Director of Financial Aid

• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Standard Work Schedule: Hybrid Schedule (3 Days On-site)
• Salary Range: $120,000-$125,000

Position Summary

Columbia School of Social Work (CSSW) has been a leader in social work education and research since 1898. Our mission is to foster social work education, practice, and research that strengthen and expand the opportunities, resources, and capabilities of all persons to achieve their full potential and well-being. Our mission extends beyond the classroom, aiming to create a tangible impact on communities around the world.

Under the oversight of the Associate Dean, the Director of Financial Aid at the Columbia School of Social Work (CSSW) administers the School's financial aid programs and leads a team of four full-time financial aid professionals. The Director will oversee a portfolio of institutional scholarships in excess of $17.5M and ensure the operations of the office comply with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations. The Director will hold comprehensive administrative responsibility for all of the School's financial aid programs, including developing and implementing its financial aid policies and procedures.

Responsibilities

• Ensure the School's compliance with all federal, state, and institutional regulations applicable to financial aid. This includes adherence to the University's Financial Aid Code of Conduct and all federal regulations governing the Direct Loan Program.
• In partnership with the Director of Admissions, lead the planning and execution of enrollment management strategies and activities throughout the admissions process, including communication road mapping, the development of packaging formulas, and the development of application materials.
• Participate in grant application processes and the development of new programs that improve student support in collaboration with other departments.
• Collect, prepare, and review CSSW data for the University's submission or in response to requests for reports such as FISAP, NYSED, federal audits, and other related reports.
• Counsel prospective, current, and former students on matters of financial aid, personal financial management, and debt management.
• Interpret and explain financial aid policies to applicants, students, and others. Coordinate presentations on financial aid processes and financial literacy.
• Prepare for the publication of the Financial Aid Office's handbook on policies and procedures, as well as other literature about loan programs and external sources of funding for CSSW students.
• Serve as a member of the scholarship committees for entering and continuing students in the MSW program.
• Ensure that all loan applications are submitted in accordance with applicable policies and requirements.
• Oversee and direct the maintenance of and reporting from PowerFAIDS on all CSSW-related student financial aid transactions.
• Direct staff in the reconciliation of all scholarship and institutional loan expenditures against university financial records.
• Direct staff in the annual disbursement of restricted scholarships and other financial aid funds, properly sourcing individual grants to funds in communication with the Offices of Financial Management, Development, and others.
• Consult with deans, faculty, administrators, students, alumni, and central administrators at Columbia and other academic institutions, lending institutions, and with members of the legal community on matters of financial aid.
• Present Financial Aid data and updates to various audiences, e.g., senior administration, faculty, and student leadership.
• Manage the financial aid website. Curate and update the site's content to ensure clarity and accuracy of information.
• Represent CSSW at University financial aid meetings and national conferences as necessary.
• Perform related duties and special projects as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• 5-7 years of experience in financial aid administration required.

Other Requirements

• In-depth knowledge of financial aid needs analyses and federal regulations governing the management and delivery of financial aid funds.
• Thorough familiarity with financial aid-related desktop and mainframe environments and reporting software systems.
• Familiarity with the maintenance of electronic databases.
• Strong supervisory and staff development experience.
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and analytical skills, with a proven ability to handle multiple responsibilities in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.
• Excellent quantitative, verbal, and written communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively as part of an administrative team.

Preferred Qualifications

• An advanced degree is desirable.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.