Northwestern University · 18 hours ago
Senior Assistant Director of Financial Aid
Evanston, IL
Full-time
Onsite
Mid, Senior Level
$74K/yr - $78K/yr
2+ years expNorthwestern University is seeking a Senior Assistant Director of Financial Aid to oversee customer service efforts in the undergraduate financial aid office. The role involves supervising staff, providing guidance to students and parents regarding financial aid processes, and managing a caseload of financial aid applications.
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Responsibilities
Supervises the scheduling and work of the Counseling staff. Trains staff to provide detailed information and advice on how aid eligibility is calculated, how aid impacts invoices, and how enrollment and academic performance interacts with federal, state, and University financial aid policies for students and parents. Maintains the counseling schedule for other assistant directors to ensure coverage to answer more complex questions. During absences, adjusts the schedule to ensure availability of counseling staff. When needed, takes referrals of escalated customer service issues
Provides detailed information and professional advice to parents, students, and staff regarding financial aid eligibility, including University policies and federal and state regulations. Considers requests for adjustments and additional aid on a case-by-case basis and provides advice via e-mail, phone and in person. Guides students through the application process including the intricacies of the verification of information submitted on the FAFSA and College Board PROFILE forms
Compiles and maintains term, monthly, and yearly contact reports, using trend analyses to inform counseling strategy, staff coverage, communication timing, and targeted outreach efforts; collaborates with senior leadership to adjust operations and engagement strategies based on reporting data
Directly supervises two front-line advisors and one counselor; monitors the flow of customer service and assists front-line advising staff in their efforts. Ensures that the service needs of students and families are met and facilitates the escalation of conversations to others in the office
Analyze complex financial aid applications for approximately 300 to 400 undergraduate students; determine aid eligibility under the terms of both federal and institutional methodology by following federal and state regulations and interpreting University guidelines; formulate financial aid packages to meet student need, as well as recruit and retain a diverse student body. Must exercise discretion in determining when it might be appropriate to invoke authority to use professional, independent judgment to deviate from federal methodology on a case-by-case basis. Must use good judgement in committing millions of dollars in University funding to students each year
Stays abreast of federal and state regulations and institutional policies and procedures in order to provide excellent customer service. Responsible for managing a specific financial aid project area, to be assigned. Project areas may include federal eligibility assessment, federal verification, federal/state grant programs, federal/private loans, institutional scholarships, study abroad financial aid, athletic assistance and additional federal regulations and institutional programs, as developed
Responsible for presenting at high school financial aid nights and student information sessions
Performs other duties as assigned
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's Degree
Demonstrated ability to consistently display accuracy and attention to detail
Receptive to feedback, willing to learn and embrace continuous improvement
Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively one-to-one, in small groups and in public speaking contexts
Ability to write precise, well-organized emails, letters and proposals while using appropriate vocabulary and grammar
Effectively performs duties and responsibilities with attention to detail while demonstrating support for organizational policies
Demonstrated energy and desire to achieve and ability to take action that no one has requested to improve or enhance job results and avoid problems
Ability to actively listen to others' opinions and ideas and to respect and seek to understand differences in opinions
Preferred
2-3 years' experience in a financial aid office
Willingness to facilitate open and effective communication, cooperation and teamwork within and outside of one's own team
Experience supervising a customer service or counseling function, preferably in a financial aid office
Exhibits understanding of natural sources of conflict and acts to prevent or soften them
Ability and willingness to explore alternatives to existing products and services and identify opportunities to improve procedures and practices
Ability to explain financial aid regulations to parents and students
Excellent communication skills, both written and oral
Ability to work with nationally known need analysis methodology
Benefits
Meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans
Retirement benefits
Tuition discounts
Comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life’s challenges and opportunities
Support flexible work arrangements
Programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care
Employee career development in all circumstances
Variety of tools and resources for developing professional potential or continuing formal education
Company
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research and teaching university that offers academic programs across various fields of study. It is a sub-organization of Northwestern Athletics.
5001-10000 employees
H1B Sponsorship
Northwestern University has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (325)
2024 (308)
2023 (280)
2022 (282)
2021 (184)
2020 (155)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
$98.02MKey Investors
National Peanut BoardAdvanced Research Projects Agency for HealthGRAMMY Museum
2024-10-30Grant
2024-10-04Grant· $34M
2023-11-28Grant· $0.02M
Leadership Team
Diego Klabjan
Professor
Henry Bienen
Interim President
Recent News
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