Director of Financial Aid
- Requisition no: 541186
- Work type: Full Time
- Location: Morningside
- School/Department: School of International and Public Affairs
- Grade: Grade 13
- Categories: Stdnt Affairs/Educational Admn
- Job Type: Officer of Administration
- Regular/Temporary: Regular
- Hours Per Week: 35
- Salary Range: $100,000 - $115,000
The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The above hiring range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.
Position Summary
Reporting to the Executive Director of Admissions and Financial Aid, the Director of Financial Aid is responsible for administering SIPA's financial aid programs, managing the day-to-day operations of the Financial Aid Office, and ensuring compliance with all applicable regulations and school and office policies and procedures. The office administers federal, state, private and institutional aid to over 1,300 students. This includes the processing of federal and private loans totaling over $14M annually. Works with a high degree of independence, under the general oversight of the Executive Director. Directly supervises and trains Financial Aid Office staff. In consultation with the Executive Director of Admissions and Financial Aid, exercises the authority to hire/release administrative personnel in the unit.
At SIPA—the world’s leading school of global policy—we are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion. We work to cultivate these values in our practices, programs and policies. We aim to create a workplace that is welcoming and celebrates the unique lived experiences of all our staff, students and faculty. We are particularly interested in candidates who can contribute to the diversity and excellence of the School. Applicants are encouraged to include information in their cover letter about how they will further this goal.
Responsibilities
- Has administrative responsibility for the financial aid programs of the School, including the development and implementation of its financial aid policies and procedures.
- Ensures the School's compliance with all federal, state, and institutional regulations applicable to financial aid. This includes adherence to the University's Financial Aid Code of Conduct and all federal regulations governing financial aid.
- Collects, prepares, and reviews data for quality assurance, budgetary monitoring, and the University's submission or in response to requests for reports such as FISAP, NYSED, federal audits, and other related reports.
- Counsels prospective, current, and former students on matters of financial aid, personal financial management, and debt management. Interprets and explains financial aid policies and financing options to applicants, students, and others.
- Coordinates financial aid presentations as needed, including on financial literacy.
- Responsible for the Financial Aid Office's policies and procedures manual, as well as other communications about loan programs and external sources of funding for SIPA students.
- Oversees content and maintenance of the Financial Aid Office's website.
- Plays a leadership role in enrollment management goals and initiatives.
- Participates as a member of the scholarship committees for entering and continuing students in the MIA, MPA, and MDP programs. Participates in the scholarship committees for the School’s EPM, ESP, GL, and EMPA programs, as needed
- Oversees and directs the maintenance of and reporting from PowerFAIDS on all SIPA-related student financial aid transactions.
- Directs staff in the reconciliation of all scholarship and institutional loan expenditures against University financial records.
- Directs staff in the annual disbursement of over $16M in institutional financial aid funds, properly sourcing individual grants to funds in communication with the Offices of General and Financial Administration, SIPA Development, and others.
- Consults with and advises deans, faculty, administrators, students, alumni, and central administrators at Columbia and other academic institutions, lending institutions, and members of the legal community on matters of financial aid.
- Represents SIPA at University financial aid meetings and external conferences as appropriate.
- Participates in the admissions committee and reviews applications.
- Performs related duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree or its equivalent.
- A minimum of four years experience in financial aid administration.
- In-depth knowledge of financial aid need analysis and federal regulations governing the management and delivery of financial aid funds.
- Familiarity with maintenance of electronic databases and processing systems.
- Strong supervisory, training and staff development experience.
- Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and analytical skills, with a proven ability to handle multiple responsibilities in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, math aptitude, and an ability to work collaboratively as part of an administrative team.
Preferred Qualifications
- Advanced degree preferred.
- At least six years of experience in financial aid administration is highly preferred.
- Thorough familiarity with PowerFAIDS or similar financial aid systems is highly desirable.
Other Requirements
Interested applicants are advised to review the University's Financial Aid Code of Conduct:
http://policylibrary.columbia.edu/financial-aid-code-conduct.
Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran
Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.