Job Details

Associate Director -SFS Counseling

Position Number: 6603671
Location: Seattle, WA
Position Type: Financial Aid

Associate Director -SFS Counseling

Seattle University

Associate Director -SFS Counseling

FLSA Status: Exempt

Months Per Year: 12

Employment Status: Full-Time

Work Model: On-site

Seattle University will be one of the most innovative and progressive Jesuit and Catholic universities in the world, educating with excellence at the undergraduate, graduate, and professional levels. We embrace an intersectional framework for defining diversity in its broadest sense, including differences in gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, generational history, culture, socioeconomic class, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship status, political perspectives, geographic origin and physical ability. Seattle University strives to be a welcome, open and safe campus climate for all who learn, live and work at Seattle University.

Seattle University's Core Competencies

Effective Team Collaboration: Works harmoniously with others towards a common goal, leveraging individual strengths to achieve shared objectives.

Emotionally Intelligent Communication: Engages in a skillful exchange of information, thoughts, and feelings, verbally and non-verbally.

Ethics and Integrity: Demonstrates an unwavering commitment to honesty, professionalism, and alignment with our Jesuit mission in all actions and decisions.

Flexibility and Innovation: Embraces change, approaching problems with curiosity adaptability, and is committed to making a positive impact.

Mindful Inclusion: Fosters mindful inclusion by consciously creating a workplace that celebrates differences, embraces cultural humility, and empowers uniqueness.

Outcomes-Driven Orientation: Sets clear objectives, pursues excellence, and delivers measurable outcomes while upholding Jesuit Catholic values.

Position Description

Reporting to the Director of Student Financial Aid, this position oversees and supervises the work of the student financial services counselors. The supervision includes but is not limited to the scheduling of the SFS counselors and associated services and the hiring and training of the Student Financial Services (SFS) counselor team. The SFS counselor team is responsible for student awarding of federal, state, and institutional programs, compliance with packaging rules, presentations to prospective and current students and families, appointments with students and families, and specific financial aid program management and coordination. This position requires a high level of financial aid knowledge of complex federal, state, and institutional programs and will hold an alpha case load and student aid program responsibility. Involves analyzing students' level of need and eligibility for financial aid to allocate financial aid awards and advise students on obtaining aid. Interprets financial aid regulations, analyzes student data, and implements procedures to ensure regulatory compliance and timely delivery of financial aid. This position will serve as part of the management team, including maintenance of policies and procedures related to the program responsibilities.

Essential Functions and Associated Tasks:

Supervisory Role: This position is responsible for leading and supporting a professional, efficient, and service oriented operation that provides a full range of financial aid services to parents, students, and staff at Seattle University. This position requires demonstrated excellent leadership, management, analytical, communication, interpersonal, and team building skills. Hire, train and manage performance of the student financial services counseling team. Maintain current documentation for team procedures related to all aspects of work conducted by team members. Hire and train the SFS counselor team. Manage and oversee Student Financial Service counselor schedules to ensure coverage is adequate during published office hours. Respond to and troubleshoot escalated student/family issues or challenges. Confirm that all work is conducted in strict compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and all other regulations, and that staff are prepared to meet the information needs of prospective and enrolled SU students. 35%

Awarding: Responsible for a section of the alphabet for student award packaging, appeals, application processing, student correspondence, and appointments. (20%)

Manage awarding process: Responsible for the awarding processes associated with the federal, state, and institutional aid programs. Provide oversight to ensure regulatory compliance and timely delivery of financial aid; including providing technical support, process and procedural documentation, audit report review, and testing. (15%)

Ensure timely delivery of financial aid: Responsible for the accuracy of financial aid awards and readiness of aid programs for quarterly disbursal onto student accounts. This includes review of student aid awarding to ensure accuracy of student award packages for billing, troubleshooting errors, and resolving discrepancies. (15%)

Manage or oversee several student aid programs, including, but not limited to, State financial aid programs, Veterans Benefits, athletic aid, work-study, outreach, scholarships, education abroad, and tuition remission. Responsible for documentation of procedures and processing. (10%)

Leadership: As part of the management team, maintain policies and procedures related to all tasks in financial aid operations, actively participate as a member of the SFS leaders, represent Seattle University at conferences or external meetings, with the Department of Education and Washington Student Aid Council officials, and represent SFS at interdepartmental meetings and collaborate with stakeholders across campus and in the community. Serve as the backup to the Director of Student Financial Aid as necessary. (5%)

Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree and five year's previous experience in an area demonstrating application of the knowledge and skills required to effectively manage assigned program and supervisory responsibilities or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job. Advanced knowledge of policies, regulations, and practices for awarding Title IV financial aid and State Aid programs.
Experience interpreting complex policies and develop procedures to ensure compliance. Demonstrated commitment to strong customer service and the ability to resolve wide-ranging complex problems through creative reasoning and logic to accurately determine the cause of and resolution to problems in an effective, innovative and timely manner.
Advanced problem identification, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills; judgment and decision-making ability.
Applicant must possess the skills to trouble shoot problems for individuals and families in financial aid and student accounts matters and work both independently and cooperatively with other staff members and other departments.
Desktop PC, ERP system and Microsoft Office Suite experience are required.
Considerable knowledge of the techniques and procedures involved in academic and personal counseling.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, families, faculty, staff and community groups.
Demonstrated ability to interpret and present information and ideas clearly and accurately in writing, orally and by preparation of reports and other materials. Possesses strong written and verbal communication skills along with active listening, persuasion, and negotiation skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience with Ellucian Colleague ERP .
Bilingual (Spanish preferred).

Application Instructions

Please attach a cover letter with your resume when applying. Job postings are open until filled, unless otherwise specified.

Compensation at a Glance

Salary Range: $78,000 - $83,000

Seattle University has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, and not based on a candidate's gender or any other protected status.

Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck. Seattle University provides generous leave, health plans, and retirement contributions that add to your total compensation package.

Benefits at a Glance

Consistent with its fundamental Jesuit values, Seattle University offers a wide range of benefits designed to care for the whole person. Choose from three different medical plans, a dental, and vision insurance programs. Protect your income with life, short & long-term disability coverage. Plan for your future with up to a 10% employer contribution for retirement benefits, comprised of a 5% nonelective employer contribution and an additional dollar-for-dollar match of your voluntary contributions up to a maximum of 5%. You may also take advantage of 100% paid tuition benefits for the employee and dependents, a subsidized transportation benefit, a wellness program with free access to an onsite fitness facility, and a wide variety of campus events. Enjoy a generous holiday schedule, including a paid Holiday break closure in December, vacation and paid sick leave, and paid community service leave. For more information explore the Benefits website at: https://www.seattleu.edu/hr/benefits/

To apply, please visit: https://seattleu.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/8/home/requisition/2955?c=seattleu