Excelsior University is seeking applicants for the position of Assistant Director Financial Aid, in the Office of Student Financial Services. We are seeking a seeking a dynamic individual who thrives in a fast-paced environment, where critical thinking and creativity are valued skills in day-to-day processing.

The Assistant Director of Financial Aid plays a key role in supporting the leadership team with the daily operations of the department. This position oversees and manages the execution of at least one Title IV program, ensuring that policies and procedures are aligned with current federal regulations and are both effective and student-centered. The successful candidate will be responsible for student packaging, repackaging, and counseling, while maintaining a deep understanding of the regulations governing the accurate administration of Title IV funds. Although the primary focus is on the efficient and compliant management of Title IV programs, this role also encompasses various aspects of the Financial Aid office. While it is preferred that the Assistant Director of Financial Aid be located in Albany, New York, or a nearby area, remote work options will be considered. 

This position is based out of the university’s home office in Albany, NY with the option of considering remote candidates. Remote employees will have mandatory occasional travel for meetings, conferences, and professional development opportunities. Remote employees are expected to be available during work hours 8:30 am – 5:00 pm Eastern time. The University will supply necessary equipment to perform the essential functions of this job (e.g., Laptop, docking station). Employees are responsible for having a workspace where they can participate in virtual meetings without multiple interruptions and noise.

Duties and Responsibilities:  

• Administer Title IV program (s) for the university including, but not limited to; awarding, verification and assisting in reconciliation in collaboration with other units of the University and Common Origination and Disbursement (COD).
• Ensure compliance with all Federal Title IV regulations, develop and maintain policies and procedures.
• Work in collaboration with the Associate Directors and Director to prepare for and engage in the annual A-133 audit.
• Responsible for remaining up-to-date with changes in regulation as well as interpreting and implementing those regulations within assigned program(s).
• Responsible for communicating all changes, related to assigned program(s), to all stakeholders.
• Responsible for creating and maintaining process flows for assigned program(s).
• Work to promote academic success, increase retention, decrease time toward graduation, and improve the overall educational experience of students.
• Support the development of the whole student by providing excellent customer service and resolution of issues through telephone, email, virtual meetings, and preparation of written correspondence for financial aid.
• Serve as an information resource for all incoming students, transfers, and re-entering students as well as internal staff.
• Assist with developing, revising, and updating processes of financial aid related to Title IV program administration along with creating and/or editing any required forms and publications.
• Participate in professional development.
• Engage in and support the development and administration of Student Financial Services.

Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• This position requires a Bachelor's degree and a minimum of 2 years of experience in a financial aid or related student service administration.
• Candidate must demonstrate experience in student financial aid regulations, financial aid software and proficiency with Microsoft Word & Excel.
• Strong communication skills, attention to detail and strong problem solving skills are essential.
• The ideal candidate will have experience with PowerFAIDS financial aid management system and demonstrate an interest in promoting distance learning higher education to a diverse adult student population 

The hiring salary range for this position is $49,000.00 - $53,000.00. The hiring salary range above represents the University's good faith estimate at the time of posting

The Senior Director of Strategic Operations, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) has principal responsibilities for overall CLAS operations to ensure that critical tasks and projects stay on track in support of overall goal achievement and success. The Senior Director of Strategic Operations works in partnership with the Executive Dean, CLAS leaders, as well as University critical enablers to ensure that CLAS initiatives, projects and deliverables are tracked, meet their milestones and deliverables and comply with overall university policies, procedures and work priories.

Reporting to the Executive Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, work in partnership with the Vice President of Finance, Vice President of Enrollment and Marketing, and Special Assistant to the President for Transformational Partnerships. This is a full-time, hybrid role with a minimum of two days required per week at Excelsior's home office in Albany, NY, with the remainder of the days worked from home

Duties and Responsibilities

Finance and Budget
• Oversee fiscal resources for the CLAS as a whole. Serve as the CLAS contact to the Fiscal unit for budget related questions
• Develop new procedures, and practices to increase the overall effectiveness of departmental financial operations.
• Working with Fiscal and ADS, compiles and provides regular consolidated financial, enrollment and other appropriate program and student related reporting, analyses and forecasts that serve to ensure the desired performance and success of the CLAS
• Manage financial and operational risks through the development and implementation of a comprehensive system of internal controls and associated measures.
• Liaise with appropriate university offices to ensure CLAS financial and business-related policies and practices are compliant with university goals and regulations.
Enrollment Management and Student Success
• Monitor student enrollments to ensure that CLAS is meeting its targets; ensure that appropriate action is taken when targets are not being met.
• Supports student enrollment activities, such as brainstorming ideas for increasing enrollment, retention and persistence, as needed.
• Plans and provides a superior, caring environment that increases student engagement and overall educational experience through effective student-centered activities.
• Works as a liaison to Enrollment Management units and functions to ensure seamless and effective student support.
• Monitors and responds to student issues that arise in order to ensure appropriate resolution and uses sound judgement to escalate issues as appropriate.
• Ensures that all School activities and operations are carried out in compliance with all statutory and other permanent regulations.
• Reviews systems, tools, policies and procedures on a regular basis to identify necessary changes and oversees updates and revisions.
• Monitor student satisfaction and other key metrics to ensure that the College is delivering on its commitment to both its learning and student experience goals

