Senior Director of Financial Aid Systems – Enrollment Management Group
Salary: Commensurate with experience
Benefits: Generous
benefits include paid time off including holidays and vacation, retirement
match, and tuition remission for employee and dependents. Details at www.duq.edu/benefits
Location: Enrollment Management Group
Position Status: Full-time/Remote
Hours: Varied
Position Number: 245708/10-992
FLSA Status: Exempt
POSITION
SUMMARY:
This is a fully remote position.
Reporting to the AVP for Financial Aid and
Scholarships, the Senior Director of Financial Aid Systems (SDFAS) manages
Financial Aid operations through the use of technology including the Banner
Financial Aid system, Cognos reporting, SQL reporting, BDM document management,
Reports Manager, GlobalECS, and other software. Serves
as the functional and technical expert of technology and systems (Primarily but
not limited to Axiom, Ellucian Banner, Cognos, EDEexpress, CSS Profile, Rapid
Insight, etc.) supporting and providing Systems support and leadership functions for all units but directly for the AVP/Director
of Financial Aid and Scholarship Office (FASO) and other (FASO) staff members,
to lead the technical administration all aspects of the financial aid process,
which includes but not limited to being in compliance and in development,
administration and interpretation of financial aid policies and procedures in
accordance with established federal, state and institutional guidelines. The
DFAS will have a dotted line to the AVP of Operations and Student Services and
also be primary representative of EMG to University CTS and cross-functional
units especially the registrar and other connected services, as well as other
enrollment systems, integrations, platforms, and processes, including, but not
limited to Technolutions Slate and vendor partnerships such as CSS profile,
INAS, EAB etc. The SDFAS is a key member of EMG for operational excellence and
will ensure the data integrity needed by the department for the high-quality
execution of technology-supported financial aid, student services, business
processes, data reporting and analytics. The SDFAS will centralize the systems
to operationalize all aspects of the Financial Aid and scholarship process for
financial aid, and coordinate same with admissions, and retention. Works
independently and is expected to exercise discretion and independent judgment
in carrying out the responsibilities, including but not limited to, executing
financial aid strategies for all university funds. Supports Enrollment Management goals to manage
net revenues and discount, recruit and retain students. Provides leadership and
direction for the policies, procedures, and operations involved with the
awarding and delivery of financial aid and scholarship programs, undergraduate
and graduate enrollment processing, and integrations across university
functions.
DUTIES
AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Continuously
report to, coordinate and consult with Director of Financial Aid and
Scholarships.
Configure,
maintain, and improve Financial Aid processes.
Oversee, review, and test Banner
and provide data to outside sources. Functions as the data steward to ensure
data integrity, accreditation standards, privacy laws and best practices for
Banner (Admissions), COGNOS (Admissions) and Slate. Conducts Cognos testing during system upgrades.
Create, maintain, and
review daily integrity and reconciliation reports to ensure compliance and
system operation. Performs Cognos query reports for schools across campus in
relation to endowed scholarship candidate searches.
Serves
as the CTS liaison and functional and technical expert for the Enrollment
Management Group and assists with current and new technology used within the
division and serves on other campus-wide committees such as the ECC, Data
Standards and Shadow Systems to ensure division data are collected and reported
correctly.
Interprets all financial
aid technical findings within the tracking, imports and processes then makes
and implements appropriate resolutions.
Engages
with student information systems to ensure availability of real-time,
user-centric data that serves the diverse needs of college
constituencies-academic departments, enrollment division and executive
leadership.
Complete external
financial aid surveys for the university; complete reports for Enrollment
Management to show trends and forecasts for enrollment goals. Create annual
communication for current student body.
Assists
in the development of enrollment modeling and projection databases.
Provides
analytical support by identifying trends within the data and brings them to the
attention of enrollment leadership.
•Discount Rate statistics
•Enrollment comparisons to budget and
prior year statistics
•Retention
statistic
Assists
and works closely with the Assistant
Vice President of Operations and Student Services on operations management, data collection, analysis, and strategy formation.
Review existing
technology systems (primarily Banner and Technolutions Slate) instances to
ensure the system supports all offices that utilize the platform. This includes
creating training documents and providing training to users based on their role
within the system.
Develop detailed tasks
and project plans by analyzing project scope and milestones for moderately
complex projects.
Document code and associated processes by
adhering to development methodologies, adding code comments and appropriate
documentation to various knowledge-based system(s) to simplify code maintenance
and to improve support. Provide written documentation of
findings to share with colleagues.
Represent financial aid at
technology and operations meetings. Participates in professional development
and performs other duties and projects as assigned. Attends admissions
recruitment events (e.g., DuquesneFest, Fall Open House, etc.).
