Financial Aid Director

Hostos Community College’s Financial Aid Office removes financial barriers and empowers students to meet their educational goals. The office adheres to federal, state, city, and university requirements, incorporating best practices to ensure timely and professional delivery of student aid funds. Staff are committed to helping students understand available financial aid programs, addressing financial difficulties, and delivering high-quality services with professionalism and concern. The office provides individual counseling, group workshops, and assistance with online financial aid forms, while monitoring compliance with federal and state requirements to ensure finances do not prevent qualified students from earning a degree.

Responsibilities

• Oversees and manages all Financial Aid Office staff and operations.
• Develops and leverages data-informed financial aid strategies by analyzing aid utilization, student need, and award outcomes to enhance student access, affordability, and overall success.
• Leads cross-functional strategic planning initiatives with Admissions, Bursar, Registrar, Academic Affairs, and Student Affairs to align enrollment, retention, and completion efforts with institutional priorities and student success goals.
• Establishes department goals and assesses outcomes; implements continuous improvement initiatives.
• Oversees the effective use of financial aid management systems and technology platforms.
• Prepares and presents reports on financial aid trends, performance metrics, compliance, and student outcomes.
• Performs complex data analyses on financial aid processes using CUNYfirst to make projections and create improvement plans.
• Oversees internal reconciliation efforts and reports to auditors, program reviewers, and accreditation teams.
• Develops training for staff to maximize operational efforts, including effective navigation of the student information system and new developments in Title IV program eligibility.
• Effectively communicates and collaborates with College leadership.
• Develops and oversees student financial aid programs in accordance with Federal/State laws and University guidelines.
• Develops and interprets financial aid policies and procedures for Federal and NY State programs, including internal loan programs, Stafford Loans, Perkins Loans, College Work Study, and Tuition Assistance Program (TAP).
• Reports on general and fiscal matters such as program expenditures, projections of full-year spending potential, and analyses of spending patterns.
• Authorizes the disbursement of funds.
• Monitors compliance with Federal and State financial aid regulations, developing and implementing compliance procedures.
• Serves as College liaison to Federal, State, local, and professional agencies on financial aid matters.
• Ensures the Financial Aid function works effectively with other College units (e.g., Admissions, Registrar, Bursar).
• Manages financial aid staffing, development, and evaluation.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree and eight years’ related experience required.

Qualifications

• Master’s Degree (preferred).
• At least five years of supervisory experience with progressively increasing responsibility and demonstrated success in managing financial aid operations at the University level (preferred).
• Knowledge of financial aid trends related to the use and delivery of student financial aid management, as well as state and institutional fund management.
• Thorough knowledge of and experience in implementing federal, state, and institutional financial aid program practices, laws, and compliance regulations.
• Experience in preparing state and federal reports.
• Knowledge of industry-related software and database management to deliver, track, and evaluate financial aid technology and strategies.
• Excellent computer skills for managing an integrated financial aid computerized record-keeping system, EDE electronic processing system including Electronic PELL and Web Grants.
• Excellent counseling skills to interface with students, prospective students, student families, faculty, staff, external organizations, and other individuals.
• Ability to quickly organize and communicate thoughts to speak effectively with coworkers, the public, and student populations.
• Ability to work outside of standard business hours to complete job requirements/assignments.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health plans.
• Competitive retirement/pension benefits and savings plans.
• Tuition waivers for CUNY graduate study.
• Generous paid time off.
• Access to extensive academic, arts, and athletic programs on CUNY campuses.

Pay

$117,971 - $136,040; salary commensurate with education and experience.

Schedule

Essential duties require on-campus presence. Ability to work outside of standard business hours as needed.