior Director oversees a centralized financial aid office responsible for application processing, awarding, advising, and service delivery. This role maintains full accountability for the effectiveness, accuracy, and compliance of all financial aid activities.

This position serves as the primary authority and representative for Financial Aid, leading systemwide initiatives, advising executive leadership, and ensuring alignment between operational execution, regulatory requirements, and institutional strategy. The role carries ultimate responsibility for financial aid outcomes, including maintaining institutional eligibility for participation in Title IV federal student aid programs.

• Financial Aid Operations & Oversight:
  • Oversee all centralized financial aid operations, including application processing, verification, awarding, advising, disbursement coordination, and student support.
  • Ensure timely, accurate, and compliant administration of federal, state, institutional, and private financial aid across all institutions.
  • Maintain accountability for service delivery, processing timelines, and the overall student financial aid experience.
  • Provide strategic direction and oversight to the Director of Financial Aid, who manages day-to-day operations and staff execution.
  • Monitor operational performance, workflow efficiency, and service levels to support enrollment, persistence, and financial integrity.
• Leadership, Direction & Accountability:
  • Lead the centralized financial aid function, establishing priorities, performance expectations, and operational standards.
  • Ensure alignment between operational execution and regulatory, institutional, and student experience expectations.
  • Maintain ultimate accountability for all financial aid-related functions, outcomes, and compliance obligations, including institutional eligibility for Title IV participation.
  • Serve as the final escalation point for complex, sensitive, or high-risk financial aid matters.
• Strategic Initiatives & Representation:
  • Lead systemwide financial aid initiatives, including regulatory implementation, process transformation, and system enhancements.
  • Represent Financial Aid in executive discussions, governance forums, and cross-functional initiatives.
  • Serve as the primary representative of Financial Aid in systemwide planning and decision-making efforts.
  • Partner with institutional and system leadership to align financial aid strategy with enrollment, retention, and financial sustainability goals.
  • Advise executive leadership on regulatory risk, policy interpretation, and strategic decision-making.
• Compliance & Regulatory Oversight:
  • Ensure financial aid administration across all institutions complies with federal Title IV regulations, state requirements, and institutional policies.
  • Oversee systemwide readiness for audits, program reviews, and regulatory inquiries, in coordination with compliance leadership.
  • Ensure consistent interpretation and application of regulatory requirements across institutions.
  • Partner with compliance leadership to implement new or revised regulatory requirements into operational practice.
  • Maintain oversight of policies, procedures, and controls to support institutional eligibility and regulatory compliance.
• Cross-Functional Coordination:
  • Collaborate with Student Accounts, Registrar, Admissions, Institutional Research, Academics, and Information Technology to ensure alignment across the student financial services lifecycle.
  • Support coordination of financial aid with billing, disbursement, and academic activity to ensure accuracy and minimize student impact.
  • Contribute to systemwide initiatives related to financial literacy, student communications, and service delivery improvements.
• Operational Effectiveness & Continuous Improvement:
  • Identify systemwide risks, inefficiencies, and opportunities for improvement through data analysis and performance monitoring.
  • Support implementation and optimization of financial aid systems and processes in partnership with IT and system leadership.
  • Drive process improvements that enhance efficiency, compliance, and the overall student experience.

Qualifications

• Comprehensive knowledge of federal Title IV programs, regulations, and compliance requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret complex regulatory requirements and translate them into operational strategy.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to lead through influence in a multi-institution, matrixed environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage high-risk, high-impact issues with sound judgment and urgency.
• High level of professionalism, discretion, and executive presence.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution; Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in financial aid administration.
• Demonstrated experience in leadership, oversight, or system-level coordination of financial aid functions.
• Experience managing regulatory compliance, audits, or program reviews.
• Experience in a multi-campus or system-based environment strongly preferred.

Preferred

• Experience leading large-scale initiatives such as system implementations or regulatory transformations.
• Experience working with financial aid systems and enterprise platforms.
• Experience advising senior leadership on regulatory or operational strategy.

Working Conditions

• This is a fully remote position; employees must have access to a reliable internet connection and a dedicated, professional workspace conducive to productivity and confidentiality.
• This role is primarily sedentary in nature, requiring extended periods of sitting and working at a computer.
• Occasional travel may be required for institutional meetings, training, or college-related events.

Benefits

The Community Solution offers a generous compensation and benefits package, as well as the opportunity to work for a leader in the field of education. To learn more about our competitive benefits and additional rewards, including:

• Generous paid time-off
• Medical and dental insurance coverage
• Life and disability insurance
• Retirement plan with employer contribution
• Multiple flexible spending accounts
• Tuition reimbursement

Application Process

Please note the screening, recruitment, and selection process is managed by recruiting staff and hiring managers with the aid of artificial intelligence to evaluate candidates against job requirements. The artificial intelligence tool is a resource only and all employment decisions are made by staff members.

When you apply, it is recommended you utilize the option to parse your resume into the application. To ensure your experience is accurately reflected, please review and complete all application fields—even if you auto-fill from your resume.

For the best results, tailor your resume to the job description, highlight key qualifications and skills, and use clear, consistent formatting. This helps our AI tools read and assess your application more effectively. We are committed to regularly monitoring the process for fairness and remove personally identifiable information during evaluation.