Assistant Director, Financial Aid

Department

ESA College Aid

About the Department

Reporting directly to the Executive Director of Financial Aid, the Financial Aid office at the University of Chicago provides exceptional customer service to all students and families requesting assistance in financing their education. The Office of Financial Aid has a staff of 20 people, including counselors, and assistant directors. For more information visit https://financialaid.uchicago.edu/.

Job Summary

The Financial Aid Assistant Director reports directly to the Office of Financial Aid Management and performs an integral role in providing superior customer service to all internal and external stakeholders. The Assistant Director role conducts evaluations to assess the availability of financial aid for students and families, supports College students to ensure they graduate on time and provides procedural and regulatory support for Title IV and institutional programs within the Office of Financial Aid.

Responsibilities

• Oversees and manages the financial aid process, ensuring timely and accurate awarding and processing of federal and institutional aid.

• Works with the Bursar's Office to resolve payment and refund discrepancies.

• Counsels students and families; performs need analysis; completes the verification process on selected files; reviews appeals; and packages awards by assigning different types of financial aid to meet demonstrated need.

• Coordinates timely responses to all email and telephone contacts from students and families.

• Ensures disbursement of financial aid throughout the academic year.

• Creates and maintains federal, state and institutional financial aid policies and procedures.

• Represents the Office of Financial Aid at various on- and off-campus events as needed, including occasional evening and weekend hours.

• Assists with maintaining and reconciling various funding programs as needed.

• Assists students with a range of straightforward enrollment and billing problems by analyzing possible solutions using standard procedures.

• Communicates financial aid policies and programs to currently enrolled students with moderate guidance.

• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

• --

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in relevant field or area of study.

• Advanced degree.

Experience:

• A minimum of three (3) years of experience in a financial aid office or similar setting.

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Familiarity with Education Department systems.

• Proficiency using Microsoft Office.

• Knowledge of Oracle Campus Solutions.

• Proficiency using Oracle's Peoplesoft software.

• Familiarity with the Common Origination and Disbursement Web Site (COD) and National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS).

• Knowledge of federal and state financial aid programs and regulations.

Preferred Competencies

• Superb written and verbal communication skills.

• Extensive knowledge of need analysis.

• Provide superior customer service to a wide variety of constituents in a fast-paced environment.

• Exceptional analytical, verbal, and written communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills.

• Handle several projects simultaneously and work well under pressure.

• Work independently and as part of a team.

• Maintain confidentiality.

Working Conditions

• This position has a hybrid work schedule. Weekly in-office presence on UChicago's main campus in Hyde Park.

• Work independently for periods of 8 hours or more.

• May be asked to work 1-2 weekends per year.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)

• Cover Letter (required)

• References Contact Information (3)(required)

When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family

Student Affairs & Services

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

Scheduled Weekly Hours

37.5

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Pay Rate Type

Salary

FLSA Status

Exempt

Pay Range

$60,000.00 - $75,000.00

The included pay rate or range represents the University's good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible

Yes

The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu. Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.