The District Director of Financial Aid leads the District Office of Financial Aid and leads financial aid services district-wide in an effort to appropriately administer federal, state, and institutional aid funds and services. The District Director coordinates the creation and implementation of a strategic plan for the financial aid functional areas at the College, in collaboration with the Associate Vice President of Student Services and Enrollment Management. The District Director is responsible for understanding and adhering to federal, state, and institutional packaging methodology, and completes duties and responsibilities in compliance with Northwest Mississippi Community College standards, policies and guidelines.

The position will report directly to the Associate Vice President of Student Services and Enrollment Management.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Minimum Qualifications for Education and Experience

• Minimum of bachelor’s degree with five years of administrative experience in student financial aid programs in a comprehensive community college or university or Master’s degree required with 2-3 years of administrative experience.
• Knowledge of need analysis and verification procedures, financial aid software, knowledge of federal financial aid regulations, database experience, leadership skills are essential.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the financial aid function and the administration of such function.
• Demonstrated knowledge of principles and processes for delivering class-leading customer services. This includes student needs assessment, establishing quality standards and metrics for services, and the evaluation of customer satisfaction. Demonstrated knowledge of the planning, implementation and monitoring of budgets in an educational environment.
• Demonstrated experience of positive and proactive approaches in identifying problems, creating innovative solutions, managing projects, leading teams through collaboration, skillful analysis, and implementing efficiencies and effectiveness using technology.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated cultural competence, sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds of community college students, staff, and faculty.
• Minimum of 2-3 years of managerial or supervisory experience, especially within Financial Aid and/or Enrollment Management
• Experience leading a team, leadership skills training, etc.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the rules, regulations and policies of Northwest, as well as other state and federal laws and regulations regarding financial aid. Working knowledge with Oracle’s Student Financial Planning (SFP) including writing rules, communications management, identifying areas of improvement within the system.
• Master’s degree preferred. Preferably in an educational, administration, or related field with (2-3) years of experience in an administrative role.
• Experience in a higher education environment.
• Commitment to understanding, and actively engaging in, a dynamic and progressive community college culture set on providing the very best service to its students.
• Demonstrated experience in organizing, developing, and implementing operational systems and writing guidelines in an educational setting and managing a high volume workflow office. Experience in the administration of student financial aid programs at a 2-year or 4-year public or private institution.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• The position requires professional knowledge of:
• Interpersonal skills and ability to makes sound judgments to decide how duties and responsibilities are completed between coworkers, the supervisory chain, faculty, staff, and students.
• Development, maintenance and administration of a budget.
• Principles of leadership, training and performance evaluation.
• Pertinent federal and state laws and regulations, particularly those that are related to financial aid, compliance, audit, etc.
• Current higher education student success initiatives, including, but not limited to, learning and student success processes, student learning outcomes, learning communities, regional accreditation responsibilities, and application of emerging technologies.
• Strategic planning in organization and management practices, assessment analysis and evaluation of programs, policies and administrative needs.
• Philosophy and objectives of the modern-day community college.
• Regulations, policies, state and federal laws, and guidelines governing community college financial aid policies and procedures.
• Ability to effectively lead, supervise, and motivate personnel.
• Demonstrated excellent supervisory, administrative, communication, interpersonal and leadership skills.
• Ability to establish and maintain positive and effective working relationships with students, college employees and the public.
• Demonstrated organizational skills in handling and directing multiple and complex assignments and projects.
• Skill in working effectively in a team environment with a “student ready” customer service focus.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing; define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions; and effectively present information to top management, public groups, and/or student groups.
• Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from students, regulatory agencies, or members of the community.
• High level of energy and good sense of humor with the capacity for extraordinary time and effort demands.
• Proficiency with use of e-mail, word processing, spreadsheet, database, and presentation software.
• Night and weekend hours required, occasionally.

Physical Abilities

• This position requires the physical ability to:
• Function in an office environment performing work of primarily a sedentary nature with some requirement to move about campus and to off-campus locales.
• Use hearing and speech to make presentations to groups and carry on conversations over the phone and in person.
• See with sufficient visual acuity to read, recognize printed materials, and computer screen.
• Use hand/arm/finger dexterity to retrieve work materials and operate standard office equipment.
• Work a flexible schedule which may include evenings, weekends and split schedules.

Licenses and Certificates

Requires a valid driver's license.

Working Conditions

Work is performed indoors where minimal safety considerations exist.

Application

To apply submit and attach the following:

• Application at www.northwestms.edu
• Letter of Interest/Cover letter
• Resume/Curriculum Vitae
• Three (3) Professional References
• Transcripts (Must show all coursework completed and conferral date of the degree)