Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. High Trail is seeking an experienced Director of Financial Aid to provide strategic leadership during a significant transformation of the University's financial aid operations. This role will oversee the administration of the Financial Aid department and guide the institution through organizational changes associated with the implementation of Borrower-Based Academic Year (BBAY 3).
Responsibilities
- Provide executive leadership for all Financial Aid operations, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and institutional regulations
- Lead the Financial Aid team through organizational and operational change while maintaining exceptional service levels for students
- Partner with University leadership to support the institution's transition to BBAY 3 methodology
- Develop and implement operational strategies that align financial aid processes with evolving academic structures
- Foster a culture that embraces change, continuous improvement, and student-centered service
- Collaborate with Enrollment Management, Registrar, Student Accounts, Academic Affairs, Information Technology, and Compliance to ensure successful cross-functional execution
- Evaluate current financial aid policies, workflows, and business processes and recommend improvements that support future-state operations
- Ensure accurate packaging, awarding, reconciliation, and reporting while maintaining compliance with all Title IV regulations
- Mentor and develop financial aid staff while providing clear communication throughout periods of organizational change
- Serve as a trusted advisor to executive leadership on financial aid strategy, regulatory interpretation, and operational best practices
Skills
- Progressive leadership experience within higher education financial aid administration
- Demonstrated success managing Financial Aid operations serving non-traditional academic programs or institutions with complex enrollment structures
- Strong knowledge of federal Title IV regulations and financial aid compliance
- Proven experience leading departments through significant organizational or operational change
- Exceptional leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills
- Ability to build trust, influence across departments, and drive organizational alignment
- Experience supporting institutions with non-term, non-standard term, modular, competency-based, or other non-traditional academic calendars
- Experience implementing significant financial aid process improvements or system transformations
- Familiarity with BBAY methodologies and related federal regulations
- Experience partnering with executive leadership during enterprise-wide initiatives
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