Supervises work of others, including planning, assigning,
scheduling and reviewing work, ensuring quality standards. Is responsible for
hiring, terminating, training and developing, reviewing performance and
administering corrective action for staff. Plans organizational structure and
job content.
Completes other
duties as assigned.
REQUIREMENTS:
Minimum qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree
from an accredited institution.
8+ years of work-related experience.
Expert
level skills in Ellucian in general and Banner Financial Aid specifically;
Highly skilled in SQL programming, Python if possible as well; Generally
tech-savvy and can learn new software independently and quickly.
Preferred qualifications:
Very strong technical knowledge of
FAMS system (Banner/Ellucian preferred).
Proficiency with
PC, Microsoft Office tools, email and the Internet with the ability to learn a
variety of new technology systems; technical knowledge of Power BI; knowledge
of COGNOS; familiarity with Slate and Banner preferred.
Alternately, the
successful candidate may possess any equivalent combination of experience and
training, which provides the knowledge, skills and abilities required to
perform the essential job functions. This includes, but is not limited to, the
following:
Extensive
Knowledge and understanding of federal, states and agency-accrediting rules and
regulations as they pertain to higher education admission. Very strong
knowledge of federal and state regulations concerning financial aid, as well as
NCAA regulations
Knowledge of
Federal sites such as EDconnect, NSLDS, CPS, and COD; and PHEAA site
A broad
understanding of higher education processes and procedures, including shared
governance, strategic planning, resource allocation and budget management
Highly developed
interpersonal, analytic, problem-solving, organizational and communication
skills, including the ability to listen thoughtfully and respectfully to a
diverse population of constituents and stakeholders
Strong
communication skills, both oral and written providing the ability to
effectively communicate with multiple internal and external constituents
Ensures
compliance with Federal and State laws pertaining to financial aid, affirmative
action and FERPA
Membership and
active engagement in appropriate national student service organizations, such
as NASFA and PASFA
Sensitivity to
the need of each individual to be treated with dignity and respect as it
relates to diversity in general and the Mission of the University specifically
Proactive,
strategic, analytical and deadline-oriented in a complex organization
Ability and
willingness to work outside of regular business hours and some weekends during
peak enrollment periods
Ability to
prepare and maintain confidential data independently in accordance with
established policies and procedures and exercise consistent discretion
Considerable
knowledge of the laws, regulations and policies governing the operations of the
University
Ability to create
and maintain complex records and files
Willingness and
ability to work evenings and weekends as needed during peak enrollment periods
Ability to exceed
recruitment goals, facilitate staff development opportunities, exhibit
teamwork, model analytical & critical thinking, engage in creative problem
solving and demonstrate high levels of time management and organizational
skills
Ability to work
with diverse populations and sensitivity to the needs of each individual to be
treated with dignity and respect as related to diversity in general and the
Mission of the University specifically; and the ability to establish and
maintain effective working relationships with the University Community.
Commitment to the
University’s values of diversity, equity and inclusion, and recognition of the
importance of treating each individual with dignity and respect consistent with
the University’s Mission. Demonstrated
experience with, and understanding of, the broad diversity of the University
community (students, faculty, staff and others).
Ability to
establish and maintain effective working relationships with the University
Community.
Ability and willingness to contribute actively to the mission of the University
and to respect the Spiritan Catholic identity of Duquesne University. The
mission is implemented through a commitment to academic excellence, a spirit of
service, moral and spiritual values, sensitivity to world concerns, and an
ecumenical campus community.
APPLICATION
INSTRUCTIONS:
Applicants are asked to submit a cover letter, resume, and contact information
for three professional references.
Catholic in its mission and ecumenical in spirit, Duquesne University values
equality of opportunity as an educational institution and as an employer. We
aspire to attract and sustain a diverse faculty and staff that reflects
contemporary society, serves our academic goals and enriches our campus
community. We particularly encourage applications from members of
underrepresented groups and support dual-career couples through our charter
membership in this
region's HERC (http://www.hercjobs.org/oh-western-pa-wv/).
We invite applicants for this position to learn more about our university and
its Spiritan heritage by
visiting http://www.duq.edu/about/mission-and-identity/mission-statement.
Those invited to campus for an interview may be asked about ways in which they
see their talents contributing to the continued growth of our community and
furthering its mission.
Duquesne University was founded in 1878 by its sponsoring religious community,
the Congregation of the Holy Spirit. Duquesne University is Catholic in
mission and ecumenical in spirit. Motivated by its Catholic identity,
Duquesne values equality of opportunity both as an educational institution and
as an employer.