Associate Director

One-Stop Student Services Center

JOB SUMMARY:

Under general supervision of the Director of Financial Aid, the Associate Director's primary areas of responsibility include management and oversight of the University's Federal Title IV, State and institutional grant, loans and work programs.

The Associate Director will actively lead several OS|FAO managers, including the Senior Assistant Director of Processing, the Associate Director of Student Loan Programs, Systems & other operations teams to meet management objectives and ensure the smooth and compliant operations of the department. Providing leadership and direction for the financial aid staff which includes student employees. Serves as a member of the One-Stop executive management team.  May represent the office in national, statewide, and campus-wide meetings and conferences as needed.

Similarly, when designated by the Director of Financial Aid, the Associate Director represents the office and the Director of Financial Aid to external constituencies on their behalf. The Associate Director plays a key role in managing the office and ensuring that it is running smoothly and that the financial aid office staff are adhering to the myriad of laws, regulations, and policies governing the delivery of student financial aid at the federal, state and university level. In the absence of the Director of Financial Aid, the Associate Director assumes full management responsibility for the One-Stop|FAO when necessary, ensuring continuity and an unbroken chain of management. In this capacity, the position directs the office operations and staff. 

SALARY INFORMATION:

In compliance with New York’s Pay Transparency Act, the annual base salary range for this position is $77,000 - $82,000. Adelphi University considers factors such as departmental budgets, scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, as well as market and organizational considerations when extending an offer. The above hiring range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting. An annual base salary higher than the range may be warranted in circumstances where a candidate has demonstrable equivalent prior higher education experience at another University.

Adelphi University provides a comprehensive benefit package for faculty and staff employees. For a list of benefits provided to employees, please click here.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

LEADERSHIP & CLIENT SERVICES

1. The Associate Director manages the majority of One-Stop|FAO staff, who deliver student financial aid and directly serve One-Stop, student and parents, University colleagues and administrators, and outside and third-party agencies. Directing the Assistant Director of Processing, the Associate Director of Student Loans and other managers, this position ensures that the staff adhere to the highest standards of financial aid awarding and disbursement, customer service and compliance. In conjunction with the Director of Financial Aid, the Associate Director is responsible for training, and, when necessary, coaching employees on best practices in the delivery of federal, state and university financial assistance.

2. In collaboration with the Director of One-Stop|Advisers, the Associate Director is responsible for supporting One-Stop’s counseling and outreach services area to ensure they are working to the highest degree of efficiency and effectiveness.  Provides direction to the Associate Director of One-Stop|Advising on upcoming federal and state aid initiatives.

3. Functions as the point of intervention before reaching the Director of Financial Aid, Director of One-Stop and the Assistant Vice President, One-Stop for all financial aid related issues from within the One-Stop organization.

STUDENT LENDING

1. Oversees the Associate Director, Student Loan Programs in management of AU’s federal and private loan portfolio. The loan unit is responsible for all facets of the federal, private and institutional loan programs including Federal Direct Loans, Federal Parent (PLUS) Loans, Federal Graduate (GPLUS) loans, and private loans for all undergraduate and graduate students.

2. Ensures that student loan programs are administered in an efficient and equitable manner while maintaining program integrity and compliance with all federal, state and institutional regulations and policies.

3. Collaborates with the University's Finance Office to ensure the timely draw downs and monthly reconciliation of funds for federal and state aid programs.

4. Oversees sunsetting of the Federal Perkins Loan Program.

RECONCILIATION AND REPORTING

1. Performs a wide range of duties with a focus on close out and reconciliation.

2. Facilitates the return of funds process and internal/external reconciliation for State and Title IV programs in accordance with regulations.

3. Effectively collaborates with University & One-Stop departments having involvement in facilitating return of funds and reconciliation processes to ensure compliance.

4. The Associate Director is responsible for ensuring the timely preparation and submission of all financial reports including the annual Fiscal Operations Report and Application to Participate (FISAP) required by the federal government.

5. Ensures proper funds matching rules and regulations are followed for the administration of campus funds such as the FSEOG (Federal Supplemental Opportunity Grant) and the federal and institutional work study.

6.The Sr. Associate Director w orks closely with the Finance Office to initiate transfers of funds to support the matching requirements.

7. Ensures that all funds are proactively monitored for over/under-utilization and that the Director of Financial Aid is immediately alerted to any potential issues.

8. Associate Director oversees all aspects of the University’s work-study programs, ensuring timely and accurate reporting, awarding, and processing.

9. Serves as a liaison between One-Stop Student Services, Human Resources, Finance Office and Information Technology Services for all work-study processes and programming.

10. Ensures compliance with federal, state, and financial aid requirements surrounding the work-study program and student employment. Responsible for bi-weekly, monthly, and annual accounting and reconciliation of the work-study program.

11. Independently researches discrepancies and anomalies and initiates corrective actions.

FINANCIAL AID COMPLIANCE AND PROCESSING

1. Provides oversight and management support to the Director of Financial Aid, who along with the Associate Director is responsible for the management, oversight, and compliance of the financial aid administration for the university.

