Manager, Application Processing

Do you have a passion for children and education? Would you like to positively impact families in need of help? We want to speak with you!

Step Up For Students empowers families to pursue and engage in the most appropriate learning options for their children.

Step Up For Students offers an excellent benefits package:

SUFS Total Rewards

Medical - HSA/FSA - Dental - Vision
Company Paid Disability - Life Insurance
401K Match - Tuition Reimbursement
Generous Time off Policy - Professional Development


JOB SUMMARY
The Manager will lead a team of specialists and serve as a liaison across operations, IT, compliance, and customer-facing departments.The Manager, Application Processing is responsible for overseeing the full lifecycle of scholarship application processing and eligibility determination, with a focus on operational excellence, regulatory compliance, and cross-functional alignment. This leadership role ensures the integrity, efficiency, and continuous improvement of processing systems, team performance, and technical workflows. The Manager will lead a team of specialists and serve as a liaison across operations, IT, compliance, and customer-facing departments.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
◦ Team Leadership & Development
◦ Manage and coach a team of Specialists and Senior Specialists responsible for application processing, resolution, and technical issue handling.
◦ Set clear performance goals, conduct regular reviews, and facilitate professional development through mentorship and training programs.
◦ Oversee staffing, scheduling, and resource allocation to ensure timely, accurate completion of operational tasks.
◦ Foster a high-performance culture focused on collaboration, accountability, and innovation.
◦ Operations Strategy & Execution
◦ Own day-to-day operations related to scholarship application processing, eligibility review, appeals handling, and system-related workflows.
◦ Establish and enforce quality assurance standards and key performance indicators (KPIs) for accuracy, compliance, and turnaround time.
◦ Lead process optimization initiatives to increase throughput, reduce error rates, and enhance applicant experience.
◦ Analyze operational data to identify trends, gaps, or inefficiencies and implement data-informed strategies to address them.
◦ Technical Oversight & System Support
◦ Partner with IT and product teams to support system enhancements, workflow automation, and issue resolution.
◦ Lead user acceptance testing (UAT) for new platform features and provide feedback to ensure alignment with operational needs.
◦ Oversee the development and documentation of business rules, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and escalation protocols.
◦ Ensure integration of compliance and eligibility standards into technical systems and processes.
◦ Cross-Functional Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement
◦ Serve as the primary point of contact for operations-related issues impacting scholarship processing and resolution.
◦ Collaborate with compliance, legal, program, and customer experience teams to align operational policies and ensure regulatory adherence.
◦ Represent the operations team in cross-functional planning sessions, audits, and strategic initiatives.
◦ Prepare and present reports, dashboards, and process evaluations to senior leadership with actionable insights.
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE
REQUIRED:
◦ 5+ years of experience in operations management, program administration, or application processing, including 2+ years in a supervisory or managerial role.
PREFERRED:
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KEY COMPETENCIES
◦ Strong leadership, coaching, and performance management skills.
◦ Deep understanding of data-driven workflows, eligibility determination, and compliance requirements.
◦ Demonstrated experience improving processes, scaling operations, and implementing system enhancements.
◦ Proficiency with enterprise platforms (CRM, ERP, or application processing tools) and advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
◦ Exceptional communication, critical thinking, and cross-functional collaboration abilities.
◦ Experience in education, nonprofit, government, or benefits administration preferred.
CORE VALUES
Step Up For Students believes strongly in two key core values to carry out their mission of “We empower families to pursue and engage in the most appropriate learning options for their children.”:
◦ Everyone is an asset.
◦ Every event is an improvement opportunity.
To maintain a positive and effective organizational culture, employees are expected to demonstrate these two core values in their everyday work.
WORKING CONDITIONS & EQUIPMENT USE
◦ Work is performed indoors in a typical office environment