Director of Financial Aid

McHenry County College

Salary: $82,759.04 - $129,437.67 Annually

Location: McHenry County College - 8900 Northwest Hwy 14, Crystal Lake, IL

Job Type: Administrator

Job Number: 202600047

Division: Student Affairs

Department: Financial Aid

FLSA: Exempt

Bargaining Unit: NO

Target Hire Rate: $95,479.02 - $106,087.80

Pay Grade: A3

Workweek: 40 Hours | Flexible schedule to meet department needs including evenings and Saturdays.

Position Summary

The Director of Financial Aid assists in student enrollment, retention, and success by providing leadership and oversight of the policies, administration, application, award and reporting of all federal, state, and institutional student financial aid programs and scholarships. The Director is responsible for overseeing Financial Aid, Military Benefits, Work Study, Scholarships, and building an atmosphere dedicated to providing excellent customer service for students and families. Financial Aid plays a significant role in our focus on increasing student access, success, retention, and graduation. The Director should be familiar with the challenges and barriers that community college students and their families face in preparing for and paying for college, and be ready to help students overcome the obstacles in their path to post‑secondary education.

Essential Job Functions And Responsibilities

• Provide leadership, management, and supervision for all student financial aid awarding, verification processes and scholarship programs while maintaining compliance with all federal and state regulations, and revise policies and procedures to accommodate changes in federal and state regulations and institutional policies as needed.
• Oversee the administration and awarding/disbursement of federal Title IV monies, federal military benefits, state financial aid programs, and institutional and external scholarships and grants.
• Supervise and direct Financial Aid staff and student employees. This involves hiring, training, motivating, managing, and evaluating so the team performs at the highest level possible.
• Build, develop, and lead a knowledgeable, high‑performing and customer service‑focused Financial Aid team, modeling behavior that inspires coworkers and builds trust with the community.
• Lead a high‑impact, student‑centered Financial Aid program and coordinate the delivery of services with other campus programs (Admissions, Advising, Enrollment, etc.) to provide seamless, quality services for students.
• Communicate financial information in a professional and courteous manner to help students and families understand their financial package and responsibility to the college.
• Direct, prepare, and complete state and federal audits and reports; program reviews; Board reports; and departmental reports. Contribute to college audits and reports.
• Serve as an institutional leader of Financial Aid compliance; research, interpret, and implement all applicable federal and state financial aid related laws and regulations; stay up‑to‑date on changes and best practices in financial aid and related areas; manage and prepare published consumer information; develop and update departmental policies and procedures; and train colleagues, as needed.
• Maintain knowledge of multiple and ever‑changing software and web‑based programs mandated by state and federal agencies.
• Assure reconciliation of all Financial Aid programs.
• Prepare and submit institutional applications to funding agencies.
• Initiate, develop, and implement communications to students, families, and colleagues about paying for college options, including institutional, MCC Foundation, and private scholarships and grants.
• Ensure the College is in compliance with all applicable federal audit provisions.
• Apply federal‑ and state‑mandated regulations; complete budgetary requests annually; develop and recommend policies, procedures, and guidelines relative to the Financial Aid Department.
• Develop and prepare the annual budget for the Financial Aid office; analyze and review budgetary and financial data; control and authorize expenditures in accordance with established limitations.
• Develop and maintain a system of data collection and recordkeeping to be used in reporting and evaluating the Financial Aid and Military Benefits programs, as well as keep auditable records for each student.
• Plan and facilitate one‑on‑ones with direct reports and team meetings.
• Refine and keep current the departmental website for financial assistance programs, policies, application procedures, and recipient responsibilities.
• Support outreach efforts by offering Financial Aid presentations and workshops and developing communications plans.
• Support the Return to Title IV funds process.
• Manage all Financial Aid communication documentation.
• Provide technological leadership for the team, learning new systems and solutions as needed, and assisting team members and others with mastering them.
• Assist with collegewide events such as commencement ceremonies, open houses, etc.
• Work collaboratively with others (e.g. colleagues, stakeholders, vendors) to accomplish functions and responsibilities.
• Support and participate in the College's commitment to continuous improvement.
• Assume additional duties as assigned by immediate supervisor.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution in Higher Education, Student Personnel Administration, or related field.
• Three years of Financial Aid experience.
• Three years of supervisory experience.
• Strong knowledge of and experience with rules, regulations, procedures, policies, and function of federal and state financial aid programs.
• Experience with financial aid awarding procedures.
• Extensive experience with computer software used for financial aid processing.

Desired Qualifications

• Master's degree from a regionally accredited institution.
• Five years of financial aid experience.
• Community college experience.
• Ellucian Colleague experience.

Skills and Specifications

• Effective supervision in guiding, leading, and motivating a team of individuals.
• Strong public speaking skills.
• Experience with and appreciation of diverse cultures and a commitment to multiculturalism.
• Ability to learn new technological applications and champion their adoption by others.
• Ability to show understanding and compassion to prospective students and their families regarding the importance of financial aid, recognizing that without this assistance many will be unable to enroll and/or remain in school.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Ability to understand personal and financial problems encountered by college students and parents, and adjust communication style and approach based on individualized concerns.
• Detail‑oriented and excellent organizational skills.
• High level of ethics and integrity related to all aspects of the position.
• Ability to work independently yet have a strong team orientation and to develop productive working relationships at all levels of the organization.
• Strong analytical, problem‑solving, interpersonal, and communication skills.
• Commitment and respect for diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Understanding of and commitment to the College's mission, vision, values, and goals.

Supervisory Relationships/Direct Reports

• Coordinator of Financial Aid
• 3 Financial Aid Specialists
• Military Benefits Specialist
• Administrative Assistant I

Equal Employment Opportunity

McHenry County College declares and reaffirms a policy of equal opportunity and non‑discrimination. The College will make all decisions regarding admission, employment, participation in educational programs, or activities, without discrimination on grounds of race, color, creed, or religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, order of protection status, marital status, physical or mental disabilities, military status, sexual orientation, gender‑related identity, pregnancy, unfavorable discharge from military service, or other factors prohibited by law. Decisions regarding employment include hiring, promotion, termination, wages or salaries, benefits, and other terms and conditions of employment. MCC is committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible college community.

To request reasonable accommodation to participate in any aspect of the hiring process, contact Human Resources at View email address on click.appcast.io.