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Grays Harbor College

Director of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships

Grays Harbor College, Aberdeen, Washington, United States, 98520


Description

The Director of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships provides leadership, direction, and management in all aspects of the College’s student financial aid programs and military benefit certifications. The director is an innovative and forward-thinking leader that drives student recruitment and retention by utilizing a student-centered approach to allocating financial resources and improving student outcomes. The director manages all federal, state, institutional aid, and veterans' benefits programs, determines eligibility for aid and makes and approves appropriate awards. The director has the ultimate responsibility for developing and implementing a student financial aid resource distribution process that is student-centric, seamless, and a user-friendly experience. The director is an active member of the campus community, Grays Harbor and Pacific Counties. The Director reports to the Vice President of Student Services. It is a full-time, exempt position. Grays Harbor College has an excellent benefits package to include medical, dental, vision, basic life insurance, primary and supplemental retirement programs and long-term disability insurance. Full-time employees will also receive 15.34 hours of vacation leave per month, 8 hours of sick leave per month, and 4 personal leave days a year. Washington state also observes 11 paid holidays per year. Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Provide leadership, administration, assessment and continuous improvement efforts of comprehensive student financial aid and veterans programs, including all federal, state, institutional and private financial aid programs, direct delivery of financial aid services to students and ensure compliance with federal, state and college rules and regulations. Foster an environment of integrity, teamwork, student-centered service and collaboration within the financial aid office, across departments and campus wide. Serve as the liaison between financial aid and business office, collaborating on account management, billings, disbursement, reconciliation, reports, and related matters. Promote equity, diversity and inclusion in efforts to continuously improve student funding model. Serve as a resource to assist staff with complex situations and questions, providing daily guidance. Adjudicate academic, dependency and aid extension petitions. Ensure satisfactory academic progress and other student eligibility requirements are monitored. Establish awarding targets based on federal, state, and local financial aid allocations. Establish timelines to ensure aid awards are packaged and distributed in a timely manner. Administration (award and reconciliation) and budget authority for financial aid budgets. Update Financial Aid policies and procedures in conjunction with changes in institutional, state and federal regulations, and communicate pertinent changes with campus stakeholders. Ensure the college administration is kept appraised of impending legislation and/or other matters affecting the college and programs/services offered as they pertain to state and federal funding. Remain current on best practices on the awarding of aid, including assessment of the delivery of services and awarding practices. Integrate all available technology to streamline services and improve accuracy. Provide oversight of military certification of benefits. Compile statistical data and complete institutional reporting requirements including college certifications, federal, state and institutional reports. Ensure the College has exception-free financial aid audits and program reviews. Conduct workshops and provide outreach services on campus and for local high schools and agencies. Provide oversight, supervision, training, and evaluation of staff within the department. Assign projects, tasks, assignments and functions to all program staff. Coordinate orientations and professional development for new and continuing staff to ensure compliance with departmental program goals and objectives, along with college policies and procedures. Lead development of and access the success, effectiveness, and appropriateness of applicable funding services for students. Represent the college in the community and serve on campus and state committees, including but not limited to the Student Services Administrative Team (SSALT). Perform other duties as assigned. Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and abilities required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Minimum Qualifications Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. Minimum of three years of progressively responsible experience in student financial aid administration and extensive knowledge of financial aid rules and regulations. Demonstrated experience in managing budgets, supervising and evaluating staff. Demonstrated commitment to serving diverse populations and implementing excellent customer service procedures. Demonstrated experience in facilitating leadership and organizational development. Proficiency with Title IV federal financial aid regulation, including policy and program administration experience. Excellent verbal, written communication, and interpersonal skills. Preferred Qualifications Master’s degree from an accredited institution. Five or more years of work experience in providing supervision or leadership to a financial aid department in a higher education setting. Experience with financial aid systems, preferably PeopleSoft. Knowledge of Veterans Administration policies and procedures, including certification of veterans benefits. Understands best practices of providing student aid services at a rural serving institution. Supplemental Information

In addition to the GHC online Application you will need to submit the following materials. Incomplete applications will not be accepted or considered. Letter of application addressing your qualifications for the position. Resume Contact information for 3 professional references. Transcripts of all college work completed. Unofficial copies are acceptable, official copies will be required at time of hire. Background checks

- Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant’s suitability and competence to perform in the position. Applicants considered for this position will be required to disclose if they are the subject of any substantiated findings or current investigations related to sexual misconduct at their current employment and past employment. Disclosure is required under Washington State Law. Grays Harbor College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, perceived or actual physical or mental disability, pregnancy, genetic information, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, creed, religion, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or use of a trained guide dog or service animal, as required by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, Sections 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act and ADA Amendment Act, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act and Washington State’s Law Against Discrimination, Chapter 49.60 RCW and their implementing regulations. The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Title II/Section 504 – Erin Tofte, Associate Vice President of Human Resources Title IX Coordinator – Ashley Bowie-Gallegos, Dean of Student Services and Enrollment Management For further information on notice of non-discrimination, visit https://ocrcas.ed.gov/contact-ocr for the address and phone number of the office that serves your area, or call 1-800-421-3481.

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