Transformational Partnerships, Collaboration, and Community Building
• Liaise with President’s Office and Office of Strategic Initiatives to ensure CLAS/University strategic goal alignment.
• Build and maintain a roster of clinical and partner institutions with which an affiliation, or similar partnership/operating relationship potentially exists utilizing agreed-upon criteria.
• Clinical partnerships: collaborate with CLAS academic and academic operations unit and University strategic partnership team to identify, nurture and develop clinical and partnership opportunities. Accurately predict and scale number and nature of clinical sections/discipline.
• Ensure that the clinical-related needs of CLAS are met and coordinated.

Project Planning, Implementation and Facilities Management

• Liaise with Offices of VP for Enrollment Management and Marketing and Chief of Staff to coordinate and align on University Strategic Goals
• Serve as primary liaison to all critical enablers that impact the operations of CLAS, with particular attention to coordination of activities with the Office of Project Management in order to ensure that key stakeholders are informed and consulted regarding projects that involve their areas of responsibility and that projects proceed in a way that ensures that key milestones and deliverables are met. Proactively work with partners to ensure the achievement of project and College goals.
• Ensure that CLAS programs are developed and supported in support of the College’s goals and the students’ needs
• Coordinate internal administrative functions to ensure high quality and efficient operations.
• Provide data and supporting documentation for projects and initiatives as needed.
• Collaborate with key units to prepare meaningful, accurate data and supporting documentation to guide the evidence-based decision making and reporting needs of the College.
• Contribute to development of business practices and organizational change to improve processes and workflow.
• Oversee practices and procedures affecting the opera􀆟on and support of CLAS buildings and related facilities services;
• Manage professional staff with front-line responsibility for CLAS capital projects and other transformational partnership activities;

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QUALIFICATIONS 

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s/MBA in a field related to business or adult higher education or equivalent level of experience strongly preferred.
• Expertise in the operations of higher education. Experience in higher education systems can be particularly useful, and broad experience in university operations is preferred.
• A minimum of five years of higher education-related, administration or business management experience is required; additional experience, including leadership preferred.
• Candidate must demonstrate exceptional organizational and decision-making skills; strong empirical, analytical, and problem-solving skills, excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Experience utilizing database software, technology, project management and various learning management systems is essential,
• Additionally, the candidate must be able to manage multiple priori􀆟es, meet deadlines, and prepare accurate and detailed reports.

The hiring salary range for this position is $120,000.00 - $130,000.00. The hiring salary range above represents the University's good faith estimate at the rime of posting.

The Associate Director of Financial aid assists the Director in the day-to-day operations of the Office of Financial Aid to coordinate and manage the operation and execution of Title IV program(s). The Associate Director will assist in ensuring that policies and procedures reflect current federal regulations, are effective, efficient, and student-centered. This position will be responsible for the packaging and disbursement of student financial aid, as well as counseling and processing to assist staff with general tasks.

Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Administer Title IV program (s) for the college including, but not limited to awarding, verification, disbursement and assisting with reconciliation.
• Remain current with and ensure compliance with all Federal Title IV regulations.
• Develop and maintain policies and procedures in addition to editing any required forms and publications.
• Stay current with knowledge and use of financial aid software, i.e. PowerFAIDs, EDConnect, and COD.
• Work in collaboration with the Director to prepare for and engage in the annual audit
• Will be required to present within the enrollment management unit as well as key units across campus.
• Work to promote academic success, increase retention, decrease time toward graduation, and improve the overall educational experience of students
• Provide excellent customer service and resolution of issues through telephone, email, and preparation of written correspondence for financial aid
• Participate in ongoing professional development along with the encouragement of the growth of colleagues
• Engage in and support the development and administration of Student Financial Services
• Lead a team of financial aid processors or financial aid counselors.
• Other duties and responsibilities may be assigned in support of the needs of the financial aid office and the students we serve.

Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This position requires a bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 3 years' experience in a financial aid office. Candidate must demonstrate expertise in student financial aid regulations, financial aid data management system and proficiency with Microsoft Word & Excel. Strong communication skills, attention to detail and strong problem-solving skills are essential. The ideal candidate will have experience with PowerFAIDS financial aid management system and demonstrate an interest in promoting distance learning higher education to a diverse adult student population.

The hiring salary range for this position is $61,000.00 - $66,000.00. The hiring salary range above represents the University's good faith estimate at the time of posting.