Associate Director of Financial Aid

Mitchell College is conducting a national search for an Associate Director of Financial Aid to assist in the administration of all financial aid programs and coordinate the operation of the Financial Aid Office. Reporting to the Director of Financial Aide, the Associate Director will remain current with knowledge and the use of institutional software (PowerFAIDS, Net Partner, EDconnect, etc.), insure compliance with all federal and state regulations, and institutional policies pertaining to the administration of financial aid. In addition, this position will support Mitchell’s mission to be a transformative and inclusive learning community; creating a radically supportive, empowering environment where each individual’s growth is nurtured and celebrated. 

Responsibilities and Duties:

• Oversees all aspects of the institution’s financial aid delivery related to the federal student aid programs, including the Federal Pell Grant, Direct Loan, and Campus-Based programs.
• Responsible for the administration of all non-federal funds, including but not limited to the Roberta Willis State Grant/s, Institutional Financial Aid, Scholarship programs, and Foundation awards.
• Responsible for all reporting and reconciliation efforts for each affected federal, state, and institutional fund.
• Analyzes and makes recommendations on the use of funds to meet the mission and goals of the institution.
• Performs quality assurance checks and internal program reviews to determine strategies that ensure all funds are awarded to students in accordance with applicable federal, state, and institutional regulations and/or guidelines. 
• Works with the Director of Financial Aid to recommend and implement any technical changes necessary for the administration of all student aid programs within the college’s financial aid processing system (PowerFaids).
• Possesses a thorough understanding of federal and state student aid programs to establish foundational eligibility for these awards.
• Serves as the institution’s Return to Title IV Administrator. 
• Assists the Director in the development and implementation of the college’s default prevention program.
• Assists in the development and implementation of a financial literacy and communication program to reduce the institution’s Cohort Default Rate with an understanding that high rates can put the institution at risk of losing federal funding.
• Maintains a thorough understanding of guidance governing federal, state, and institutional financial assistance programs; self-directed informal training as well as intentional formal training.
• Maintains a commitment to Mitchell College’s overarching goals including initiatives encouraging access, equity and diversity. 

PROFESSIONAL PARTICIPATION AND DEVELOPMENT

In addition to the responsibilities and duties listed above, the incumbent is required to carry out these essential duties, as necessary:

• Attendance and participation at convocation, commencement and honors ceremonies.
• Maintains subject matter expertise in federal, state, and institutional financial aid regulations; self-directed informal training as well as intentional formal training.
• Service on assigned committees and task forces.
• Attendance and participation at, committee, staff, informational, and professional meetings at the college and in the community.
• May require some work at night and on weekends.

Required Education and Experience: 

• Bachelor’s Degree required; Master’s Degree Preferred.
• 3 – 5 years of experience working in a Financial Aid Office or relevant work experience within a Federal Title IV eligible Higher Education Institution.
• Technical proficiency in PowerFAIDS, Net Partner, Slate and Blackbaud or other Student Information System.
• Experience originating, disbursing, and reconciling federal aid programs.
• Technical proficiency in Excel and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Experience counseling with traditional and/or non-traditional students in financial aid process.
• Knowledge of Title IV systems (i.e. COD, NSLDS, FSA Partner Connect, etc.)
• Ability to work independently is a must, as well as being a part of a dynamic team. 
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or government regulations.
• Ability to make financial aid presentations in public such as at campus open houses, high school events, regional events and receptions, etc.
• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.
• Ability to solve problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

Key Skills / Knowledge:

Incumbents must possess proven ability to effectively work with a culturally, linguistically, and ethnically diverse faculty, staff, and students. They are expected to have excellent oral and written communication skills along with strong information technology literacy skills such as Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams etc.). Incumbents are required to have demonstrated advanced knowledge and abilities in the following:

• Experience with a highly automated financial aid management system (i.e. PowerFaids) and a thorough knowledge of state and federal financial aid rules regulations required.
• Familiarity with funding sources, their policies, and regulations.
• The ability to multi-task and manage multiple deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Exceptional problem solving, planning, and organizational skills.
• Interacting favorably with staff, agency personnel, and related vendors.
• Effective interpersonal, written, oral, and presentation skills.
• Proficiency in computer skills and virtual meeting skills, specifically the ability to meet with students and families remotely (i.e. virtual meetings using Zoom and/or Teams) (Microsoft Office, TEAMS, PowerFAIDS, NetPartner)
• Excellent presentation and communications skills, both written and verbal. 
• Ability to maintain complete and accurate written records using databases, notes, files, automated calendars and web enabled tools so that others can readily interpret and understand the status of a prospective or current student at any given time. 

Work Environment and Physical Demands: 

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to perform the essential functions of this job. 
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• The incumbent typically performs work in offices, conference rooms and in locations where groups of students, faculty and staff gather. 
• The work does not normally involve any significant physical effort. 
• The incumbent may travel to public sites to make presentations as well as travel to conferences and central meetings.

Mitchell is committed to the broader community through building strong, creative, and cooperative partnerships. Located on a beautiful waterfront campus in historic New London, CT, it is also home to championship NCAA Division III athletics and the Duquès Academic Success Center, which includes the renowned Bentsen Learning Center.

Mitchell College is an Affirmative Action-Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, disability and genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization or other non-merit factors.