University of Illinois Chicago · 18 hours ago
Director of Financial Aid and Debt Management
Chicago, IL
Full-time
Onsite
Lead/Staff, Director/Executive
$100K/yr - $115K/yr
5+ years expThe University of Illinois Chicago is a prominent urban public research university serving a diverse student body. The Director of Financial Aid and Debt Management provides strategic vision and leadership for financial aid programs, ensuring compliance and enhancing student access and financial wellness.
Higher Education
Responsibilities
Develop and lead long-term strategic planning and implementation of strategies related to the cost of attendance for matriculating and continuing medical and graduate students to support enrollment, retention, and student success at the College of Medicine
Align financial aid and scholarship policies with institutional goals and compliance requirements
Lead initiatives to improve opportunity and access to financial options to fund students’ cost of attendance
Serve as a key advisor to senior leadership on financial aid and scholarship policy and strategy
Create an advisory group consisting of stakeholder representatives
Provide strategic thinking that balances compliance with a student-centered approach
Lead teams, build partnerships, and achieve measurable results
Partner with the Offices of Admissions and GEMS to develop strategies that educate prospective students on the cost of attendance, federal loan limits, private loan needs, and credit requirements
Supervise financial aid staff, fostering a culture of service and accountability
Oversee the administration of all federal, state, institutional, and private aid programs in compliance with applicable laws and regulations
Conduct performance evaluations of financial aid staff
Oversee involvement of advancement, admissions, registrar, and other college departments to lead a collaborative team of staff to implement strategies
Manage budgets, allocations, and reporting for institutional aid programs
Ensure compliance with federal, state, and institutional regulations across all units
Allocate resources effectively to support institutional priorities
Monitor financial aid disbursements and ensure fiscal accountability
Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of financial aid data
Develop institutional policies related to financial aid and outreach initiatives employing technology-driven and student-centered service enhancements
Serve as the primary liaison to university enrollment management leadership and the college representative to regulatory bodies (e.g., Department of Education)
Ensure timely and accurate reporting of federal and state aid programs
Draft and update institutional policies to ensure compliance
Provide training and guidance to staff and campus stakeholders
Collaborate with educational and student affairs, finance, GEMS and IR to support student lifecycle processes
Participate in leadership meetings and contribute to institutional planning
Serve as the College of Medicine’s financial aid representative at external meetings, professional associations, and policy forums to advance discussions on financial aid and debt management
Collaborate with other UIC health professional programs, (e.g., dentistry), to strengthen cross-program community, enhance student satisfaction, expand financial aid outreach, and introduce debt management strategies
Use data to inform decision-making and improve student outcomes
Oversee institutional research related to enrollment and financial aid trends
Present findings to college leadership
Direct the administration of federal, state, institutional, and private financial aid programs totaling over $75 million annually
Ensure compliance with all applicable regulations and maintain audit readiness
Oversee accurate awarding, disbursement, and reconciliation of funds
Manage the overall operations of the financial aid department
Develop, implement, and revise departmental policies and procedures
Review and process financial aid applications
Advise and counsel students on financial aid services
Collaborate with other departments and organizations to maximize financial aid opportunities for students
Prepare and present financial aid workshops and presentations
Develop strategies to minimize student borrowing and loan default
Implement financial literacy, credit management, and debt counseling programs for students
Analyze student borrowing trends and make data-driven recommendations
Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of financial aid data
Prepare and manage the financial aid department’s budget
Train and supervise financial aid staff
Stay abreast of changes in financial aid regulations and emerging trends in financial aid delivery
Lead outreach efforts to prospective student populations
Engage in outreach and recruitment in collaboration with admissions and GEMS
Develop partnerships with high schools, community organizations, and other stakeholders
Coordinate financial literacy programs and workshops for prospective applicants and their families
Advise potential applicants and their parents about loans
Collaborate with other departments (e.g., Enrollment Management, Admissions, and Student Affairs, GEMS) to align aid strategies with recruitment and retention goals
Implement and manage automated systems to streamline financial aid processes
Identify and deploy innovative solutions to enhance student experience and operational efficiency
Collaborate with IT and institutional research to improve data reporting and analytics
Develop new outreach and communication methods to enhance student understanding of financial aid and debt management
Ensure the financial aid website remains current, accurate, and student-centered by regularly updating content, refreshing videos, and positioning the site as a seamless extension of the financial aid office
Qualification
Required
Master's degree required, preferably MBA or related field
Minimum of 5 years of progressive leadership experience in enrollment management or student services
Demonstrated success in strategic planning, team leadership, and budget management
Strong understanding of higher education trends, student development, and regulatory compliance
Strong knowledge of federal and state financial aid regulations (e.g., Title IV)
Demonstrated success in implementing innovative practices and outreach initiatives
Proven leadership and supervisory experience
Strong communication, data analysis, and organizational skills
Benefits
Health
Dental
Vision
Life Insurance
A Retirement Plan
Paid time Off
Tuition waivers for employees and dependents
Company
University of Illinois Chicago
UIC is Chicago's largest university with more than 33,000 students, 12,000 employees, 16 colleges and a major public medical center.
10001+ employees
H1B Sponsorship
University of Illinois Chicago 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 (171)
2024 (37)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageLeadership Team
Shikha Jain, MD, FACP
Tenured Assoc Prof, President Women in Medicine® Chair Women in Medicine Summit, Founder CEO IMPACT
Robert Maziarka
Senior Director of Finance, Chief Financial Officer Mile Square Clinic
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