Senior Director of Financial Aid

Senior Director of Financial Aid

Job Description:
Lead the financial aid strategy that connects students and families to a Champlain education. As the Senior Director of Financial Aid, you will help shape how we make that education accessible while supporting the College's enrollment and net tuition revenue goals.

Reporting to the Chief Enrollment, Marketing & Partnerships Officer, the Senior Director sets strategic direction for the Office of Financial Aid, including institutional awarding parameters, packaging philosophy, and aid policy. You will also provide day-to-day leadership for financial aid operations serving both our traditional undergraduate and Champlain College Online populations, with a special emphasis on federal compliance, efficient use of technology, cross-departmental coordination, and outstanding customer service.

The successful candidate will translate enrollment goals and emerging federal regulatory change into clear institutional policy, working with EAB and other data partners to inform aid strategy and funding decisions. You will lead a team of five, counsel students and parents, and bring both the regulatory expertise and the student-centered mindset to keep our office compliant, responsive, and forward-looking.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Direction & Institutional Aid Policy

• Partner with the Chief Enrollment, Marketing & Partnerships Officer to establish awarding parameters, packaging formulas, and merit/institutional aid strategy aligned with enrollment and net tuition revenue goals
• Serve as the College's primary interpreter of emerging federal regulatory change (e.g., OBBBA, STATS, SOR/loan proration) for institutional policy, risk, and operational decisions
• Partner with EAB on financial aid modeling, discount rate analysis, and funding gap projections, translating findings into packaging recommendations and office practice
• Recommend adjustments to merit and institutional scholarship programs in response to enrollment trends, regulatory change, and competitive positioning

Financial Aid Operations & Federal Program Compliance

• Manage daily office operations and processing of federal, state, and institutional aid programs, including scholarships, grants, Federal Work-Study, and loans, ensuring student-centered procedures and a high level of customer service
• Oversee file review, federal verification, resolution of C-flag holds, and awarding for traditional and online populations, including award adjustments for COA changes and outside scholarships
• Administer Federal Pell Grant, SEOG, Federal Direct Loans, and Federal Work-Study, including required reporting and funding reconciliation in compliance with federal and institutional standards
• Serve on the appeal committees for returning student financial aid reviews and satisfactory academic progress

Cross-Functional Partnership

• Coordinate with Student Accounts, the Registrar's Office, Admissions, IS, and Institutional Research on matters affecting aid eligibility, awarding, and compliance (e.g., R2T4/withdrawal timing, enrollment intensity and proration, program-level outcomes reporting)
• Represent financial aid in cross-functional strategy sessions and working groups responding to new or changing federal regulations
• Represent financial aid at in-person and online Admissions events

Staff Leadership & Development

• Supervise five full-time staff, including assigning and managing workload, maintaining schedules, and managing performance
• Recruit, interview, and hire staff
• Train staff in eligibility, awarding, verification, and loan processing, and keep office policies and procedures current with federal and state regulations

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree
• Seven or more years of progressively responsible financial aid experience, including at least five years of supervisory or leadership experience
• Advanced knowledge of federal Title IV regulations, state financial aid programs, and online program regulations, with demonstrated ability to interpret and implement complex regulatory compliance and manage institutional risk
• Experience with federal financial aid systems and reporting tools, including FISAP, Common Origination & Disbursement (COD), National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS), and the FAFSA Partner Portal, and proficiency with data systems (Colleague preferred)
• Demonstrated proficiency in need analysis, packaging, and required revisions
• Demonstrated supervisory skills, including the ability to train, supervise, and evaluate staff
• Strong leadership, analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills, with a collaborative and student-centered approach and a strong commitment to excellent customer service
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment

Preferred Qualifications

• Certified Financial Aid Administrator® certification and FAAC® designation through NASFAA
• Experience administering financial aid at an institution serving a broad range of student populations and financial aid needs, including first-generation students and Pell Grant recipients
• Experience leading financial aid audits and federal program reviews, and managing other compliance-related issues
• Familiarity with financial aid technology solutions, workflow automation, and reporting tools
• Active participation in professional financial aid associations

Working Arrangements

• Full-time, primarily in-person position based at our main campus in Burlington, Vermont
• Option to work remotely up to two days per week following a three-month probationary period
• Flexible schedule that allows for some evening and weekend work
• Extensive sitting, walking, and lifting may be required

Compensation & Benefits

• Annual Salary: $110,000 - $120,000
  • The posted salary range represents the full minimum to maximum for this role. Candidates who meet the requirements of the position are generally placed in the lower half of the range. Higher placement reflects experience and qualifications beyond the requirements, as well as internal equity and other factors considered when extending an offer.
• Comprehensive Benefits Package:
• Health Coverage: Medical, dental, and vision insurance with HSA and FSA options
• Paid Time Off: 16 holidays, 4 weeks of vacation, 2 weeks sick time, and 2 days of personal leave
• Retirement: 403(b) plan with 3% employer matching contribution
• Education: Tuition benefits for employees and family members
• Wellness: Gym discount and Wellness programs with up to $300 annual incentives
• Welfare: Short-term and long-term disability coverage, plus life insurance
• Other Perks: Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with counseling services, access to employee discounts and local/national benefit programs

Application Instructions

To apply, please follow the link below and submit the following application materials:

• Resume
• Cover Letter addressing the desired qualifications and how your experiences contribute to the academic excellence and inclusive community at Champlain College

The College seeks candidates who can enhance its mission through their work, life experiences, service, teaching, or research. Please include specific examples of how you would contribute to these efforts in your Cover Letter.

To streamline our hiring process and ensure fairness for all candidates, we manage all recruitment communications through our online application system. Please do not call regarding your application status. We'll reach out directly if we'd like to schedule an interview.

The successful completion of a criminal background check is required as a condition of employment.

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Champlain College does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, place of birth, ancestry, religion, age, sexual orientation, sex, gender identity, veteran or military service status, HIV -positive status, qualified disability, or on the basis of any other status protected by law, and does not discriminate in the administration of its education and admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, employment practices or co-curricular and other College-administered programs. Champlain College will make reasonable accommodations for otherwise qualified students, applicants for admission or employment, or employees.

Champlain College is committed to fostering an inclusive and welcoming community. We believe that bringing together individuals with different backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences enriches education and strengthens our community. At Champlain, all members are valued as individuals and respected for their unique contributions.

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About Us:
Founded in 1878, Champlain College is a small, private, not-for-profit college in Burlington, Vermont overlooking Lake Champlain and the Adirondack mountains. Its career-driven approach to higher education prepares students for professional life from their very first semester. For the fifth year in a row, Champlain was named a "Most Innovative School" in the North by U.S. News & World Report's "America's Best Colleges" 2020 regional rankings and ranked #9 on The Princeton Review's "2025 Top Schools for Game Design."


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