Director, Office of University Financial Aid

Director, Office of University Financial Aid

Provost’s Office
– Administration

66880BR

University Job Title

Director, Office of University Financial Aid

Bargaining Unit

None
– Not included in the union (Yale Union Group)

Standard (M-F equal number of hours per day)

Searchable Job Family

Administration, Student Services

Total # of hours to be worked:

37.5

Position Focus:

The Director of University Financial Aid provides university-level guidance to University Officers, Deans, and senior financial aid officers in Yale College and the graduate and professional schools on issues related to the strategic development of financial aid policies and programs.

Working within Yale’s decentralized academic environment and in close partnership with deans, faculty, and senior staff in offices across the university, the Director will drive discussions about financial aid strategy, policies, programs, and data systems.

The Director will lead a team in the Office of University Financial Aid that serves as a primary resource for interpreting and implementing federal, state, and university financial aid regulations, systems support, and compliance and reporting.

The Director of University Financial Aid is responsible for creating a vision, establishing and maintaining policy, and implementing best practices that enhance service to all constituents, uphold the integrity of academic programs, support a diverse and growing academic community, provide equitable and inclusive access to higher education, and further Yale’s mission.

The Director’s responsibilities incorporate three broad areas.

I.

Strategic vision for University Financial Aid and guidance to university partners 1.

Functions as a thought-leader, providing expertise and guidance to senior leaders and financial aid officers in all of Yale’s schools on the development and implementation of financial aid policies and procedures.

2.

Leads meetings with, and fosters collaboration among, the financial aid officers in the schools on issues of mutual and overlapping interest to ensure effective and accurate service to students.

3.

Oversees the development and administration of a Policies & Procedures manual, documenting best practices in areas of financial aid administration within the Office of University Financial Aid and in each of the schools.

4.

Provides support to individual financial aid units to help resolve complex problems involving funding, awarding and disbursement of funds.

5.

Develops effective working relationships with senior campus leaders and strengthens partnerships with areas requiring integrated data, policies and processes, including Registrar, Information Technology Services, Admissions, Bursar/Accounts Receivable, Student Loan Office, Student Employment, Institutional Research, General Counsel, International Students and Scholars, Federal Relations, the Controller’s Office, and others.

6.

Maintains knowledge of current trends and developments in financial aid and applies relevant new knowledge by leading the development of best practices and up-to-date financial aid policies.

7.

Maintains affiliations with various national and regional associations, participates on various University committees and advisory groups, and represents Yale within professional organizations.

II.

Compliance, reporting and analysis 8.

Serves as the liaison with federal, state and local agencies on issues related to financial aid and ensures compliance with all laws and regulations through accurate reporting and auditing.

9.

Leads the financial aid audit process and works with internal and external partners to ensure the university meets and maintains its compliance objectives related to the administration of all federal, state and veterans’ education benefits.

Identifies areas of potential audit risk and implements corrective actions.

10.

Provides updates on federal and state regulations and guidance in developing policies and procedures for their specific areas.

11.

Oversees the internal and external reporting of financial aid information, including required state and federal reports.

12.

Manages access to and interactions with federal databases, including daily extractions and loading.

III.

Financial Aid systems 13.

Leads data stewardship initiatives to perform quality control of financial aid data and provide oversight for data security, acceptable use, and data dissemination.

14.

Working in close partnership with the Student and Academic Support Systems group in ITS, provides functional leadership for the strategic design and development of financial aid systems and procedures.

15.

Advises on new financial aid systems, technologies, and data infrastructure.

Required Education and Experience

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field and at least eight years of senior leadership experience in a college or university financial aid or related office, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Master’s degree preferred. 

Required Skill/Ability 1:

Demonstrated strategic planning and analytical skills.

Ability to conceptualize and implement a vision for the Office.

An appetite for innovation and demonstrated initiative, self-confidence, creativity, resourcefulness, and willingness to take informed risks.

Required Skill/Ability 2:

An appetite for innovation and demonstrated initiative, self-confidence, creativity, resourcefulness, and willingness to take informed risks.

Required Skill/Ability 3:

Proven leadership skills.

An advocate for process improvement who encourages innovation and promotes growth.

Strong management and organizational skills.

The ability to manage multiple priorities by leading diverse teams across multiple reporting units.

Required Skill/Ability 4:

Proven ability to build relationships and collaborate with high level administrators, faculty, staff, students, parents, and other key internal and external stakeholders in a complex academic environment.

Demonstrated commitment to identifying and implementing policies and processes that promote access, equity, and inclusion in higher education.

Required Skill/Ability 5:

Excellent oral and written communication skills.

Demonstrated depth of knowledge and understanding of federal and state regulations regarding administering financial aid.

Demonstrated commitment to quality in the delivery of services with a strong and responsive audience-centered orientation.

Strong commitment to the confidentiality of information.

Drug Screen

No

Health Screening

No

All candidates for employment will be subject to pre-employment background screening for this position, which may include motor vehicle, DOT certification, drug testing and credit checks based on the position description and job requirements.

All offers are contingent upon the successful completion of the background check.

Please visit for additional information on the background check requirements and process.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the essential functions that will be required of the position and should not be construed as a declaration of specific duties and responsibilities of the particular position.

Employees will be assigned specific job-related duties through their hiring departments.

Affirmative Action Statement:

Yale University considers applicants for employment without regard to, and does not discriminate on the basis of, an individual’s sex, race, color, religion, age, disability, status as a veteran, or national or ethnic origin; nor does Yale discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity or expression.

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 protects people from sex discrimination in educational programs and activities at institutions that receive federal financial assistance.

Questions regarding Title IX may be referred to the University’s Title IX Coordinator, at TitleIX@yale.edu, or to the U.S.

Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, 8th Floor, Five Post Office Square, Boston MA 02109-3921.

Telephone: 617.289.0111, Fax: 617.289.0150, TDD: 800.877.8339, or Email: ocr.boston@ed.gov.

Note

Yale University is a tobacco-free campus