Associate Director of Financial Aid Operations

Ball State University

Muncie, IN

ID: 7131203 (Ref.No. BSU36231)
Posted: March 15, 2023
Application Deadline: Open Until Filled

Job Description

Support the Assistant Vice President/Executive Director and Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships senior staff to oversee the design, update, implementation, maintenance, testing, evaluation, and documentation of the financial aid software system (Ellucian Banner), integration with other related systems, buildout of the data warehouse and data dashboards; provide reporting for operations and strategic planning.

The Ball State University Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships is seeking an Associate Director of Financial Aid Operations. The successful candidate will report to the Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Planning and Management and Executive Director of Financial Aid and Scholarships and serve on the office senior leadership team. The individual will provide strategic administration of student financial aid programs through the effective implementation, configuration, and management of Banner computer software for financial aid. The individual will work closely with the current operations staff to provide oversight of the application processing flow, system documentation, and staff training in system related functions. The successful candidate will assist in completion of surveys such as IPEDS and U.S. News and World Report and reporting to facilitate operations and strategic planning.

Job Function:

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution or in lieu of Bachelor's degree, an Associate's degree with an additional three years of experience with support and maintenance of a mission-critical software system, including writing systems documentation.

Preferred Education:

Master’s Degree.

Minimum Experience:

At least three years of direct experience supporting a mission-critical software system (such as Ellucina Banner) including system programming, testing of software upgrades, problem resolution and strategic and ad hoc reporting.

Preferred Experience:

Additional years of direct, mission-critical software oversight within enrollment management or student affairs/services office(s). Experience working in a college or university Financial Aid office.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Serve as a member of the AVP/Executive Director’s senior staff; provide leadership in the overall management and administration of technical operations.
Interpret complex federal and state regulations, review guidelines and professional literature on financial aid; maintain a working knowledge of required financial aid policies and procedures and related software options through training and self-initiated research such as financial aid and Banner-related list-serve postings, Federal Student Aid, NASFAA, regulatory postings; attend trainings, conferences and webinars.
Provide project management; work collaboratively with OFAS staff and others to gather business requirements and implement business process essential to day-to-day operations that are in compliance with rules and regulations and support student success; develop and maintain an understanding of the timing and interdependencies of the data and processes; recommend proposals for systems resolution.
Work with other operational staff to determine programming specifications for required financial aid forms and reports; serve as a liaison with Integrated Technology Services and other departments to test and implement Ellucian Banner financial aid upgrade activities.
Prepare and conduct systems training sessions for departmental staff based on changes, modifications and interpretations resulting from new or current legislation.
Coordinate timely documentation of policies and procedures related to using the financial aid software systems.
Participate on relevant interdepartmental committees on integration touch points, coordination of common processes and shared functionality; address technical and data integrity issues affecting administrative and academic departments and provide input for needed changes to relevant software or setup.
Write database queries using several report writing tools to retrieve data from the financial aid system, as well as from other modules within Ball State University, to support awarding of aid, problem solving, and various types of strategic reporting. Assist in other reporting such as common dataset, national college surveys, operational support and requests from various constituents in the BSU community where appropriate.
Directly supervise the Assistant Director of Operations and indirectly maintain oversight of the Systems Coordinator and Processing Representative.
Assign and review work, orient and train staff, and make recommendations in all areas related to supervision, including but not limited to interviewing and selection, compensation, discipline, performance appraisal and training and career development of personnel.
Perform other related duties as assigned.

At Ball State University, we recognize inclusive excellence as an integral endeavor to fulfill our University’s mission and our strategic plan. We recruit, support, and retain a diverse population of students, faculty, and staff. We encourage and reward diversity of thought. We promote a work environment that encourages and rewards innovation and creativity. We pledge to keep Inclusive Excellence at the highest level of institutional importance and as a foundation in all that we strive to do. Our over-arching goal for Inclusive Excellence is to adopt a university-wide Inclusive Excellence approach to academic, administrative support, and service functions of the university. We believe Inclusive Excellence must be infused in every step we take.

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