Executive Director of University Financial Aid

Position Overview

Antioch University is seeking a proven leader with a strong record of financial aid and financial services management in undergraduate and graduate programs. The successful candidate will have a collaborative spirit and welcome the opportunity to work across the institution to reach enrollment goals. They will be a proven leader with operational expertise in a variety of financial aid areas, including the strategic allocation of scholarship funds to improve access and attract new students to programs. Their experience will represent a motivation to contribute to the mission of Antioch University in “providing learner-centered education to empower students with the knowledge and skills to lead meaningful lives and to advance social, economic, and environmental justice.”

The Executive Director of University Financial Aid works collaboratively with the Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management and the Enrollment Management leadership team on the development, implementation and evaluation of the Antioch University strategic enrollment plan (from student interest to graduation). The Executive Director manages, supervises, and evaluates the performance of the Financial Aid staff to achieve the service and enrollment goals established annually. This position holds University-wide responsibilities working with a wide variety of stakeholders including Admissions, Student Services, Marketing, the Registrar’s Office, and Faculty. This role collaborates with the campus Provosts, the University Vice Chancellor of Enrollment Management and the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs to ensure and optimize the University’s shared enrollment services goals.

The Executive Director of University Admissions will lead our admissions team and operations for all programs offered across all Antioch University campuses and programs including Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Seattle, Keene (NH), Online, GSLC, and other programs as they are created.

Essential Job Functions

Provide Leadership 40%

• Provide leadership and direction to the Financial Aid Office, including performance planning, training, evaluation, and the management of office budget to ensure a team that works to support the mission and goals of the University in a student-centered, customer-focused and legally compliant manner
• Lead efforts to engage, empower and support a dynamic team of financial aid staff in both office and remote based working locations
• Participate annually in the development of the enrollment goals for the University
• Build new and integrate current financial aid practices, processes and technology systems that deliver consistent and outstanding levels of service levels across campuses
• Evaluate and assess current systems and offer recommendations on how they can be leveraged to provide additional student recruitment opportunities
• Lead the development, management and expansion of a national scholarship program to attract new students and expand access to AU programs
• Oversee the disbursement of work-study funds to students in departmental positions
• Participates as a key member of planning committees and maintains liaison, coordination, and cooperation with Central Administration’s Office of Enrollment Management in order to provide leadership and perspective to the strategic planning, policy development, and financial aid resource allocation and use University-wide
• Provide leadership in sustaining a positive work environment that results in a high level of staff quality, performance, and depth. This includes participating as an active member of campus-wide governance structures and planning committees
• Work closely with faculty, Enrollment Services staff, administrators and University functions
• Work closely with various organizations on an ongoing basis. Participate in professional activities, including WFAA, NASFAA, WASFAA, and miscellaneous conferences and workshops, to keep abreast of new developments as appropriate in the field of student financial aid.  Develop and maintain contact with lenders, guarantee agencies, Region X U.S. Dept. of Education, and collection companies that impact Antioch students and financial aid programs

Enhance Operational Excellence 30%

• Implement best practice in online financial aid, document management, student relationship management and financial aid onboarding and ongoing student service processes
• Develop strategies and plans to address opportunities and gaps related to financial aid to support prospects and students through the enrollment funnel from prospective student to graduation
• Model scenarios that measure effectiveness of new financial aid initiatives and isolate variables within strategies to determine the impact of individual efforts within a dynamic approach to financial aid service optimization
• Be knowledgeable of trends influencing financial aid and proactively address opportunities
• Develop training for staff on financial aid processes, federal and state updates, and new technologies
• Evaluate financial aid processes and available technology solutions to recommend technical investments to support financial aid functions and effectiveness
• Provide continuous evaluation of processes and procedures with results being used to improve area operations, efficiency and service to both internal and external customers
• Manage and make data-based recommendations that increase enrollment and retention
• Collaborate closely with Admissions, Marketing and Enrollment Operations for the development, implementation and evaluation of recruitment strategies
• Analyze available financial aid data to determine operational improvements
• Develop and maintain analytics to track effectiveness of campus and University initiatives
• Convert data into reports and recommendations for action by University and campus leadership
• Analyze productivity reports to assure accountability and achievement of university goals

