Associate Director of Scholarships - Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships - UTK

The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) invites applications and nominations for our Associate Director of Scholarships position. We are seeking candidates who can contribute in meaningful ways to enhance the accessibility of higher education, fostering a diverse and inclusive academic environment, and improving the recruitment and graduation of our students. The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has been ranked by Forbes as one of America’s best large employers, as recognized on the 2026 list.

The minimum starting salary for this position is $71,792. Final compensation will be determined based on the candidate’s qualifications and experience.

This is an on-campus position with some hybrid/remote work schedule flexibility.

The Associate Director of Scholarships executes vision and provides strategic and operational leadership for the University’s scholarship and state aid programs, overseeing staff, maintaining policies, budgeting, fund management, awarding, and compliance for institutional, departmental, foundation, private, and state-funded scholarships and aid. The position partners with academic and administrative leaders across the University to align scholarship strategy with enrollment, recruitment, retention, and net revenue goals; ensures compliance with university, state, and federal requirements; manages key scholarship committees and campus relationships; uses data analysis to guide program development and resource optimization; and provides strategic leadership and guidance to the scholarship and state aid team in support of effective and efficient aid awarding.

Required Education and Experience:

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.

• Minimum of five years of supervisory or managerial experience in an assistant director, associate director, or director-level financial aid role at a Title IV-eligible U.S. institution.

• Demonstrated experience supervising and managing staff.

• Experience coordinating federal, state, and institutional financial aid and scholarship programs.

• Experience advising senior institutional leadership on financial aid strategy and its role in enrollment management and student success.

• Demonstrated ability to manage conflict and resolve situations professionally.

• Evidence of commitment to high-quality customer service.

• Experience using integrated student information systems.

• Excellent written communication skills.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to supervise and train professional and clerical staff, demonstrating superior interpersonal skills. 

• Ability to evaluate and implement new technologies to improve customer service and our methods for processing internal and external scholarship and state aid applications.   

• Attention to detail, strong oral and written communication skills, and up-to-date knowledge of the rules and regulations governing the various internal and external scholarships and TN state aid programs.

• Oversees all regulatory reporting requirements with accuracy and timeliness. 

• Ability to foster strong relationships and partnerships across institutional units, auditors, and external organizations.

• Experience managing operations, system upgrades, data integrity, student information systems, state and scholarship manager systems, ensuring effective workflow, professional development, and continuous improvement.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without need now or in the future for sponsorship for employment-based visa status.

Preferred Education and Experience:

Master's level or terminal degree from an accredited college/university.

• At least five years of experience in a scholarship leadership capacity.

• Knowledge of and experience administering Tennessee programs such as HOPE, Pledge, and Promise. 

• Experience with Ellucian Banner Financial Aid.

• Experience collaborating with senior leadership on enrollment-focused initiatives.

• Experience identifying operational challenges, implementing solutions, managing projects, and improving efficiency through technology.

• Experience working with and serving diverse populations.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Previous financial aid or scholarship and supervisory experience; working knowledge of Banner system; strong administrative, supervisory and interpersonal skills. 

• Experience managing and developing scholarship awarding policies 

• Experience writing and developing policy and procedures

• Experience providing leadership in scholarship review comm