What are the responsibilities and job description for the Associate Director of Financial Aid position at Western Carolina University?
The primary location of this position is the Cullowhee, NC campus. This position is designated as being exempt from the State of North Carolina Human Resources Act (EHRA).
Western Carolina University, a constituent member of the University of North Carolina system, seeks an experienced financial aid professional to serve as the Associate Director of Financial Aid. The office administers over $95,000,000 of aid annually and has a student enrollment exceeding 11,000 students.
The Office of Financial Aid is housed in the Division of Student Affairs and reports to the Associate Vice Chancellor for Undergraduate Enrollment. The Associate Director of Financial Aid provides backup leadership and supervision of 10 full-time staff members as well as one part-time staff member.
The Associate Director will work closely with Undergraduate Enrollment (Undergraduate Enrollment includes the Offices of Financial Aid, New Student Orientation, Undergraduate Admission, and University Scholarships) and numerous campus partners and units (e.g., university registrar, director of admissions, bursar, dean of students, etc.).
The Associate Director will assist the Director of Financial Aid in establishing and implementing institutional policies and procedures to comply with Federal Title IV regulation and overseeing the administration of federal, state, institutional, and private financial aid programs. The Associate Director of Financial Aid is a deputy department head and supervises financial aid personnel and must possess a strong commitment to client service and a collaborative approach to problem solving.
The position assists in all aspects of processing undergraduate and graduate aid and must collaborate with other campus units to provide appropriate services to both currently enrolled students and prospective students. The Associate Director may serve as needed on other university committees or initiatives.
The ideal candidate should possess the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:
Leadership & Management
Western Carolina University, a constituent member of the University of North Carolina system, seeks an experienced financial aid professional to serve as the Associate Director of Financial Aid. The office administers over $95,000,000 of aid annually and has a student enrollment exceeding 11,000 students.
The Office of Financial Aid is housed in the Division of Student Affairs and reports to the Associate Vice Chancellor for Undergraduate Enrollment. The Associate Director of Financial Aid provides backup leadership and supervision of 10 full-time staff members as well as one part-time staff member.
The Associate Director will work closely with Undergraduate Enrollment (Undergraduate Enrollment includes the Offices of Financial Aid, New Student Orientation, Undergraduate Admission, and University Scholarships) and numerous campus partners and units (e.g., university registrar, director of admissions, bursar, dean of students, etc.).
The Associate Director will assist the Director of Financial Aid in establishing and implementing institutional policies and procedures to comply with Federal Title IV regulation and overseeing the administration of federal, state, institutional, and private financial aid programs. The Associate Director of Financial Aid is a deputy department head and supervises financial aid personnel and must possess a strong commitment to client service and a collaborative approach to problem solving.
The position assists in all aspects of processing undergraduate and graduate aid and must collaborate with other campus units to provide appropriate services to both currently enrolled students and prospective students. The Associate Director may serve as needed on other university committees or initiatives.
The ideal candidate should possess the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:
Leadership & Management
- Demonstrated skills in organizational leadership, supervision, and management.
- Ability to oversee and support financial aid staff, ensuring consistent service and operational efficiency.
- Experience monitoring productivity and implementing solutions to enhance team performance.
- Strong ability to identify and resolve operational challenges in a fast-paced environment.
Financial Aid Knowledge & Compliance
- Extensive knowledge of federal, state, institutional, and private financial aid programs.
- Expertise in Title IV regulations, financial aid policies, and compliance requirements.
- Strong familiarity with automated financial aid systems, including COD, FPS, and NSLDS.
- Ability to generate ad hoc reports using SQL and analyze financial aid data.
Student Services & Communication
- Strong written, verbal, and presentation skills for student and stakeholder engagement.
- Ability to work collaboratively with university departments and external partners.
- Experience coordinating and overseeing student communications, ensuring timely and accurate financial aid information.
- Commitment to exceptional customer service, including training and coaching staff to provide high-quality support.
Training & Policy Implementation
- Experience developing and updating training materials for financial aid staff.
- Ability to implement and enforce university policies and procedures related to financial aid.
- Strong attention to detail in maintaining proper documentation and compliance records.
Minimum Qualifications
- Candidates must be legally eligible to work in the United States of America without the need for any immigration-related employer sponsorship.
- Master’s degree from an accredited institution.
- Three to five years of demonstrated experience serving in roles with progressive responsibilities. Experience should demonstrate increasing responsibility in areas such as policy implementation, staff supervision, program management, and compliance with regulations or guidelines. Strong skills in process improvement, problem-solving, and cross-functional collaboration are highly valued.
Preferred Qualifications
- Three or more years of direct supervisory experience in a financial aid office.
- Experience with Banner or other student information systems.
- Proficiency with SQL-based reporting and financial aid data analysis.
- Experience managing financial aid reconciliation processes.
- Familiarity with Automic and TD Client or other automation tools used in financial aid processing.
- Experience working in a high-enrollment institution (10,000 students).
- Demonstrated success in process improvement and policy development for financial aid administration.
- Active involvement in state or national financial aid organizations (e.g., NASFAA, SASFAA
Position Type
Permanent Full-Time
Number of Hours Per Week
Number of Months Per Year
12
Posting Text
Open Date
04/07/2025
Close Date
Open Until Filled
Yes
Special Instructions to Applicants
Application materials must be submitted online. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until a candidate has been selected for hire.
Please include a cover letter, current resume, and a list of three professional references with their complete contact information.
For questions or additional information please contact Brady Proffitt at bproffitt@email.wcu.edu
Please include a cover letter, current resume, and a list of three professional references with their complete contact information.
For questions or additional information please contact Brady Proffitt at bproffitt@email.wcu.edu
Background/E-Verify
Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks.
Western Carolina University uses E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify. Proper documentation of identity and employability are required at the time of employment.
Western Carolina University uses E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify. Proper documentation of identity and employability are required at the time of employment.
Credential Verification
All new employees are required to have listed credentials/degrees verified within 30 days of employment. All new employees who will be teaching are required to provide official transcripts within 30 days of employment. Transcripts should be provided for the highest earned degree and/or the degree which is being used to satisfy credential/qualification requirements.
EOE
Western Carolina University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race; color; ethnicity; religion; sex; pregnancy; sexual orientation; gender identity or expression; national origin; age; disability; genetic information; political affiliation; National Guard or veteran status, consistent with applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations, and policies, and the policies of The University of North Carolina. Persons with disabilities requiring accommodations in the application and interview process please call (828) 227-7218 or email at jobs@email.wcu.edu.
University Safety
The Western Carolina University Annual Safety Report is available online at University Annual Safety Report or in hard-copy by request at the office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, 227 HFR Administration Building, Cullowhee, NC 28723 (828-227-7147) or the Office of University Police, 111 Camp Annex, Cullowhee, NC 28723 (828-227-7301). The report, required of all universities participating in Title IV student financial aid programs, discusses crime statistics, procedures for reporting suspicious or criminal activity, security, police authority, crime prevention strategies, university policies on substance abuse and sexual offenses, workplace violence and fire safety.
