Associate Director of Financial Aid

Position Overview

The Associate Director of Financial Aid provides operational leadership for the day-to-day administration of financial aid programs while serving as a key partner in enrollment strategy, student support, and cross-department collaboration. This role is responsible for ensuring the accurate and compliant delivery of federal, state, and institutional financial aid while supporting institutional goals related to recruitment, retention, and student success.

The Associate Director works closely with the Director of Financial Aid to develop and implement policies, streamline processes, and improve the overall student financial experience. In addition to overseeing core financial aid operations, the role requires strong collaboration with Admission, Registrar, Student Accounts, and IT to support institutional priorities and maintain efficient workflows.

The Associate Director of Financial Aid is responsible for the major operations to include, but not limited to application review and processing, eligibility, verification, counseling, compliance regulations, advising and financial aid initiatives, and awards and disburses financial assistance in accordance with changing institutional, federal, state, and NCAA procedures, policies, and regulations, and the supervision of the financial aid professional staff within the Office of Financial Aid.

The Associate Director will assist the Director of Financial Aid in developing, interpreting, and implementing policies and procedures to provide efficient and effective delivery of financial aid.

Additionally, the Associate Director trains and manages other skilled professional staff members within the Office of Financial Aid.

The Associate Director will be involved in weekend events and may be needed for extended hours during high traffic time.

Position Responsibilities:

• Manage core financial aid operations including application review, verification, eligibility determination, awarding, and disbursement of federal, state, and institutional aid.
• Serve as a final reviewer for financial aid files to ensure regulatory accuracy, compliance, and ethical processing.
• Process and monitor federal aid programs including Direct Loans and Pell Grants through Common Origination and Disbursement (COD) and complete monthly reconciliation and reporting.
• Monitor federal and state regulatory updates and implement process changes to ensure institutional compliance.
• Oversee staff members responsible for key program areas including Federal Work Study, state aid programs, and R2T4 processes.
• Partner closely with Admission to support incoming undergraduate and graduate students through financial aid awarding, communication strategies, and enrollment support.
• Work collaboratively with Admission, Registrar and Student Accounts leadership to improve communication, reduce processing delays, and create a more seamless student experience.
• Serve as a point of contact for resolving complex student cases that require coordination across multiple departments.
• Support the training of Admission and campus staff on financial aid policies, processes, and timelines.
• Supervise and mentor financial aid professional staff, providing training, guidance, and support in daily operations.
• Serve as a delegated authority in the absence of the Director, ensuring continuity of operations, decision-making, and leadership while upholding departmental standards and institutional priorities.
• Assist in developing office policies, workflows, and best practices to improve efficiency and accuracy.
• Support the Director in implementing new initiatives and improving service delivery.
• Represent the institution at recruitment events, information sessions, and campus-wide programs.
• Counsel prospective and current students and families on financial aid processes, eligibility, and timelines.
• Develop and contribute to student communications, financial aid materials, and website content.
• Deliver financial aid presentations to prospective and currently enrolled students, families, and campus partners.
• Support appropriate exploration and use of AI-enabled tools in student services and administrative processing, with an emphasis on efficiency, service quality, data stewardship, and responsible operational application.
• Utilize advanced Excel skills for reconciliation, financial modeling, audit preparation, regulatory reporting, and data analysis to inform decision-making and institutional planning.

Additional Considerations:

• Proficiency with an ERP systems (Jenzabar preferred)
• Experience with or knowledge of PowerFAIDS
• Familiarity with federal systems such as Common Origination and Disbursement System, NSLDS, FAFSA Partner Portal; and experience with EDconnect.
• Familiarity with Slate CRM helpful
• Well organized, multi-tasker, effective time management, problem solver pays attention to detail
• Must demonstrate ability to work in a fast-paced environment and prioritize accordingly
• Ability to function independently while operating effectively within a team environment;
• Must have technical competence and an ability to understand the "big picture" as well as the details of complicated systems and issues.
• Must be able to exercise good judgment, be responsive and courteous, and student service oriented at all times
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and experience with database management;
• Strong verbal and written communication skills; excellent customer service skills and abilities.
• Ability to work \with students, colleagues, and external constituents, including diverse populations.
• High level of professionalism, leadership, diplomacy, and the ability to manage complex projects with minimal supervision.
• Ability to work with sensitive and confidential material.
• Enthusiastic, sense of humor, positive attitude, persistence, and passion for the work.

Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree; minimum of 5-7 years of progressive student financial services management experience (including staff supervision, budget and project management);

Thorough knowledge of Federal Title IV financial aid regulations as it pertains to both traditional and non-traditional programs;

Application Materials Should Include:

• Resume
• Cover letter stating motivation and interest in the position, citing experience relevant to the qualifications and including experience with, and commitment to, our Catholic Augustinian mission and our values.
• Contact information for three professional references

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue on a rolling basis until qualified/suitable candidates are identified. However, applicants are encouraged to submit their complete applications by May 3rd, 2026, to ensure full consideration.

Work Location

This is an on-campus position as employees are essential in order to provide a fully on-campus, residential college experience for our students and the community.

This position is subject to the successful completion of a criminal background check.

Statement on Our Mission

Merrimack College is a Catholic Augustinian institution of higher education committed to building an accepting and respectful community. Our mission is to enlighten minds, engage hearts and empower lives and is inspired by our Catholic faith and the Augustinian tradition of seeking truth through inquiry and dialogue.

Merrimack College seeks candidates who understand, respect, and can contribute to Merrimack's Catholic and Augustinian mission. All candidates should describe in their application how they will foster a culture that supports our mission.

About Merrimack College

The only Catholic, Augustinian institution of higher education in New England, Merrimack College is a private, independent, coeducational institution with more than 4,100 undergraduate, 2,500 graduate students and 50 doctoral students from 48 states and 63 countries. The College features more than 160 career-focused undergraduate, professional and graduate programs, all taught by exceptional faculty who are passionate about their subject and student success. The College has six schools: arts and sciences, engineering and computational sciences, nursing and health sciences, education and social policy, the Girard school of business and the graduate school of counseling and social work. The College's suburban 220-acre campus is just north of Boston in North Andover, Massachusetts. Merrimack is a Master's Colleges and Universities/Larger Programs (M1) institution in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Merrimack is one of the fastest growing educational institutions in the country and has steadily climbed up in the U.S. News & World Report's ranking of Best Colleges, ranking 38th in the Regional Universities North category in 2026. Merrimack is a NCAA Division I athletic institution.

Merrimack College is an Equal Opportunity Employer.