Director, Financial Aid

California Institute of the Arts (www.calarts.edu) is a highly regarded, nationally ranked independent arts institute offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in a wide range of areas. Located in Valencia, California, CalArts provides more than 70 comprehensive degree programs in the visual, performing, media and literary arts. Programs are optimized for a new kind of artist: one who goes beyond mere aesthetics and expertise and one who thinks about the way their practice engages with the world at large.CalArts is seeking candidates for an experienced, dynamic, and forward-thinking Director of Financial Aid position. The successful candidate will join the enrollment management team as a senior leader under the direction of the Vice President of Enrollment Management, and partner closely with faculty and administrators across CalArts six world renowned Schools in Art, Critical Studies, Dance, Film/Video, Music and Theater.

The Director oversees the administration of all student financial aid, including currently over $22 million of institutional scholarship funding and Student Employment. The Director provides training and leadership to the financial aid staff and works collaboratively within the enrollment division and across campus to support the successful recruitment and retention of undergraduate and graduate students.

The Director is responsible for the planning and implementation of communication strategies to improve student understanding of financial aid and the overall cost of attending CalArts. They will ensure the staff of the financial aid office provide reliable, detailed, high touch customer service to students, prospective students, and their families. To this end, the Director will develop streamlined internal processes to maximize the amount of staff time dedicated to counseling students and their families.

The Director acts as the primary campus resource regarding best practices in needs analysis, strategic utilization of financial aid for enrollment and retention, and compliance with all federal and state regulations related to student financial aid. The Director will supervise the staff of the Financial Aid Office to ensure compliance. This work includes developing and maintaining institutional policies and procedures and providing education to the CalArts community about these policies and changing regulations.

The ideal candidate will be detail oriented, well versed in the thoughtful application of technology, and a highly effective communicator with a primary focus on customer service and the student experience.

Responsibilities, Duties and Priorities:

Administration of Aid Programs

Manage the financial aid review and awarding process for new and continuing students, including administration of institutional, state, and federal aid programs;

Develop and administer departmental processes to ensure compliance in all aspects of federal and state awarding, including Title IV aid, state grants, federal work study;

Manage annual setup of Colleague financial aid module; monitor performance of Colleague throughout the year and collaborate with IT as needed;

Maintain comprehensive and current understanding of federal and institutional needs analysis and packaging best practices;

Serve as the compliance officer for the financial aid office, including managing audits, researching compliance-related questions, and ensuring adherence with federal and state financial aid compliance requirements;

As needed, act as a backup for other financial aid staff in verification, needs analysis, awards packaging, and student counseling;

Manage the financial aid appeals process for new and continuing students.

Leadership and Collaboration

Provide day to day oversight of the Office of Financial Aid, including management of the offices operational budget;

Ensure seamless, effective and collegial collaboration within the Enrollment area (Admissions and Enrollment Operations/Data);

Promote a collegial partnership with other campus partners including Finance, Accounting, Institute Technology, and Advancement;

Encourage teamwork and promote continuous professional development in financial aid staff;

Develop and maintain written departmental processes and procedures, including required compliance policies;

Serve in a leadership capacity within the Enrollment unit by providing insight and ideas regarding the implementation and improvement of efficient and high-quality student service;

Collaborate with the Finance, Accounting, Provost, and Advancement Offices to develop clear and consistent procedures relating to named student awards;

Maintain professional visibility through active participation in professional organizations and financial aid presentations at on- and off-campus events.

Financial Literacy and Student Success

Develop and implement strategies to educate students on the cost of their education;

Develop and implement a comprehensive financial literacy program for incoming and continuing students;

Analyze institutional data to identify predictors of student attrition related to financial factors;

Develop strategies to promote scholarship opportunities for current and prospective students;

Develop and maintain online resources for students and their families, and annual direct communication campaigns.

Qualifications, Abilities and Desired Characteristics:

The Director of Financial Aid will have a bachelor's degree, as well as five or more years of progressive experience in a college financial aid office. Candidates will demonstrate leadership within a complex environment. Possession of an advanced degree in a related field is strongly preferred.

Candidates will possess expert technical fluency with common office and financial aid software systems, including MS Office, Adobe Acrobat, the Google suite, and student information systems. Direct Ellucian Colleague experience is highly preferred. Candidates should also have seasoned experience with data analysis and the ability to synthesize and communicate complex data.

Demonstrated ability to create and maintain a respectful, positive work environment;

Excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills;

Ability to interact effectively with varied internal and external constituencies;

Self-confidence and self-awareness combined with strong emotional intelligence;

Proven ability to inspire, coach, motivate, and coordinate staff;

Commitment to the mission of CalArts and a passion for collaboration in an artist community.

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