Director of Financial Aid

Grand View University - Des Moines, IA

Full-time - Director

Des Moines, IA

Educational Services

About the position

The Director of Financial Aid at Grand View University provides strategic leadership for the financial aid team, ensuring best practices in financial aid planning and services within a customer-focused environment. This role involves supervising staff, coordinating application processing, developing equitable financial aid packaging, managing budgets, and analyzing financial aid data to support recruitment and retention efforts.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership to the financial aid staff in the administration of financial aid in a customer-focused environment.
• Supervise financial aid staff.
• Prepare and submit required reports on financial aid, including the annual fiscal operations report to the Department of Education.
• Administer and maintain compliance with federal, state, and institutional aid programs according to guidelines established by the Department of Education, the Iowa College Student Aid Commission, and institutional policies and guidelines.
• Develop and manage the Financial Aid departmental budget.
• In coordination with the Vice President for Enrollment Management, develop and manage the budget for institutional aid provided to students in line with institutional goals, policies, and strategic initiatives.
• Train other departments on financial aid policy and processes as needed.
• Counsel students and parents regarding the eligibility and availability of financial assistance in coordination with the Admissions Office, GV Complete Program, and Viking Central.
• Perform necessary follow-up on problem files and special circumstances requests from students/families.
• Develop an institutional packaging philosophy that supports the enrollment management goals of the university.
• Manage the Tuition Exchange, ELCA, and Council of Independent Colleges tuition exchange programs.
• Review and interpret notices from the Department of Education regarding program changes and develop policies and procedures for implementation.
• Act as an interpreter to students, faculty, and administration regarding financial aid policy developments and their potential impact.
• Maintain proficiency in the field through participation in financial aid conferences and training.

Requirements

• BA/BS Degree.
• Master's degree preferred.
• 6-8 years of progressive work experience in financial aid strongly preferred.
• Extensive knowledge of both federal and state financial aid policies and regulations.
• Ability to think strategically about college affordability and the impact of institutional aid on discount rate and net tuition revenue.
• Knowledge of institutional aid and the policies that govern it.
• Ability to communicate effectively with students, parents, colleagues, and outside agencies.
• Ability to effectively lead and manage employees.
• Analytical and detail-oriented skills.
• Knowledge and understanding of data management and processing systems.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.

Benefits

• Equal opportunity employer
• Commitment to diversity
• Pre-employment background check required