Assistant Director of Financial Aid & Scholarships

The Office of the Vice President of Enrollment Management is hiring an Assistant Director of Financial Aid & Scholarships. This position supervises staff and provides operational leadership for assigned financial aid and scholarship processes, including scholarship administration, aid adjustments, federal aid functions, and student service workflows.

This position interprets and applies federal, state, institutional, and donor-related requirements to resolve complex student, operational, and compliance matters involving aid eligibility, cost of attendance, overawards, withdrawals, and required aid adjustments. The Assistant Director serves as a functional expert and supports staff development, process documentation, audit readiness, and consistent service delivery across the integrated Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships.

Special Instructions:
Upload a single document containing your resume and a cover letter tailored specifically to this position under the "Resume Upload" section (maximum file size: 5 MB). 

• Supervises assigned staff responsible for financial aid and scholarship operations, including assigning and reviewing work, providing day-to-day functional guidance and coaching, monitoring performance, supporting accountability, and ensuring consistent service delivery.
• Provides operational leadership for assigned financial aid and scholarship functions within the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships including scholarship administration, aid adjustments, federal aid processes, and student service workflows, ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant administration of student aid.
• Oversees or supports assigned federal aid and compliance processes, which may include federal and private loan processing, return to Title IV calculations, FAFSA verification, Federal Work-Study, withdrawal reviews, professional judgment referrals, appeal options, and required aid adjustments.
• Interprets and applies federal, state, institutional, and donor-related requirements to resolve complex student, operational, and compliance-related matters involving aid eligibility, cost of attendance, overawards, conflicting resources, withdrawal impacts, or required aid adjustments.
• Serves as a functional expert and primary resource for staff, students, academic units, and campus partners regarding financial aid and scholarship processes, systems, timelines, policies, regulatory requirements, donor guidelines, and annual awarding expectations.
• Oversees assigned student appeals processes, where applicable, including Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) appeals, scholarship appeals, professional judgments, dependency appeals, special circumstances, and cost of attendance adjustments, ensuring consistent review, documentation, communication, and compliance with applicable requirements.
• Evaluates scholarships, outside resources, fellowship payments, tuition benefits, departmental awards, and other forms of assistance to determine impact on cost of attendance, financial need, aid eligibility, overawards, excess resources, and Title IV compliance.
• Provides functional coaching, cross-process guidance, and subject matter expertise to assigned staff to strengthen operational knowledge, compliance awareness, continuity of operations, accountability, and consistent application of integrated financial aid and scholarship processes.
• Collaborates with systems and data staff to test, verify, troubleshoot, and document awarding, renewal, cancellation, reconciliation, reporting, and aid adjustment processes to support accuracy, audit readiness, and consistent application of procedures.
• Identifies and implements process improvements, procedural updates, annual awarding instructions, and communication strategies that support operational consistency, compliance, service delivery, and the continued integration of Financial Aid & Scholarships; provides subject matter input to training and reference materials developed for staff and campus partners.

• Bachelor's degree-no specific discipline.
• 6 years of experience in financial aid and/or scholarship administration, student financial services.

Desired Qualifications:

• A degree in Business Management, Finance, or Accounting is desired.
• 2 years of experience directly supervising full-time employees preferred.

• Knowledge of federal, state, institutional, and donor-related regulations, policies, and procedures governing the administration of financial aid and scholarship programs.
• Knowledge of Title IV federal student aid requirements, including aid eligibility, cost of attendance, overawards, Return to Title IV, FAFSA verification, Federal Work-Study, loan processing, and required aid adjustments.
• Knowledge of scholarship administration processes, including selection support, awarding, renewal, cancellation, reconciliation, donor requirements, and coordination with academic colleges, departments, and campus partners.
• Ability to interpret, apply, and communicate complex financial aid and scholarship regulations, policies, procedures, and system requirements to students, staff, and campus partners.
• Ability to supervise, coach, and provide functional guidance to staff responsible for financial aid and scholarship operations.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills in resolving complex student, operational, compliance, and service-related matters.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, maintain accuracy, and exercise strong attention to detail in a high-volume, compliance-driven environment.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with staff, supervisors, academic units, campus partners, and external stakeholders to support coordinated service delivery and operational consistency.
• Skill in reviewing, analyzing, and reconciling student aid information, scholarship data, eligibility requirements, and related records to support compliance, data integrity, reporting, and audit readiness.
• Skill in using student information systems, financial aid management systems, reporting tools, and related technology platforms, such as Banner or similar systems.
• Ability to develop and maintain process documentation, annual awarding instructions, communication resources, and operational guidance; ability to provide subject matter input for staff training and reference materials.
• Ability to maintain current knowledge of financial aid regulations, industry practices, institutional procedures, and system changes through ongoing training, professional development, and communication with financial aid professionals.

• Life-Changing Impact: Our work changes lives through research, instruction, and outreach, making a lasting impact on our students, our communities, and the world.
• Culture of Excellence: We are committed to leveraging our strengths, resources, collaboration, and innovation as a top employer in higher education.
• We’re Here for You: Auburn offers generous benefits, educational opportunities, and a culture of support and work/life balance.
• Sweet Home Alabama: The Auburn/Opelika area offers southern charm, vibrant downtown scenes, top-ranked schools, and easy access to Atlanta, Birmingham, and the Gulf of Mexico beaches.
• A Place for Everyone: Auburn is committed to fostering an environment where all faculty, staff, and students are welcomed, valued, respected, and engaged.
• Ready to lead and shape the future of higher education? Apply today! War Eagle!