Director of Financial Aid at Klamath Community College – Klamath Falls, Oregon

JOB SUMMARY
The Director of Financial Aid leads and optimizes our financial aid operations. The director will manage a team of staff and work collaboratively across departments to support enrollment and retention goals. This role involves overseeing Federal, State, and institutional financial aid programs, as well as scholarships, to enhance student access and success. The director will ensure compliance with regulations and continuously improve financial aid processes for operational efficiency
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
To perform the job successfully, an individual must be able to satisfactorily perform each essential duty. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required to perform the position description satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Strategic Leadership and Compliance
• Develop and execute strategies to maximize the impact of financial aid resources in achieving institutional enrollment and retention objectives.
• Serve as the primary Compliance Officer for Title IV Federal Student Aid, State Aid, and other relevant regulations, ensuring adherence to all federal, state, and institutional requirements.
• Lead the planning, implementation, and evaluation of financial aid policies and procedures to meet evolving student needs and institutional goals.
Financial Aid Operations
• Oversee annual setup, testing, and activation of the Jenzabar Financial Aid module (FAMS) with support from the Information Services Database Administrator.
• Manage the awarding process for financial aid packages, including but not limited to Federal Pell Grants, SEOG, Federal Work Study, Oregon Promise, Oregon Opportunity Grant, institutional aid, and scholarships for new and continuing undergraduate students.
• Ensure timely and effective packaging of financial aid to support recruitment and retention initiatives.
Reporting and Fiscal Management
• In collaboration with campus stakeholders, prepares State and Federal reports, including but not limited to Fiscal Operations Report and Application to Participate (FISAP), and Oregon Office of Student Access and Completion (OSAC), ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
• Serve as the financial aid liaison for external audits, including the single audit process.
• Manage the overall financial aid budget, ensuring fiscal accountability in fund allocation, authorizations, disbursements, and recoveries.
Collaboration and Data Sharing
• Foster collaboration with Admissions, Business Office, Registrar, Student Life, and other campus offices to ensure seamless transactional and operational activities.
• Provide data and insights to institutional research, academic advising, finance, and advancement offices as needed.
Staff Leadership and Development
• Recruit, hire, train, and supervise financial aid and benefits navigator staff, fostering a high-performance culture.
• Provide professional development opportunities and ongoing support to ensure team excellence.
Campus Engagement and Representation
• Represent the Student Affairs division on institutional committees, including the Student Affairs and Enrollment Management shared governance council and other campus initiatives.
• Serve as an advocate for financial literacy and financial aid awareness among students, families, and the campus community.

NON-ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
• If assigned, this position may require administrative work on grant-funded program activities and reporting.
• Serves on College committees and councils as assigned
• Other duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES NEEDED TO PERFORM THIS ROLE
Preferred Skills
• Expertise in Financial Aid: Strong knowledge of federal and state financial aid regulations.
• Technical Proficiency: Demonstrated expertise with financial aid management systems, such as Jenzabar, PowerFAIDS or similar platforms, and advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, SharePoint, data management systems, and collaboration tools.
• Leadership and Collaboration: Proven leadership skills with experience supervising staff, managing cross-departmental collaborations, and building relationships with internal and external constituencies.
• Demonstrated sensitivity and experience working with individuals from diverse social, economic, ethnic, academic, disability, and cultural backgrounds.
• Analytical and Organizational Skills: Exceptional analytical abilities combined with a detail-oriented approach to managing multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.
• Communication Excellence: Outstanding writing, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to engage diplomatically across diverse professional fields.
• Judgment and Confidentiality: Aptitude for exercising sound judgment and maintaining strict confidentiality in all matters.
• Adaptability and Interpersonal Skills: Flexible and highly organized, with a sense of humor and an ability to foster positive interactions across all levels of the organization.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
• Bachelor's degree required or an equivalent combination of education and experience, master's degree in a related field preferred.
• One year experience required, five years progressive experience preferred in financial aid administration, with demonstrated expertise in compliance, budgeting, and financial services. Supervisory experience preferred.

Open until filled.

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Employee Signature: __________________________________________

Date: _________________________
MM/DD/YY

It is the policy of Klamath Community College to provide equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

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