Assistant Director, Student Financial Aid and Scholarships

Classification Title:

AST DIR, Student Financial Aid

Classification Minimum Requirements:

Master's degree in an appropriate area and two years of relevant experience; or a bachelor's degree in an appropriate area and four years of relevant experience.

Job Description:

The University of Florida is looking for an Assistant Director to provide leadership and operational oversight for complex federal processing, compliance-driven programs, and student employment functions within the Office for Student Financial Aid and Scholarships (SFA). In this role, you will oversee regulatory compliance, manage staff and systems, and ensure accurate awarding and administration of federal, state, and institutional aid programs that support student access.

Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Federal Processing, Compliance, Awarding Oversight

• Oversee key financial aid compliance and processing functions, including Satisfactory Academic Progress reviews (SAP), application verification, special circumstance evaluations, cost‑of‑attendance determinations, federal return processes (RTIV), and student employment.
• Administer aid for UF/Santa Fe College Joint Programs and other special programs.
• Analyze complex applications, appeals, and petitions using federal, state, and institutional regulations.
• Ensure compliance across more than 150 federal, state, and institutional aid programs.
• Utilize and interpret data from agencies and systems including IRS, VA, DHS, SSA, USCIS, COD, FAFSA Partner Portal, and ProEducation Solutions.

Leadership & Operational Management

• Provide management and strategic direction for assigned functional areas: Federal Processing, Special Programs, and Student Employment.
• Hire, train, supervise, and evaluate full-time staff assigned to the areas.
• Oversee systems, workflows, and business operations related to awarding, eligibility, enrollment, and repayment.
• Interpret policy and make complex decisions related to manual awarding and regulatory exceptions.
• Share administrative responsibility for all financial aid programs with the Associate Director and act in their absence, as needed.

Campus Collaboration

• Serve as a subject-matter expert for UF OneStop, International Center, Contract & Grants, satellite offices, and academic program partners.
• Provide guidance on SAP, application verification, RTIV, Federal Work-Study, and special program requirements.
• Collaborate across campus to resolve complex student aid and compliance issues.

Other Duties

• Travel in support of Enrollment Management recruitment and yield initiatives.
• Deliver financial aid presentations to prospective students and families.
• Participate in professional development workshops and conferences.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Expected Salary:

$65,000 annually

In addition, UF offers the following exceptional benefits:

• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• State Retirement Plans
• Paid Time Off (approximately 22 days of vacation leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid holidays annually)
• Tuition Assistance (UF Employee Education Program)
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Eligible Employer

For more information on benefits, please visit UFHR Benefits and Rewards (ufl.edu).

Required Qualifications:

Master's degree in an appropriate area and two years of relevant experience; or a bachelor's degree in an appropriate area and four years of relevant experience.

Preferred:

• Strong holistic knowledge of federal aid programs and the interaction between those programs and institutional and state need- and merit-based aid
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills, including presenting to various audiences
• Demonstrated organizational skills and attention to detail in managing complex operations or teams
• Ability to work collaboratively and effectively across units at all levels
• Strong knowledge and understanding of institutional goals and how financial aid administration decisions impact those goals
• Experience using and/or implementing various technologies (i.e. Campus Solutions, CRM, Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Exel)
• Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously
• Demonstrated ability to lead a team toward organizational objectives

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Applicants must upload the following documents to be considered for the position:

1. Cover Letter
2. Resume
3. List of References

Application must be submit