Associate Director of Financial Aid

The Associate Director of Financial Aid – Advisement is a senior leader within the Office of Financial Aid who serves as the primary representative and voice of financial aid for Rocky Vista University students. Reporting to the Executive Director of Financial Aid, this role is charged with advancing the student experience by providing comprehensive financial aid advisement, ensuring compliance with federal and institutional policies, and fostering collaboration across key university departments. The Associate Director oversees financial aid counseling services, loan processing, and debt management initiatives, while also leading proactive engagement efforts to ensure students and families are fully informed and supported throughout their academic journey. As the face of Financial Aid, this role delivers presentations to RVU students at critical academic milestones, offers individualized counseling on borrowing and repayment, and manages the credit application and loan counseling process for federal and private loans. In addition, the Associate Director plays a pivotal role in cross-departmental collaboration, maintaining strong partnerships with Admissions, Registrar, Bursar, and Clinical Education Operations to ensure financial aid processes are seamlessly integrated into the broader student lifecycle. This position reports to the Executive Director, Financial Aid. Essential Functions Leadership & Advisement Supervise, train, and evaluate counseling staff to ensure accurate, efficient, and student-centered advisement. Provide direct advisement to students regarding aid eligibility, award adjustments, loan options, repayment obligations, and debt management strategies. Serve as the primary financial aid representative at student-facing events (orientation, class meetings, information sessions, and workshops). Develop and deliver presentations to incoming, continuing, and graduating students on loan options, repayment, budgeting, and financial wellness. Loan Counseling & Debt Management Oversee the credit application and loan counseling processes for federal and private loans, ensuring compliance with Title IV and institutional requirements. Manage loan entrance and exit counseling processes; ensure students understand borrowing responsibilities and repayment options. Certify/Manage Direct Loan applications and process loan returns, adjustments, and cancellations along with the Enrollment and Financial Aid Operations teams. Develop and implement debt management programs, including individual counseling, repayment planning, and post-graduation financial education. Review and approve complex loan adjustments, increases, and reductions in accordance with federal regulations. Oversight of the student facing VA benefits process. Ensure there are at least 3 certifying officials across the team including one on campus. Maintain active interaction with Admissions to ensure prospective and admitted students are fully informed about financial aid opportunities and requirements throughout the admissions process. Partner with the Registrar to ensure accurate enrollment data for aid packaging and compliance. Collaborate with the Bursar to support billing, payment, and aid disbursement processes. Coordinate with Clinical Education Operations to align aid processing with clinical placements and scheduling. Work across departments to streamline processes and provide holistic support for students. Operational Oversight & Compliance Use Jenzabar, PowerFAIDS, UC4, COD, and NSLDS extensively to process, monitor, and reconcile financial aid activity. Monitor reports to ensure timely and accurate packaging, awarding, disbursement, and loan certification. Oversee compliance with federal, state, and institutional regulations, including FERPA, Title IV, COD, and NSLDS requirements. Maintain knowledge of federal regulations, lender policies, and institutional practices; recommend policy and process updates as needed. Collaborate with the Financial Aid leadership team on strategic planning, policy development, and operational improvements. Oversee FAFSA processing, ISIR review, need analysis, and verification, ensuring accuracy and timely completion. Collaborate with leadership on system testing, automation improvements, and operational planning. In conjunction with the Enrollment and Financial Aid Operations leadership, collaborate on Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) reviews and Title IV refund calculations. In conjunction with the Enrollment and Financial Aid Operations leadership, collaborate and coordinate all Enrollment and Financial Aid audits, including internal reviews, external audits, and accreditation reviews; ensure timely file retrieval, review, and submission. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Deep knowledge of financial aid regulations, Title IV programs, and compliance requirements. Strong leadership and staff development skills with the ability to manage and inspire a counseling team. Expertise in loan counseling, credit application review, and debt management strategies. Excellent presentation, communication, and interpersonal skills; ability to engage with large groups of students and represent Financial Aid professionally. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; ability to manage complex data and reports. Extensive experience with Jenzabar, PowerFAIDS, Banner, UC4, COD, and NSLDS systems. Ability to balance regulatory compliance with a compassionate, student-focused approach. Other Duties Provide coverage for core functions as needed to ensure uninterrupted service to applicants and students. Perform other duties and special projects assigned by leadership. This description is not intended to be all-inclusive. This position may perform other related duties as required to meet the ongoing needs of the department/institution. Qualifications Minimum 7 years of progressive financial aid experience, including 3 years in a supervisory or leadership role. Demonstrated experience with federal loan programs, private loan processing, and debt management counseling. Familiarity with Title IV regulations, COD, NSLDS, and financial aid reporting systems. Strong track record of student engagement and delivering financial aid presentations. Work Environment & Physical Demands Professional office environment with frequent use of computers, phones, and standard office equipment. Ability to concentrate in a fast-paced environment with frequent interruptions. Hybrid work environment with occasional in-person presentation requirements. Occasional evening and weekend hours required for presentations, high volume time period, or special events. Periodic travel to MGE campuses may be required. The anticipated salary range for the Associate Director of Financial Aid - Advisement is $69,800 to $82,100 per year. The final salary offered may vary and will be determined based on factors such as job-related knowledge, skills, experience, location, and education of the successful candidate. This information is provided per NYS local law. #J-18808-Ljbffr