Executive Director of Financial Aid
University of Puget Sound
Tacoma, WA - United States
WittKieffer is proud to partner with the University of Puget Sound to conduct the national search for their next Executive Director of Financial Aid. This is an opportunity for a financial aid professional with significant experience supporting a university’s enrollment goals, supporting students, and managing financial aid resources.
University of Puget Sound is an independent, predominantly residential undergraduate liberal arts college with selected graduate programs building effectively on a liberal arts foundation. The university, as a community of learning, maintains a strong commitment to teaching excellence, scholarly engagement, and fruitful student-faculty interaction. The mission of the university is to develop in its students the capacities for critical analysis, aesthetic appreciation, sound judgment, and apt expression that will sustain a lifetime of intellectual curiosity, active inquiry, and reasoned independence.
Reporting to the Vice President for Enrollment, the Executive Director of Financial Aid is responsible for the administration and operation of federal, state and institutional financial assistance programs that support enrollment and retention of students at Puget Sound.
The successful Executive Director of Financial Aid candidate will:
- Assist in setting strategic direction and is responsible for managing the effective development and delivery of programs and for ensuring excellence in services to students and families who apply for or receive financial assistance.
- Lead a team of four financial aid staff that manage the application, awarding, and delivery of financial assistance programs in full compliance with all applicable federal, state and institutional regulations, rules or policies.
- Act as a leader in reviewing, interpreting and/or establishing regulations and policies and ensures all staff are fully knowledgeable regarding compliance requirements.
- Actively participate in all Federal Program Audits, State and Federal Program Applications and Reporting responsibilities, to include the annual FSA Audit, preparation of the annual Fiscal Operations Report, federal and state program participation renewals and internal and external statistical reports.
- Promote a departmental culture that embraces individual and organizational learning and works with key student financial services teams in departmental planning, development, and training to improve individual, group, and organizational performance to ensure successful results.
The preferred candidate will possess a bachelor’s degree and seven years progressive experience in financial aid and its administrative operations, including successful supervisory experience. Additionally, experience with Oracle PeopleSoft or other ERP data systems and Strong verbal and written communication skills are required.
This position has an anticipated annual salary between $130,000 and $140,000. Decisions about starting salaries are made based on the extent and relatedness of the candidate’s education and experience and on internal equity and market considerations.
Please direct all applications, inquiries, and nominations Rob Springall or Ethan Robles by clicking the buttons below or via email, at: [email protected].