Associate Director of Financial Aid & Systems

Job Summary:

Reporting to the Director of the Chicago Financial Aid Office, the Associate Director of Financial Aid and Systems assists the Director in overseeing all operations of the Chicago Financial Aid Office. Specific duties are as follows:

Provide information, advice and counsel to parents, students and staff regarding financial aid regulations and programs. Develop financial aid packages for prospective and current graduate and undergraduate students, review decisions of assistant directors when necessary and make financial decisions. Assist the Director of Financial Aid in creating and implementing office policies and procedures; manage the office in her absence. Act as the Chicago campus financial aid point person for the Post 9-11 and Yellow Ribbon Program for all schools on the Chicago campuses. Provide federal, state and institutional regulatory training for staff of the Chicago Financial Aid Office and other aid offices on both campuses . Act as the VA Certifying Overseeing training of new staff members and on-going training for current staff members as needed.

Work with University and Financial Aid IT and Systems staff to review and refine financial aid processes and reports used by the Chicago Financial Aid Office. Review changes in technology on an on-going basis, and implement as necessary; new policies, procedures, reports, and processes that will benefits the students, staff, and departments on the Chicago Campus. May also include working with other financial aid offices to provide system support, guidance and advice, including providing reports and other data as requested.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Maintain up to date knowledge of federal and state regulations concerning student financial aid, link their implementations with any changes required in SES, and disseminate instructions to staff, both in central office and out to outlying aid offices.
• Analyze complex financial aid applications for approximately 800-1000 students, using established University guidelines, as well as federal and state regulations, and prepare financial aid packages.
• Manage import and export of federal data through SES; monitor integrity of original data and staff updates. Review documentation prior to SES upgrades, participates in testing, annual SES set up and disseminates information to staff in aid offices.
• Manage Pell and MAP processes and assist with reconciliation for Chicago Office of Financial Aid.
• Oversee the ongoing participation of the Post 9-11 and Yellow Ribbon Veteran’s Affairs Program for the Chicago campuses of Northwestern University. Act as a resource and coordinate VA process between students, VA, certifying officials, Student Finance and Financial Aid for Chicago campus programs.
• Directly supervise three support staff (Student Records Coordinator, Student Loan Counselor and Office Manager) and any temporary staff and/or work/study students including conducting annual performance reviews. Coordinate training of all new staff members. Manage the office in absence of the director.
• Provide students and parents with detailed information and professional advice including the specifics of how aid is calculated, how invoices are impacted and student loan debt management.
• Maintain office website, NSLDS, update forms and online financial aid application.
• Attend IT meetings (both internal and external), provide PeopleSoft and other systems as appropriate support to Chicago Financial Aid staff (from a user perspective), build and maintain reports necessary for the Chicago Financial Aid Office, review innovative changes in PeopleSoft and other systems and implement (with IT) changes on a on-going basis.

Miscellaneous

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• 5 to 7 years of financial aid experience with increasing levels of responsibilities, preferably at a private college or university.
• Bachelor’s degree.
• Ability to explain financial aid regulations to parents and students.
• Experience packaging federal and institutional financial aid.
• Experience working with PeopleSoft or applicable system.

Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)

• Excellent attention to detail.
• Ability to meet deadlines.
• Ability to work as a member of a team.
• Prior experience with a student information system (i.e. PeopleSoft, Banner etc.).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree.
• 7-10 years of financial aid experience with increasing levels of responsibility, including supervision and training.
• Prior experience with undergraduate and graduate financial aid.
• Experience in web design communication.
• Ability to work with federal and institutional methodology.
• Experience working with the Department of Veteran’s Affairs and its programs.
• Curiosity, collaborative spirit and a sense of humor.
• Experience implementing new systems/testing changes to existing systems.
• Experience modifying, writing and running reports.

Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

• Prior experience with PeopleSoft, including aid year set-up and queries.
• Prior experience with ImageNow.

Target hiring range for this position will be $90,000 - $99,000 per year. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant’s education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

Benefits:
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life’s challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you’re interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at to learn more.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics, including disability and veteran status. View Northwestern’s . Job applicants who wish to request an accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance. View .

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