Cultivate Student/Customer Focus Culture 20%

• Provide financial counseling to current and prospective Antioch students who require assistance funding their educational goals. Advocate for students’ financial needs in Antioch University system planning and budgeting processes
• Increases prospective student satisfaction levels through the design of efficient and effective financial aid counseling and alignment with admissions processes
• Build customer confidence in systems and processes through open communication, continuous education and feedback
• Set service KPIs and report service delivery and satisfaction metrics to all customers
• Establish customer service metrics and feedback mechanisms that capitalizes on University-wide tools and practices
• Align Financial Aid Resources to Execute Strategy 10%
• Administer Antioch University’s financial aid allocation in a fair, effective, and equitable manner in compliance with Antioch, state, and federal guidelines, including development of an annual student budget
• Align campus financial aid roles, responsibilities and reporting relationships
• Match campus talent to emerging financial aid service requirements
• Build cohesive internal-campus work groups by clarifying accountabilities, involving groups in decisions and providing appropriate resources
• Work collaboratively with campus partners to align financial aid and admissions decision-making authority and tasks between campus functions (Enrollment Ops, Marketing, Admissions, Registrar and Faculty)
• Establish financial aid performance objectives, track performance, and evaluate progress toward campus and University goals
• Measure, monitor and report on alignment and accountability for all campus programs
• Develop and implement procedures and policies consistent with AU educational philosophy, as well as federal and state regulations, to assure efficient, student-centered financial aid services that assure Antioch’s financial success by providing funds to students while not putting Antioch at financial risk through errors or lack of compliance
• Collaborating with the University Director of Admissions, design financial aid strategies within the framework of federal and state regulations that are consistent with the enrollment management objectives and allow for administering financial aid, scholarships and student employment programs that support student recruitment and retention
• Other duties as required

Minimum requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required, advanced degree preferred
• 7+ years of significant leadership experience with adult-focused, private, tuition-dependent institutions
• Experience working in a post-traditional or graduate learner focused financial aid leadership role preferred
• Demonstrated expertise in working on an automated financial aid award and tracking system such as MicroFaids or Colleague highly preferred
• Experience with Salesforce, TargetX suite, and/or TalkDesk (or similar phone system) software preferred

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of FERPA
• Ability to foster trust and support from faculty, department chairpersons, administrators, current and prospective students
• Ability to utilize and analyze databases of prospective and current students to inform decisions related to financial aid, discounting, and service optimization.
• Superior organizational and interpersonal skills; experience working with diverse populations; competency for analyzing data and assessing success of programmatic initiatives
• Through understanding of the latest uses of technology in financial aid processing.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Creative and strategic thinker. Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, with tight deadlines
• Proven skills with integrated student management systems
• Strong leadership, communication, planning and organizational skills
• Skilled at hiring, motivating and developing staff, fostering teamwork and managing change

Hours of Employment

This is a full-time position serving a national university.  A work schedule will be established in consultation with the supervisor. The typical work week is Monday through Friday, 40 hours per week with some Saturday and evening hours as well.

Work Location: AULA campus, Culver City, CA

Physical Requirements

While performing the duties of this job, the staff member is regularly required to sit, stand, use hands and fingers, and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms. The individual must regularly lift and/or carry up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus. Requires daily use of computer and other standard office equipment.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

When applying, please submit a cover-letter, resume/CV and three business references. Send documents to hr.au@antioch.edu and please put Executive Director of University Financial Aid in the subject line.

Antioch University reserves the right to change the duties of the job description at any time.

Antioch University provides equal opportunity for all qualified applicants and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, ancestry, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, family status, or disability in matters affecting employment or in providing access to programs.