Director of Financial Aid

Director of Financial Aid

Location : Columbus, GA (Columbus State University)

Job Summary : The Director of Financial Aid reports directly to the Vice President for Enrollment Management and serves as a key member of the Enrollment Management leadership team. This role is instrumental in advancing the strategic enrollment and student success goals of Columbus State University, a proud member of the University System of Georgia. The ideal Director is a strategic, student‑centered leader who combines operational excellence with a forward‑thinking approach to access and affordability. An innovative problem solver who embraces technology, values collaboration, and leads with empathy and integrity, the Director will help shape a financial aid experience that empowers students to achieve their educational and professional goals, advancing CSU’s mission to transform lives through learning.

Responsibilities

• Provides visionary leadership and operational oversight for all federal, state, and institutional financial aid programs, ensuring compliance, accuracy, and timely service delivery.
• Supervises all departmental operations related to awarding systems, data management, reporting, and fiscal accountability.
• Develops and enforces policies and procedures that align with federal and state regulations while enhancing affordability and access for CSU students.
• Leads a team of dedicated professionals, fostering a culture of innovation, integrity, collaboration, and continuous improvement within the Financial Aid Office.
• Works closely with Enrollment colleagues and campus partners to establish financial aid awarding guidelines consistent with institutional goals and external funding criteria; manages fund allocation, reconciliation, and year‑end reporting; and leverages technology to create an efficient, transparent, and responsive financial aid experience.
• Champions student recruitment, retention, and academic success by providing excellent service to students, families, and university stakeholders while expanding awareness of financial aid opportunities throughout the CSU community.

Required Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications

Proposed Salary

The proposed annualized salary for this position is $110,000 and includes full benefits.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

Contact Information

If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Shanna Widener, Hiring Manager, via email at widener_shanna@columbusstate.edu.

USG Core Values

Institutional Values

Conditions of Employment

All selected candidates are required to submit and successfully pass a background investigation that includes reference checks and verification of academic credentials. Additional requirements may apply based on position duties, including a credit check for positions of trust and / or approved departmental purchase card usage, pre‑employment drug testing for high‑risk responsibilities, and motor vehicle reports for positions that require driving a university fleet vehicle.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Columbus State University is proud to be an equal employment, equal access, and equal educational opportunity institution. It is the policy of our institution to recruit, hire, train, promote and educate persons without regard to race, color, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, gender, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or veteran status as required by applicable state and federal laws.

Other Information

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