2. The Associate Director recommends and oversees implementation of changes to policies and procedures ensuring the accurate, efficient, and timely delivery of student aid.

3. Develops and implements financial aid policies in response to federal, state, and university policy initiatives and independently monitors federal, state, and university financial aid trends.

4. The processing unit is responsible for critical financial aid processes such as verification, packaging, revisions, and satisfactory academic progress, among others.

5. The Associate Director in collaboration with the Director of Financial Aid are responsible for ensuring that the staff are accurately, compliantly, and equitably delivering student financial aid.

SPECIAL CASE MANAGEMENT

1. The Associate Director is the point of referral for escalated unusual, difficult and sensitive student cases for handling and resolving. In this role, the Sr. Associate Director must be knowledgeable and skilled at leveraging the available support services and resources.

2. Must be able to act quickly to defuse difficult and sometimes emotion-filled and/or heated situations and conversations.

3. Must be able to recognize students who warrant immediate or escalated assistance or services.

4. Handling and resolution of these cases may involve collaboration with any office on campus, including the President's Office, the Vice President of Enrollment Management, the Provost's Office and any office within Student Affairs or Academic Affairs, Finance Office, and University Counsel, etc.

Adelphi University Expectations:

Exhibit behavior that supports the mission, vision, and values of the university. Communicate and employ interpersonal actions that model high standards of professional, responsible, accountable, and ethical conduct. Demonstrate a commitment to outstanding customer service.

Requisite Qualifications:

1. Typically a Bachelor's degree in public administration, business administration, finance, accounting or an allied field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

2. Incumbent will be expected to continue upgrading knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to keep abreast of regulation/policy changes.

3. Minimum five years' experience in student financial aid in progressively responsible positions.

4. Leads by example and demonstrates strong leadership skills that foster a productive, cooperative, harmonious and respectful work environment across all areas of the office.

5. Adept at working with and motivating a diverse staff.

6. Demonstrated superior customer service skills, including demonstrated experience defusing difficult and sometimes emotion-filled and/or heated situations and interactions.

7. Ability to demonstrate empathy while maintaining professional decorum and adherence to policies, regulations and rules.

8. Ability to maintain confidentiality of sensitive student and human resources issues and situations.

9. Superior understanding of laws, regulations and policies governing the delivery of student financial aid.

10. Superior understanding of financial aid cash management rules and regulations.

11. Demonstrated project management experience to respond to both short and long-term projects, meeting deadlines with initiative and imagination; ability to successfully lead complex projects either independently or by leading a team.

12. Skilled at finding new, creative and different workable solutions to difficult problems and situations.

13. Superior written and oral communication skills to articulate complex information and issues clearly, concisely, and persuasively; written communication skills must be sufficiently advanced such that little or no further revision by others is usually required.

14. Strong interpersonal skills to work harmoniously and effectively with staff at all levels in the office and across the campus.

15. Solid analytical and accounting skills.

16. Highly developed organizational skills.

17. Ability to apply judgment and political acumen necessary to represent the Director of Financial Aid and OS|FAO effectively in relationships with other offices  and other higher education institutions and agencies.

18. Meticulous attention to detail and accuracy.

19. Highly proficient with MS Office Suite (Word, Excel) in a Windows environment. Experience in Higher Ed ERP software.

20. The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified.

EDUCATIONAL/EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

1. Bachelor’s Degree and a minimum of 5 years comprehensive financial aid

2. Experience in a fast-paced customer-service oriented higher education environment.

POSITION(S) SUPERVISED:

1. Associate Director, Senior Assistant Directors, Senior Financial Aid and Special Projects Administrators

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

N/A.

ABOUT ADELPHI

Adelphi University, New York, is a highly awarded, nationally ranked, powerfully connected doctoral research university dedicated to transforming students’ lives through small classes with world-class faculty, hands-on learning and innovative ways to support academic and career success. Adelphi is one of just four companies and the only university on Long Island to be named among America’s Best Employers by State for 2023 by Forbes. Adelphi offers exceptional liberal arts and sciences programs and professional training, with particular strength in our Core Four—Arts and Humanities, STEM and Social Sciences, the Business and Education Professions, and Health and Wellness. Recognized as a Best College by U.S. News & World Report, Adelphi is Long Island’s oldest private coeducational university, serving more than 7,400 students at its beautiful main campus in Garden City, at learning hubs in Brooklyn, the Hudson Valley and Suffolk County, and online. The University offers students 70 undergraduate programs, 93 master’s degree and doctoral programs, and 64 certificate programs in the liberal arts, the sciences and professional training. With powerful partnerships throughout the New York area, more than 119,000 graduates across the country, a growing enrollment of students from 44 states and 76 countries, and rising rankings from top publications and organizations, Adelphi is a dynamic community that plays a leadership role on Long Island and in the region.

Salary : $77,000 - $82,000