Gonzaga University Institute for Climate, Water, and the Environment · 3 days ago
Director of Financial Aid
Washington, DC
Full-time
Onsite
Lead/Staff, Director/Executive
$76K/yr - $95K/yr
5+ years expGonzaga University Institute for Climate, Water, and the Environment is seeking a Director of Financial Aid to lead the strategic and operational functions of the university’s financial aid programs. This role involves providing senior-level leadership in compliance, technology, and student services while managing a high-performing team and overseeing departmental budgets.
Higher Education
No H1B
Responsibilities
Provide senior-level oversight of all financial aid operations, ensuring alignment with institutional strategy, enrollment goals, and regulatory requirements
Analyze trends in higher education and financial aid to guide long-term departmental planning and decision-making
Lead cross-functional initiatives with Enrollment Management, Finance, Student Affairs, and IT to optimize student financial support systems and enhance operational efficiency
Develop and execute strategic projects, including process redesign, technology implementation, and workflow improvement, to advance departmental performance
Represent the financial aid office in institutional and external forums, maintaining awareness of national best practices and emerging trends
Identify and manage risk related to compliance, operations, and technology, and implement solutions to mitigate potential issues
Directly supervise and develop a team of financial aid professionals, fostering a high-performing and collaborative culture
Lead regular team meetings, one-on-one coaching sessions, and performance evaluations to ensure clear expectations, accountability, and professional growth
Ensure staff have access to the resources, technology, equipment, and time needed to perform their work efficiently and effectively
Design and implement training programs to maintain expertise in financial aid regulations, systems, and customer service practices
Promote an inclusive, supportive work environment that values diversity and encourages engagement and professional development
Identify and address gaps in staffing, skills, or workflow, creating solutions to improve team performance and operational efficiency
Recognize and celebrate staff contributions to build morale and reinforce the department’s mission
Maintain overall responsibility for compliance with federal, state, and institutional financial aid regulations, ensuring all operations meet legal and policy standards
Provide oversight and guidance for the development, updating, and implementation of policies, procedures, and operational processes to ensure consistency, accuracy, and regulatory compliance
Review and interpret audits, program reviews, and accreditation guidelines, implementing corrective actions and communicating changes to staff and leadership
Serve as a subject matter expert and resource for staff on regulatory requirements, policy interpretation, and procedural questions
Monitor emerging regulations and trends, providing strategic recommendations to leadership for policy updates and operational adjustments
Ensure documentation is maintained, accessible, and regularly updated to support training, compliance, and departmental accountability
Oversee department technology platforms, including financial aid systems, document imaging, and other operational tools
Partner with division technology analysts and project managers to ensure software updates, patches, and system enhancements are implemented timely and effectively
Assess current technology usage and identify opportunities to optimize operations, improve efficiency, and enhance student and staff experiences
Develop and execute reports, dashboards, and data analytics to support decision-making and operational planning
Test new systems, tools, and updates to verify functionality and alignment with departmental needs
Provide training and guidance to staff on effective use of technology, ensuring tools are utilized to their full potential to support compliance and service delivery
Design and implement strategies to enhance the overall student and parent experience in financial aid and Student Financial Services
Develop systemic solutions to provide consistent, accurate, and timely financial aid information across multiple channels, including web, email, phone, and in-person interactions
Collaborate with partners across SFS and other university departments to streamline processes, improve communications, and ensure students and families receive a coordinated, supportive experience
Analyze trends in student inquiries and challenges to proactively adjust operations, technology, and messaging to improve access and satisfaction
Lead outreach initiatives that support financial literacy, student financial wellness, and equitable access to financial aid programs
Monitor and evaluate systemic performance metrics to identify areas for improvement and implement operational enhancements
Represent the financial aid office in campus and external outreach, including presentations, workshops, and partnerships with schools or community organizations
Additional Duties as Assigned by the Department
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's Degree
5 years of related experience
Proficient in common office productivity tools to create and maintain documents, spreadsheets, and presentations
Skilled at using data analysis and reporting tools to organize, interpret, and present information effectively
Comfortable learning and applying new software and technology to optimize work processes
Experience with an integrated administrative computing system, such as Banner, Colleague, Peoplesoft, etc
Experience managing and prioritizing multiple tasks and working both independently and collaboratively
Strong verbal and written communication skills necessary to explain complex processes to colleagues and external stakeholders
Ability to identify issues, analyze data, investigate discrepancies, and prepare accurate reports
Experience working in the financial aid, enrollment management, or higher education student services field
Preferred
Proven ability to learn, implement, and optimize new software and technology to improve departmental efficiency and compliance
NASFAA U credentials, FAAC, or similar professional certifications related to financial aid or enrollment management administration
Demonstrated experience applying knowledge from professional development to lead teams and enhance operations
Company
Gonzaga University Institute for Climate, Water, and the Environment
The Gonzaga Institute for Climate, Water, and the Environment envisions a transition to integral Earth-human relations characterized by thriving, equitable human societies within flourishing ecological communities.
11-50 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Early StageCompany data provided by crunchbase