Position Title: Assc Dir,Fin Aid Client Svcs

Employee Classification: Assc Dir,Financial Aid

College/Division: Student Success & Enroll Management

Department: 521040-UNIV FIN AID & SCHOLARSHIP SVCS

Internal or External Search: External - Open to all applicants

Location: Las Cruces

Offsite Location (if applicable):

Target Hourly/Salary Rate:  $59,965.78 Commensurate with experience.

Appointment Full-time Equivalency:  1.0

Exempt or Non-Exempt:  Exempt

Summary:  The University Financial Aid and Scholarship Services Department seeks an active and highly motivated student-centered individual with strong interpersonal skills to fill the Associate Director, Financial Aid Client Services position.

Classification Summary:
Manages and administers financial aid programs for students, including staff and resource management, reports and program reviews, compliance with university and funding agency requirements, and student financial aid applications and counseling.

Classification Standard Duties:
Oversees the operations of the unit, ensuring compliance with the University, state, and federal laws, policies, and regulations. Initiates contact with at-risk students. Provides information to enhance academic skills and/or provide intervention to keep them enrolled. Compiles and monitors data from intervention contacts to analyze for patterns of reasons for student attrition.Develops and monitors operating budget, prepares back-up budget documentation and provides fiscal direction to the unit. Oversees schedules of staff and tutors at four campus locations. Monitors subject matter offered. Attends DACC and NMSU committee meetings. Oversees the supervision of personnel, which includes work allocation, training, promotion and enforcement of internal procedures and controls, and problem resolution; evaluates performance and makes recommendations for personnel actions; motivates employees to achieve peak productivity and performance. Assists in developing and coordinating the technical aspects of the administration of scholarship and/or non-scholarship student financial aid programs; Participates in development, implementation and maintenance of policies, objectives, projects and short and long range planning to accomplish goals. Represents the organization in the community; promotes programs and/or policies. Maintains the Banner Financial Aid system including: coordination with ITS for the installation and testing of releases and patches and the oversight, testing and maintenance of modules. Oversees the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) Stafford/PLUS Loan program and interfaces with the New Mexico Student Loan Corporation and other guarantors. Coordinates financial aid disbursement with the Bursar and Accounts Receivable offices. May administer accounting, reporting, and funding levels for specific programs, coordinate audits and program reviews,coordinate public information and outreach programs, and develop sources of financial aid at the state and national levels. May manage specialized databases and personal computer networks; may produce specialized statistical reports. Performs miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned.

Required Education, Experience, Certification/License, Equivalency
Required Education:Bachelor's degree in a related field.; Required Experience:Five (5) years of professional experience related to the standard duties as outlined.; Equivalency:None; Required Certification/License:

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
KNOWLEDGE:Knowledge of financial aid policies, procedures, and eligibility requirements. Knowledge and understanding of all aspects of student financial aid and scholarships. Knowledge of budgeting, cost estimating, and fiscal management principles and procedures. Knowledge of faculty and/or staff hiring procedures.; SKILLS:Strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community. Skill in the use of personal computers and related software applications. Skill in examining and re-engineering operations and procedures, formulating policy, and developing and implementing new strategies and procedures. Skill in organizing resources and establishing priorities. Employee development and performance management skills. Working knowledge and skill in operating in the Banner Financial Aid system and related module components.; ABILITIES:Ability to develop and maintain recordkeeping systems and procedures. Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing. Ability to develop, plan, and implement short- and long-range goals. Ability to supervise and train employees, to include organizing, prioritizing, and scheduling work assignments. Ability to foster a cooperative work environment.

Job Duties and Responsibilities
This position will supervise seven caseload advisors. This position will be responsible for client services and procedures. This position will be responsible for maintaining and writing our FA policies and procedures, ensuring compliance within federal and state guidelines while sustaining open and accurate lines of communication with our students.

Specifically, Job Duties and Responsibilities include:
• Develop quality assurance measures to ensure accuracy and to improve response times
• Manage the federally mandated U.S. Department of Education verification process and related application resolution processes to ensure institutional compliance
• Identify, develop, implement and assess process improvements to comply with regulations and improve the quantity of the service the students receive
• Develop and implement corrective action plans for deficiencies found during internal review
• Process aid adjustments when appropriate, update files and correspond with students, federal or state agencies regarding complaint resolutions
• Supervise and coordinate exception processing to ensure accuracy and timely awarding of financial aid
• Responsible for the review of aid packages based on SAP appeals, verification, professional judgement and c-code resolutions
• Participates in development, implementation and maintenance of policies, objectives, short-and long-range planning; develops and implements projects and programs to assist in accomplishment of established goals. Participates in the development and implementation of policies and procedures consistent with those of the organization to ensure efficient and safe operation of the unit
• Oversees the supervision of personnel, which includes work allocation, training, promotion and enforcement of internal procedures and controls, and problem resolution; evaluates performance and makes recommendations for personnel actions; motivates employees to achieve peak productivity and performance
• Assist with the annual A133 audit and monitors unit quality assurance findings.
• Develop and maintain written policies and procedures for the processing of financial aid as it relates to SAP, verification, professional judgement and c-code resolutions which are reviewed annually.
• Maintain current knowledge of all federal regulations that pertains to SAP, verification, professional judgement and c-code to ensure institutional compliance
• Analyze complex financial aid processing issues and identify methods to increase efficiency.
• Responsible for resolving escalated student issues in a student focused manner
• Maintain expertise in all areas of financial aid and be able to translate it effectively to students, parents and staff
• Train and mentor staff to develop a student centered approach to financial aid.
• Responsible for maintaining appropriate coverage for the front desk, telephone and email to ensure students received accurate and timely student-centric responses to queries.

Preferred Qualifications

Special Requirements of the Position
Schedule may be adjusted with prior notice based on needs of the department. Limited travel, flexible hours during peak times, and occasional evening and weekend schedules.

Department Contact:  Maria Hernandez, 575-646-7598, mgh1@nmsu.edu

Contingent Upon Funding: Not Applicable

Bargaining Unit Eligibility: This is NOT a bargaining unit position with American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME).

Standard Work Schedule: Standard (M-F, 8-5)

If Not a Standard Work Schedule: 

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

Environment: Work is normally performed in a typical interior/office work environment.

Physical Effort: No or very limited physical effort required.

Lifting Requirements: Requires handling of average-weight objects up to 10 pounds or some standing or walking.

Risk: No or very limited exposure to physical risk.