Position
Full-time, Benefitted, Professional, FLSA Exempt, 12-month position. College pays up to $500 for relocation expenses
Start Date
July 15, 2026, with preference given to applications dated on or before 6/21/26.
Salary Hire Range
$55,806 – $61,599 annually for each 12-month appointment (actual amount depends on education and experience)
Job Summary
The Assistant Financial Aid Director is a full-time, benefitted, professional staff position located at the Torrington campus. This position plays a central role in the day-to-day administration of financial aid programs, requiring a high level of initiative, independent judgment, and technical expertise. The individual in this role is expected to take full ownership of projects from conception through completion, driving efficiency and innovation across office operations. The Assistant Director of Financial Aid serves as the operational leader of the Financial Aid Office, acting on behalf of the Director in their absence. A primary focus of this position is the leadership of scholarship operations, including maximizing the use of scholarship technology, and streamlining both state and institutional scholarship awarding processes. The role also serves as backup School Certifying Official (SCO) for veterans’ educational benefits, ensuring eligible students receive timely and accurate support.
The Assistant Director is responsible for maintaining compliance with all applicable federal, state, institutional, and VA regulations. This includes assisting with annual audits, program reviews, FISAP reporting, reconciliations, and the timely submission of required documentation. Additionally, this position provides leadership and support for Consumer Information requirements and all mandated financial aid disclosures. This is a key leadership position suited for a detail-oriented professional who thrives in a compliance-driven environment and is committed to supporting students in accessing and understanding their financial aid options.
The Assistant Financial Aid Director typically works Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm; during peak operations the Assistant Director may work evenings, holiday breaks, and weekends. The position does require occasional travel within the six-county service area and Wyoming to perform special presentations and events that occur in off business hours.
Essential Functions/Duties
- Serve as lead administrator of the Financial Aid Office in the absence of the Director
- Oversee daily workflow, prioritize deadlines, and ensure timely, accurate processing of aid
- Independently lead projects, solve problems, and implement solutions with minimal guidance
- Identify inefficiencies and recommend improvements that enhance service, compliance, and productivity
- Provide cross-training, guidance, and support to team members as needed
- Lead the institutional scholarship awarding process from application through selection, awarding, and communication
- Become the subject matter expert for the college scholarship management software
- Optimize use of scholarship software to improve efficiency, student experience, and reporting capabilities
- Lead implementation of state scholarship programs into the scholarship platform whenever possible
- Coordinate with internal stakeholders, foundation partners, and external agencies on scholarship processes
- Maintain scholarship databases, timelines, workflows, and reporting accuracy
- Evaluate current scholarship processes and recommend automation or system enhancements
- Serve as backup School Certifying Official (SCO) for VA educational benefits programs
- Maintain working knowledge of VA regulations, certification requirements, and reporting timelines
- Assist with certification of veteran student enrollments and benefit adjustments as needed
- Provide support to veteran and eligible dependent students regarding educational benefit processes
- Ensure continuity of services during absences or peak processing periods
- Ensure compliance with all federal, state, institutional, and VA regulations related to assigned programs
- Assist with annual audits, program reviews, FISAP reporting, reconciliations, and required submissions
- Manage Return of Title IV (R2T4) calculations for official and unofficial withdrawals
- Administer Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) processes, appeals, and notifications
- Lead or assist with Consumer Information and required disclosures
- Manage assigned student caseload and all aspects of eligibility review and awarding
- Review ISIRs, verification documents, C-codes, conflicting information, transfer credit, over awards, and packaging adjustments
- Process Professional Judgment requests with appropriate documentation and sound decision-making
- Counsel students and families regarding aid eligibility, appeals, withdrawal impacts, scholarships, VA benefits coordination, and funding opportunities
- Provide accurate, timely, and student-centered communication across multiple channels
- Run and analyze daily/weekly operational reports
- Identify trends, errors, and opportunities for automation or improved workflow
- Maintain accurate procedures, records, and internal documentation
- Assist with website, catalog, and forms updates to ensure current and accurate information
- Build strong working relationships across campus with Admissions, Registrar, Business Office, Foundation, Academic Services, and faculty
- Participate in outreach events, FAFSA workshops, veteran student support initiatives, and community engagement efforts
- Represent the college at state, regional, and national training opportunities
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree preferred; equivalent education and experience considered
- Minimum of 3 years of progressively responsible financial aid, scholarship administration, or higher education operations experience
- Strong knowledge of Title IV regulations and student financial aid compliance
- Experience working with databases, software systems, or scholarship management platforms
- Ability to learn and administer VA educational benefit certification processes
- Proven ability to independently manage projects and meet deadlines
- Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills
- Excellent communication and customer service abilities
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and comply with FERPA regulations
- Current and valid state-issued Driver’s License
Preferred Qualifications
- Five years of full-time work experience in financial aid or student affairs/services
- Experience as a School Certifying Official (SCO) or working with VA educational benefits
- Experience managing scholarship software or implementing technology solutions
- Community college or higher education experience
- Supervisory or team lead experience
- Advanced reporting, Excel, or data management skills
- Experience improving workflows or leading change initiatives