Director of Financial Aid

Job Description

Job Description:\n\nDescription: Who We Are: Are you ready to work at a dynamic institution that believes in higher education with lower obstacles? Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology (now known as Franklin Cummings Tech) is a nationally accredited non-profit, technical college serving Eastern Massachusetts and beyond. The college was seeded in 1791 with funds from the estate of Benjamin Franklin given to the City of Boston to proliferate access to education and level the playing field for aspiring talent with meager financial means. Today, Franklin Cummings Tech continues to build on that legacy by offering post-secondary education in high-demand technical and skilled trade fields that lead to excellent careers. Our majors intentionally focus on select industries connected to sustainability and the clean energy transition including electric vehicle technology, smart manufacturing, practical electricity, power engineering, heat pumps/HVAC, biotechnology, automation, construction management, and more. With a mission to deliver transformative technical and trade education that leads to economic advancement, we offer a unique mix of certificate and degree-granting programs that appeal to enterprising students and respond to employer’s demand for a well-prepared workforce. Intentional partnerships with the industries we serve coupled with high graduation and job placement rates, recently attracted the largest philanthropic gift in the history of the college from the Cummings Foundation. Last year, Franklin Cummings Tech educated more than 1,000 learners across three student types: 1) certificate and degree seekers, 2) continuing education clients, and 3) high schoolers pursuing early college. As further evidence that our mission holds resonance, this year the college tracked a 25% year-over-year jump in fall new student enrollment and applications soared. We seek team members who are optimistic, entrepreneurial, data-informed, and excited about the prospect of continuing to strategically increase student success outcomes and total enrollment from 1,000 learners today to at least 1,500 learners by 2030. Join us in this mission-driven work! Position Summary: The Director of Financial Aid provides strategic leadership for the College's financial aid operations, ensuring regulatory compliance while delivering exceptional student experience that supports enrollment, persistence, and completion. The position oversees the administration of all federal, state, institutional, and scholarship aid programs, manages the College's partnership with its outsourced financial aid service provider, and leads the continuous improvement of financial aid policies, systems, and business processes. As a key member of the Enrollment Services leadership team, the Director collaborates closely with Admissions, Student Accounts, the Registrar, Student Affairs, Finance, Information Technology, Academic Affairs, and external agencies to remove financial barriers and advance the College's enrollment and student success goals. Essential Functions and Responsibilities: The following duties are representative of the work performed in this position. Other duties may be assigned based on organizational needs. Strategic Leadership & Financial Aid Administration:Provide strategic leadership for the College's financial aid operation in support of institutional enrollment, retention, and student success goals. Direct the administration of all federal, state, institutional, and private financial aid programs in accordance with applicable regulations and College policies. Develop, implement, and continuously improve financial aid policies, procedures, and business processes. Monitor departmental performance using data and key performance indicators to improve service delivery, operational efficiency, and student outcomes. Support institutional planning by providing financial aid expertise, analysis, and recommendations to senior leadership. Compliance, Operations & Technology:Ensure compliance with all federal, state, accrediting agency, and institutional financial aid regulations, policies, and reporting requirements. Oversee verification, satisfactory academic progress (SAP), professional judgment reviews, Return of Title IV (R2T4) calculations, audits, program reviews, and required federal and state reporting. Oversee the administration and continuous improvement of financial aid systems, including Jenzabar J1, PowerFAIDS (or successor platform), and other technologies supporting financial aid operations. Ensure the integrity, accuracy, security, and confidentiality of student financial aid data and records. Recommend and implement operational improvements that increase efficiency and enhance the student experience. Partnership & Team Leadership:Provide leadership, coaching, and performance management for assigned financial aid staff, fostering a collaborative, student-centered, and high-performing team. Direct and evaluate the College's outsourced financial aid partner (FA Solutions), establishing performance expectations, monitoring service levels, and ensuring compliance with contractual obligations. Coordinate workflow and communication between internal departments and external partners to ensure timely and accurate financial aid processing. Promote cross-functional collaboration across Enrollment Services and the College to achieve shared student success goals. Student Success & Enrollment Collaboration:Ensure students and families receive accurate, timely, and compassionate financial aid counseling throughout the enrollment lifecycle. Collaborate with Admissions, Student Accounts, the Registrar, Student Affairs, Finance, Academic Affairs, and other campus partners to remove financial barriers and improve enrollment, persistence, and completion. Develop and support financial literacy initiatives, FAFSA completion events, outreach programs, and educational workshops that promote informed financial decision-making. Serve as the College's subject matter expert on financial aid regulations, policies, and student financing options. Communication, Assessment & Continuous Improvement:Analyze operational and student success data to identify trends, improve processing timelines, and enhance service delivery. Prepare reports and presentations for institutional leadership and external agencies regarding financial aid operations, compliance, and performance. Lead change management initiatives that strengthen financial aid services, improve cross-functional processes, and support institutional strategic priorities. Perform other related duties as assigned. Requirements: Required Qualifications:Associates degree in Higher Education Administration, Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Public Administration, or related field required.Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience administering financial aid programs in higher education, including experience with federal Title IV financial aid regulations.Minimum of two (2) years of leadership experience supervising employees, leading cross-functional teams, managing strategic initiatives, or overseeing outsourced service providers.Demonstrated experience managing financial aid operations, compliance, audits, reporting, and regulatory requirements.Equivalent combinations of education, professional experience, and relevant certifications may be considered. Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:Comprehensive knowledge of federal Title IV financial aid regulations, state financial aid programs, and higher education compliance requirements.Demonstrated ability to interpret and apply complex federal, state, institutional, and accrediting agency regulations.Strong leadership skills with the ability to develop staff, manage vendor partnerships, lead change, and foster a collaborative, student-centered culture.Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to communicate complex information to diverse audiences.Strong analytical, organizational, project management, and problem-solving skills with the ability to use data to support decision-making and continuous improvement.Proficiency with student information systems, financial aid management systems, Microsoft Office applications, and reporting tools; experience with Jenzabar J1 and PowerFAIDS preferred.Demonstrated ability to build collaborative relationships with students, families, faculty, staff, external agencies, and strategic partners while maintaining the highest standards of confidentiality and professionalism. Preferred Qualifications:Bachelor's degree in Higher Education Administration, Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Public Administration, or related field.Experience working in a private, nonprofit institution of higher education.Experience managing outsourced financial aid operations or third-party vendor relationships.Experience leading financial aid technology implementations, business process improvements, or operational change initiatives.Experience using data analytics to improve financial aid operations, enrollment outcomes, and student success.Active participation in professional organizations such as NASFAA, MASFAA, EASFAA, or other relevant higher education associations.NASFAA Credential(s) or other professional certifications related to financial aid administration preferred. Supervisory Responsibilities: This position provides leadership and oversight for the College's financial aid operations. The Director may directly supervise assigned financial aid staff and is responsible for hiring, onboarding, training, coaching, performance management, scheduling, and professional development, as applicable. The Director also provides strategic oversight of the College's outsourced financial aid partner (FA Solutions), establishing performance expectations, monitoring service delivery, ensuring contractual compliance, and fostering a collaborative partnership that supports institutional goals and an exceptional student experience. Physical Requirements:Ability to remain in a stationary position and operate a computer for extended periods while performing administrative and analytical work.Ability to frequently move throughout the campus to attend meetings, collaborate with colleagues, and provide support to students, faculty, staff, and campus events.Ability to communicate effectively in person, by telephone, and through virtual meeting platforms.Ability to operate standard office equipment, including computers, printers, scanners, copiers, and other technology required to perform essential job functions.Ability to occasionally lift and transport materials weighing up to 20 pounds, such as files, office supplies, presentation materials, or event equipment.Ability to work on occasional evenings and weekends to support enrollment events, orientation, commencement, financial aid workshops, open houses, registration activities, and other institutional events.Ability to travel occasionally between campus locations or attend professional meetings, conferences, or training programs, as required. Work Environment:This position operates primarily in a professional office environment with frequent interaction with students, families, faculty, staff, and external partners. The role requires regular use of computers, telephones, and other standard office equipment.The work environment is collaborative and fast-paced, requiring the ability to manage multiple priorities, respond to changing deadlines, and maintain accuracy while handling confidential and sensitive information.The position requires regular interaction with students and families in a customer service-oriented setting and occasional travel between college locations, including the Billerica campus, as well as attendance at conferences, training, or professional meetings, as needed.The role is four days a week onsite at the Franklin Cummings Tech Boston Campus with the ability to be remote, possibly one day a week based on operational needs. Occasional evening and weekend hours are required to support enrollment activities, orientation, commencement, open houses, FAFSA workshops, registration events, and other institutional programs. This position operates primarily in a professional office environment. The College is committed to providing reasonable accommodations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and applicable state law. Employee Expectations: All employees are expected to support the college’s student-centered mission, contribute to institutional growth and innovation, and collaborate across departments to improve student recruitment, retention, graduation, and career placement outcomes. Our college is an in-person institution. Campus presence is the default expectation for all employees. In-person presence remains the expectation and the standard for all staff. Flex arrangements are a discretionary privilege, not a right, and may be modified or discontinued if it is determined that flex arrangements are diminishing service quality, team cohesion, or responsiveness to students, external partners, and colleagues. The student experience and fidelity of institutional operations take priority over individual schedule preferences. The salary for this position is $85,000-$105,000; DOE. Please note: Franklin Cummings Tech is not able to provide visa sponsorship for this position now or in the future. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States on an ongoing basis without sponsorship to be considered for this position at Franklin Cummings Tech. Franklin Cummings Tech is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, or veteran status.