job summary:
The Senior Director of Financial Aid Systems (SDFAS) oversees the technology and operations supporting financial aid processes, reporting directly to the AVP for Financial Aid and Scholarships. This role serves as the technical expert for systems such as Ellucian Banner, Cognos, and Technolutions Slate, ensuring compliance and efficient integrations across university functions like admissions, retention, and the registrar. The SDFAS develops financial aid strategies to support enrollment management goals, including managing net revenues and enhancing recruitment and retention. As a key member of the Enrollment Management Group, they ensure data integrity and operational excellence in financial aid processes and analytics. This position requires strong leadership and technical expertise to streamline and optimize financial aid systems and policies.
location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
job type: Permanent
salary: $150,000 - 175,000 per year
work hours: 8am to 4pm
education: Bachelors
responsibilities:
Continuously report to, coordinate and consult with the Director of Financial Aid and Scholarships.
Configure, maintain, and improve Financial Aid processes.
Oversee, review, and test Banner and provide data to outside sources. Functions as the data steward to ensure data integrity, accreditation standards, privacy laws, and best practices for Banner (Admissions), COGNOS (Admissions), and Slate. Conducts Cognos testing during system upgrades.
Create, maintain, and review daily integrity and reconciliation reports to ensure compliance and system operation. Performs Cognos query reports for schools across campus in relation to endowed scholarship candidate searches.
Serves as the CTS liaison and functional and technical expert for the Enrollment Management Group and assists with current and new technology used within the division and serves on other campus-wide committees such as the ECC, Data Standards, and Shadow Systems to ensure division data are collected and reported correctly.
Interprets all financial aid technical findings within the tracking, imports, and processes then makes and implements appropriate resolutions.
Engages with information systems to ensure availability of real-time, user-centric data that serves the diverse needs of college constituencies-academic departments, enrollment division, and executive leadership.
Complete external financial aid surveys for the client; complete reports for Enrollment Management to show trends and forecasts for enrollment goals. Create annual communication for the current class.
Assists in the development of enrollment modeling and projection databases.
Provides analytical support by identifying trends within the data and bringing them to the attention of enrollment leadership.
Discount Rate statistics
Enrollment comparisons to budget and prior year statistics
Retention statistics
Assists and works closely with the Assistant Vice President of Operations and Services on operations management, data collection, analysis, and strategy formation.
Review existing technology systems (primarily Banner and Technolutions Slate) instances to ensure the system supports all offices that utilize the platform. This includes creating training documents and providing training to users based on their role within the system.
Develop detailed tasks and project plans by analyzing project scope and milestones for moderately complex projects.
Document code and associated processes by adhering to development methodologies, adding code comments and appropriate documentation to various knowledge-based system(s) to simplify code maintenance and to improve support. Provide written documentation of findings to share with colleagues.
Represent financial aid at technology and operations meetings. Participates in professional development and performs other duties and projects as assigned. Attends admissions recruitment events (e.g., Open Houses, etc.).
Supervises work of others, including planning, assigning, scheduling, and reviewing work, ensuring quality standards. Is responsible for hiring, terminating, training and developing, reviewing performance, and administering corrective action for staff. Plans organizational structure and job content.
Completes other duties as assigned.
REQUIREMENTS:
Minimum qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
- 8+ years of work-related experience.
- Expert-level skills in Ellucian in general and Banner Financial Aid specifically; Highly skilled in SQL programming, Python if possible as well; Generally tech-savvy and can learn new software independently and quickly.
Preferred qualifications:
- Technical knowledge of FAMS system (Banner/Ellucian preferred).
- Proficiency with PC, Microsoft Office tools, email, and the Internet with the ability to learn a variety of new technology systems; technical knowledge of Power BI; knowledge of COGNOS; familiarity with Slate and Banner preferred.
Alternately, the successful candidate may possess any equivalent combination of experience and training, which provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the essential job functions. This includes, but is not limited to, the following:
- Extensive knowledge and understanding of federal, state, and agency-accrediting rules and regulations as they pertain to higher education admission. Knowledge of federal and state regulations concerning financial aid, as well as NCAA regulations.
- Knowledge of Federal sites such as EDconnect, NSLDS, CPS, and COD; and PHEAA site.
- A broad understanding of higher education processes and procedures, including shared governance, strategic planning, resource allocation, and budget management.
- Highly developed interpersonal, analytic, problem-solving, organizational, and communication skills, including the ability to listen thoughtfully and respectfully to a diverse population of constituents
qualifications:
- Experience level: Experienced
- Minimum 8 years of experience
- Education: Bachelors (required)
skills: Ellucian Banner (5 years of experience is required)Systems AnalysisCognosSlateCognos Testing
Equal Opportunity Employer: Race, Color, Religion, Sex, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, National Origin, Age, Genetic Information, Disability, Protected Veteran Status, or any other legally protected group status.
At Randstad Digital, we welcome people of all abilities and want to ensure that our hiring and interview process meets the needs of all applicants. If you require a reasonable accommodation to make your application or interview experience a great one, please contact HRsupport@randstadusa.com.
Pay offered to a successful candidate will be based on several factors including the candidate's education, work experience, work location, specific job duties, certifications, etc. In addition, Randstad Digital offers a comprehensive benefits package, including health, an incentive and recognition program, and 401K contribution (all benefits are based on eligibility).
This posting is open for thirty (30) days.
