Associate Director, Financial Aid

Department:

Location:

Health Sciences Center

Time Type:

Full time

Worker Type:

Regular

Job Req ID:

R109004

Minimum Requirements:

Bachelor's degree in a related field and six (6) years of relevant experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Grade 7 (Salaried)

Position Description:

The Associate Director, Financial Aid, within the University of Louisville School of Nursing provides high-level, individualized financial aid leadership and student-facing service for a complex and diverse population of nursing students with access to multiple funding streams, including institutional and endowed scholarships, work-study, employer tuition reimbursement and repayment agreements, external partnerships, federal and private loans, and other grant or contract-based aid. This position serves as the school's primary expert resource for navigating the full spectrum of financial aid options, ensuring students receive personalized, accurate, and timely guidance throughout their academic journey. The Associate Director administers the awarding and disbursement of School-based funds, resolves complex and individualized financial aid issues, and ensures strict compliance with federal and state financial aid regulations, including Title IX requirements. Working in close partnership with the University's central Office of Financial Aid, the Associate Director bridges institutional policy with the unique needs of nursing students, delivering a concierge-level standard of financial counseling and problem-solving that supports student retention, financial literacy, and long-term financial well-being.  Target salary is approximately $66,000 and may vary based on experience, internal equity, etc.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Award Administration and Disbursement

• Administer the awarding and disbursement of work-study funds and endowed, non-endowed, institutional, and other scholarship/grant monies to students' financial aid accounts; maintain complete and accurate documentation of all such awards.

• Approve standardized professional judgment awards.

• Develop and maintain organized records and reporting systems to track student aid packages, disbursement status, and professional judgment adjustments in support of program compliance and accreditation needs.

Problem Resolution and Compliance

• Identify and resolve issues related to delayed disbursement, fund reallocation, or changes in a student's financial status, consulting with the Office of Financial Aid as needed to ensure timely resolution.

• Ensure strict adherence to all federal and state financial aid guidelines, including compliance with Title IX requirements.

• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of federal, state, and institutional financial aid policy changes, as well as emerging private loan products and employer-sponsored tuition benefit programs, to provide students with current and accurate guidance.

Individualized Student Counseling

• Counsel students individually on financial aid matters, providing clear guidance on navigating the financial aid process from initial application through disbursement.

• Counsel students on the composition of their overall aid package, including strategies for responsible loan repayment planning.

• Provide students with comprehensive information on private loan options, including the long-term impact of private borrowing on future repayment obligations and eligibility for loan forgiveness programs.

• Provide proactive, individualized outreach to students who may be at risk of financial aid shortfalls, delays, or compliance issues that could affect enrollment or academic progression.

Complex Aid Evaluation

• Evaluate complex financial aid packages, perform detailed needs analyses, verify and reconcile conflicting tax and income documentation, and make professional judgment adjustments as appropriate.

• Assist students in identifying, evaluating, and accessing external offers for tuition reimbursement from employer partners and other outside organizations.

Technical Support and Liaison

• Assist students in troubleshooting financial aid software and online portals, ensuring uninterrupted access to aid information and resources.

• Serve as a liaison between the School of Nursing and the University's Office of Financial Aid, the Bursar’s office, employer partners, and external lending or scholarship organizations to coordinate aid administration.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree

• Minimum of 5–7 years of progressive experience in financial aid administration, prefe