Associate Director, Financial Aid Advising & Outreach

Associate Director, Financial Aid Advising & Outreach
Rasmussen University
Online/Remote

The Associate Director, Financial Aid Advising & Outreach is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the Student Financial Aid (SFA) Advising and Outreach unit, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and institutional regulations. This role provides leadership in financial aid counseling, financial literacy advising, and operational support, while fostering a student-centered, collaborative, and high-integrity work environment. The Associate Director, Financial Aid Advising & Outreach will supervise staff, assist with policy and procedural development, ensuring timely and accurate communication and financial aid service delivery to students.

Responsibilities:

• Supports the implementation of financial literacy, counseling, and outreach initiatives by coordinating day-to-day operations and aligning activities with central Student Financial Aid objectives.
• Collaborates with departments across the institution to support the processing and disbursement of state and federal financial aid, including applications, awards, and related communications, in compliance with institutional policies and regulatory requirements.
• Organizes and hosts regular individual and team meetings to ensure timely and accurate information is shared.
• Contributes to the development and documentation of student financial aid policies and procedures by providing feedback and recommendations to the Director or senior leadership for review and approval.
• Assists with the development of process mapping and communication to assist in improving department efficiencies.
• Oversee daily activity of the advising and outreach team and related operations to maximize achievement of service level agreement metrics.
• Build and develop team members; responsible for performance management and hiring of direct reports, including onboarding, training, development, and cross-training of direct reports.
• Serves as a knowledgeable resource for team members on financial aid processes, compliance, and training, and ensures internal guidance is in alignment with policy.
• Assists with resolving complex or escalated student concerns and determines when to involve senior leadership for highly unique or sensitive matters.
• Serve as a working manager and assists team, when needed, to reach the goals of the department.
• Identifies and recommends process improvements and operational strategies to meet departmental objectives.
• Maintains awareness of institutional, federal, and accreditation policies and ensures team adherence to relevant compliance standards.
• Demonstrates an understanding of organizational policies, practices, and procedures, and supports staff in their application and understanding of these principles.
• Possesses broad knowledge of the Office of Financial Aid and is able to explain how various components of the student financial aid file impact the student experience and institutional processes.
• Attend and participate in team, SFA department meetings for the purpose of obtaining and sharing information.
• Participate in strategic planning activities.
• Embody the spirit of the University’s mission and vision in daily activities.

Reporting Relationships:

The Associate Director, Financial Aid Advising & Outreach reports directly to the Senior Director, Financial Aid or Assistant Vice President, Student Financial Aid.  The role oversees the Advising and Outreach unit and is responsible for the work of the teams within the unit, including Senior Managers/Managers, who oversee Advisors.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's Degree Required. NASFAA Certified Financial Aid Administrator Preferred.
• 5–7 years of progressive experience in financial aid administration, with a strong command of federal and state regulations and compliance requirements.
• 3–5 years of experience managing and supervising teams; experience leading both on-site and remote staff preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to develop policies, procedures, and operational processes that support compliance and efficiency.
• Proven success in building high-performing, diverse teams and fostering a collaborative, solutions-oriented work environment.
• Strong understanding of the higher education landscape; experience in a for-profit educational setting preferred.
• Maintain eligibility to access the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS), as defined by the U.S. Department of Education.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, with the ability to effectively engage with diverse stakeholders.
• Strong custome