Director of Financial Aid Operations
The University of Texas at Arlington

Job Info

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Posting Number:

S05917P

Position Title:

Director of Financial Aid Operations

Department:

Financial Aid

Location:

Arlington

Job Family:

Administrative Support

Position Status:

Full-time

Work Hours:

Standard

Work Schedule:

• Monday through Friday
• 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Open to:

External and Internal

Salary:

Salary is commensurate based on qualifications and relevant experience.

Duration:

Funding expected to continue

Pay Basis:

Monthly

Benefits Eligible:

Yes

Benefits at UTA:

We are proud to offer a comprehensive benefits package to all our employees at the University.
https://www.uta.edu/hr/employee-benefits

To help you understand the full value of these benefits, we have created a tool that calculates the total worth of your compensation package. This tool takes into account all of the benefits that you are eligible for, including health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off. To access this tool and learn more about the total value of your benefits, please click on the following link:
https://resources.uta.edu/hr/services/records/compensation-tools.php

University Information:

The University of Texas at Arlington is located in the heart of the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metroplex, a vibrant and diverse metropolitan area that is home to over 7 million people, one of the fastest-growing tech economies in the United States, and a wide array of arts, entertainment, and cultural activities. UTA is a comprehensive teaching, research, and public service institution dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through scholarship and creative work. The University is committed to providing access and ensuring student success, and to a culture of innovation, entrepreneurship, and commercialization of discoveries by our community of scholars. With an enrollment of more than 40,000 students, UTA is the second largest in the University of Texas System. As a result of its combination of rigorous academics and innovative research, UTA is designated as a Carnegie R-1 "Very High Research Activity" institution. UTA ranks No. 4 nationally in Military Times' annual "Best for Vets: Colleges" list and is among the top 30 performers nationwide for promoting social mobility of its graduates (U.S. News & World Report, 2023). UTA is designated by the U.S. Department of Education as both a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI), and it has one of the top 5 most ethnically diverse undergraduate student bodies in the United States (U.S. News & World Report, 2023). Its approximately 270,000 alumni, including some who occupy leadership positions at many of the 24 Fortune 500 companies headquartered in North Texas, contribute to UTA's $22.2 billion annual economic impact on Texas.

Furthermore, UTA is poised to experience widespread growth in the near future. The university recently launched the first phase of its RISE 100 initiative aimed at recruiting 100 new tenure-system faculty to amplify research standing and position UTA as a leader in key scholarly areas; more details are available at https://www.uta.edu/administration/president/strategic-plan/rise100. The successful candidate for this position will have the opportunity to join UTA during an exciting period of growth and contribute as the university broadens its impact.

Job Summary:

Serves as the second-in-command of the office, stepping in for the Executive Director as needed. Responsibilities include overseeing office operations, program, and risk management, ensuring that processing and service standards are timely, accurate, efficient, inclusive, and equitable. The Director monitors grant budgets and expenditures to maximize support for students, assists in completing surveys and annual reports, and manages day-to-day operations to facilitate the Executive Director's focus on strategic planning and implementation. Reporting to the Executive Director, the Operations Director will join a dedicated team of professionals committed to student access, opportunity, and success.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Oversight of Office Operations:

• Assess, develop, and implement policies and procedures to streamline financial aid processes, ensuring efficiency and compliance with federal, state, and institutional regulations.
• Supervise a team of financial aid staff, providing guidance, training, and support to ensure high-quality service delivery to students and families.
• Develop and analyze data reports to aid in continuous improvement to realize efficiencies and increase the effectiveness of office operations.
• Expects, demonstrates, and ensures a high level of service excellence to internal and external constituencies.
• Responsible for the supervision of the day-to-day operations associated with financial aid packaging and processing, prospective and current student awards.

Support Executive Director:

• Act as a key liaison between the financial aid office and other departments, ensuring effective communication and collaboration in the absence of the Executive Director.
• Assume responsibility for critical decision-making and leadership tasks when the Executive Director is unavailable, maintaining continuity of operations and upholding the office's standards of excellence.
• Serves as a resource to the campus community and external agencies regarding all aspects of financial aid.

Budget and Fund Management:

• Analyze financial data and trends to forecast grant needs and recommend budget adjustments to optimize funding allocation for student aid programs.
• Conduct internal audit assessments to ensure the accuracy and efficiency of processes and maintains fund management reports.
• Provides cost projections and other inputs for simulating and aid-awarding models.

Reporting and System Set Up:

• Responsible for monitoring system rules and set up for processing student financial aid ensuring accuracy and efficiency.
• Compile and analyze data to prepare comprehensive annual reports on financial aid programs, including key metrics such as disbursement rates, student demographics, and fund utilization.
• Present findings and recommendations from the annual reports to senior leadership and key stakeholders, informing strategic decision-making, risk management, and resource allocation for future financial aid initiatives.

Other Duties as AssignedMinimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in finance, business administration, higher education administration, or a related field.
• A minimum of five (5) years of experience in financial aid administration or related field.
• A minimum of five (5) years supervisory experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in finance, business administration, higher education administration, or related field.
• Experience working in a leadership or management role within a financial aid office.
• Experience with budget management and financial forecasting.
• Experience understanding and interpreting financial aid and enrollment management data.
• Familiarity with financial aid software systems such as PeopleSoft.
• Demonstrate commitment to professional development, and staying current with the industry trends and regulations.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Strong analytic and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communications and interpersonal skills.
• Experience developing and implementing financial aid policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of the best practices in financial aid administration and student financial services.
• Knowledge of federal, state, and institutional financials aid regulations and programs.

CBC Requirement:

It is the policy of The University of Texas at Arlington to conduct a criminal background check on any applicant who is under final consideration for employment with the University.

EEO Statement:

It is the policy of The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA or The University) to provide an educational and working environment that provides equal opportunity to all members of the University community. In accordance with federal and state law, the University prohibits unlawful discrimination, including harassment, on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, disability, genetic information, and/or veteran status. The University also prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender identity, and gender expression. Retaliation against persons who oppose a discriminatory practice, file a charge of discrimination, or testify for, assist in, or participate in an investigative proceeding relating to discrimination is prohibited. Constitutionally-protected expression will not be considered discrimination or harassment under this policy. It is the responsibility of all departments, employees, and students to ensure the University's compliance with this policy.

ADA Accommodations:

The University of Texas at Arlington is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to 817-272-5554 or email ADADocs@uta.edu.

Number of Vacancies:

1

Minimum Number of References Required:

3

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Applicants must include in their online resume the following information: 1) Employment history: name of company, period employed (from month/year to month/year), job title, summary of job duties and 2) Education: school name, degree type, and major.

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