Associate Director, University Financial Aid

Office of Student Financial Assistance:

Student Financial Assistance is dedicated to supporting UCF's mission and goals through the efficient delivery of student aid. The Office provides UCF students with a comprehensive offering of financial assistance options to support student success and the attainment of a university degree.

The Opportunity:

The UCF Office of Student Financial Assistance is currently accepting applications for an Associate Director, University Financial Aid. This position is part of the management team, providing supervision and strategic leadership across several key functional areas. The Associate Director serves as a proxy to the Director and acts as the Chief Communication Officer for the office. This role will oversee critical operations such as customer service, comprehensive outreach, regulatory compliance (including Satisfactory Academic Progress and Professional Judgment reviews), staff training, and leadership for the university's financial literacy program. The Associate Director is responsible for ensuring operational excellence, regulatory adherence, and exceptional service delivery to students and stakeholders.

Responsibilities:

Leadership and Executive Support:

• Serve as the proxy for the Director of Student Financial Assistance when the Director is unavailable, including attending high-level meetings and making executive decisions.

• Provide direct supervision and management to key personnel, including the Assistant Director of Compliance.

• Represent the Financial Aid office on university committees and foster strong, productive relationships with other university departments.

• Provide oversight for special programs and projects as assigned by the Director.

Regulatory Compliance and Operational Efficiency:

• Review current policies and processes to identify operational efficiencies, actively mitigate audit risks, and serve as the primary compliance resource for staff.

• Contribute to the development, revision, and maintenance of the departmental policy and procedure manual.

• Oversee management of Satisfactory Academic Progress and Professional Judgment reviews.

Communication, Outreach, and Training:

• Serve as the Chief Communication Officer for the Office of Student Financial Assistance, leading the strategy for all office-wide messaging.

• Coordinate and oversee all internal and external communications, including the release and distribution of written and electronic consumer information materials, ensuring clarity and consistency across all platforms.

• Collaborate with financial aid staff to guarantee accurate and effective message delivery.

• Participate in and deliver financial aid presentations, workshops, and training sessions to various audiences, including students, parents, high school counselors, and the general public.

• Work closely with the Assistant Director to support and enhance the Centsible Knights financial literacy program, ensuring the program meets the evolving needs of the student body and university committees.

Student Service and Case Management:

• Supervise all customer service channels, including the front desk, telephone support, email correspondence, and official website content, ensuring high quality, consistent, and prompt service delivery.

• Resolve complex student issues and escalated cases referred directly from high-level university offices, such as the University President's Office and the Ombudsman Office.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor's and 6+ years of relevant experience or Masters degree and 4+ years of relevant experience with at least 2+ year(s) of leadership experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience pursuant to Fla. Stat. 112.219(6).

Preferred Qualifications:

• 5+ or more years in Financial Aid Administration, with at least 3 years of leadership experience.

• Master's Degree, preferably in Higher Education, Public Administration, Business, or a related field.

• Experience with using PeopleSoft or other enterprise-level financial aid management systems is a preference.

• Experience in developing and delivering financial aid workshops, presentations, and training to various audiences (students, parents, high school counselors, staff, and the public).

• Experience coordinating and leading both internal and external communications and marketing efforts.

The most successful candidates may possess the following qualities:

• Demonstrated ability to lead office-wide communications and strategy, effectively fulfilling the duties of a Chief Communication Officer through outstanding written, verbal, and presentation skills.

• Exceptional ability to build and maintain productive inter-departmental relationships and effectively represent the office's interests as a delegate on university committees.

• In-depth, practical knowledge of Title IV funding and administration, with a track record of successfully managing regulatory requirements.

• Proven expertise in reviewing and revising policies, mitigating potential audit risks, and ensuring robust departmental adherence to all federal, state, and institutional guidelines.

Special Instructions to the Applicants:

The anticipated pay range for this position is $75,809 to $85,285. The final salary will be determined based on the candidate's qualifications, experience, and internal equity considerations.

Position requires a valid Class E driver's license. This position may involve driving to various locations on and off campus to conduct University business.

Are you ready to unleash YOUR potential?

As a next-generation public research university and Forbes-ranked top employer in Florida, we are a community of thinkers, doers, creators, innovators, healers, and leaders striving to create broader prosperity and help shape a better future. No matter what your role is, when you join Knight Nation, you'll play an integral role at one of the most impactful universities in the country. You'll be met with opportunities to connect and collaborate with talented faculty, staff, and students across 13 colleges and multiple campuses, engaging in impactful work that makes a positive difference. Your time at UCF will provide you with many meaningful opportunities to grow, you'll work alongside talented colleagues on complex projects that will challenge you and help you gain new skills, and you'll have countless rewarding experiences that go well beyond a paycheck.

Working at UCF has its perks! UCF offers:

• Benefit packages, including Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Flexible Spending, and Employee Assistance Program

• Paid time off, including annual and sick time off and paid holidays

• Retirement savings options

• Employee discounts, including tickets to many Orlando attractions

• Education assistance

• And more...For more benefits information, view the UCF Employee Benefits Guide.

Dive into our Total Rewards Calculator to discover the diverse selection available to you, giving you a glimpse into the benefits that together shape your comprehensive rewards package at UCF.

Unless explicitly stated on the job posting, it is UCF's expectation that an employee of UCF will reside in Florida as of the date the employment begins.