If you are considering a new job, work environment or career opportunities you should look at Mercer County Community College. MCCC is a publicly supported college that is open to all and dedicated to student success. In order to support that mission Mercer seeks to attract, retain, and support a skilled diverse workforce, which is our most valuable resource. We thrive on and are proud of our diversity and open access. Our students and employees find the College large enough for a multitude of offerings yet small enough to keep the “Community” feel for all. The College consists of two campuses, the James Kerney Campus (JKC) in the capital city of Trenton, NJ and a larger 292-acre suburban campus just six miles north of Trenton.

As part of the comprehensive and valuable benefits package, the College offers credit course tuition waivers for employees, spouses and dependents. This allows for employees and their families to take advantage of earning a higher education degree without the high cost. The College offers students 69 Degree Program Options and 35 Credit Certificates from which to choose.

JOB DUTIES

• The Director of Student Financial Aid is responsible for developing financial aid strategies that are consistent with the student success objectives of the College, within the framework of federal and state regulations.
• Administer financial aid, financial literacy, and student employment programs that support the recruitment and retention of students through appropriate awarding strategies.
• Devise and implement packaging policies and procedures for awarding institutional aid and interpret and implement federal and state regulations pertaining to compliance.
• Establish and maintain a service-oriented financial aid team that is committed to creating an excellent student experience.
• Ensure accurate and secure student financial data, providing timely information to students and families, serve as a compliance officer for Title IV federal aid and state regulations and provide demonstrated leadership in the use of new and existing technology.
• Responsible for all operations of financial aid including budget, program direction, policy and procedure implementation, training, reporting, and overall effectiveness of Student Financial Aid.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Responsible for ensuring the institution is in compliance with regulations related to federal and state financial aid programs. Assist with audit preparation and provide information to the auditors as requested.
• Complete all Federal Reports - Fiscal Operation Report and Application to Participate in Federal Programs (FISAP), Eligibility and Certification Report (ECAR), etc.
• Oversee staff in guiding students and families through all stages of financial awards via interpersonal counseling, publications, workshops, and correspondence with a keen eye towards constituent service.
• Select, train, supervise, and evaluate all staff, with responsibility for meeting all state and federal compliance goals.
• Develop and coordinate programming and advising tools related to financial aid and financing options, including Open House and orientation sessions, entrance and exit counseling, and financial literacy workshops.
• Provide oversight for federal work study and college-funded student employment programs.
• Confers regularly with the Directors and other office staff to coordinate activities, information dissemination, and training.
• Ensure that collaborative, positive relationships are maintained with colleagues and develop programs and services that enhance cooperative efforts among offices (Enrollment Center, EOF, Athletics, Campus Security and Testing Center).
• Serve as the primary point of contact for all matters that pertain to financial aid processes, and ensure functional testing for new and existing queries and software is outlined and executed.
• Work closely with key stakeholders and IT to design, develop and maintain continuous improvements/automation for program operations and processes.
• Provide strategic training to internal and external staff members on federal programs and R2T4 calculations, and coordinate with FA Systems, Finance and Student Accounts to identify and develop ongoing improvements to Title IV fund delivery methods.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for financial aid on all escalated students issues.
• Create and execute affordability strategies and financial literacy programs.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

• The Director of Financial Aid will supervise full-time and part-time office staff.

WORKING CONDITIONS

ADA AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS (May vary depending on the position)

Positions in this class typically require ability to use a key board, hearing, seeing and repetitive motions.

Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited university in Student Affairs, Education, Business Administration, or Management.
• Four to six years of progressive experience at a management/leadership level. Candidates must demonstrate a working knowledge of student information systems.
• Demonstrated experience of working with a variety of diverse people (faculty, students, and staff).
• Must have a valid Drivers License

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Masters degree
• Community College or Higher Education experience.
• Experience in financial aid higher education administration and hands-on experience administering/managing federal aid programs.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Experience working with both traditional and non-traditional student populations.
• Ability to analyze administrative and operational scenarios and reach practical business solutions to optimize available resources.
• Demonstrated follow-through in implementing policy and procedural changes.
• Extensive knowledge of all financial aid regulations, with the ability to develop compliant policies and procedures conducive to meeting enrollment and institutional goals; must have the ability to accurately interpret and apply federal and state regulations.
• Demonstrated ability to build an efficient and effective office culture that serves students well and shapes, unifies, and empowers a team to provide highest levels of customer service.
• Advocates for staff, and for their continued training and professional development, with the ability to influence others through a positive attitude.
• Understands leveraging of technology in structuring financial aid awarding, processing, and promotion of financial strategies.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communications skills, combined with analytical competency that can provide directive and persuasive initiatives and explanations.
• Decisive and solutions-oriented work style, positive attitude and is excited about working across all units of a high achieving campus environment.
• Ability to allocate decision-making authority and/or task responsibility to appropriate others to maximize the organizations and individuals effectiveness.
• Accomplish tasks by considering all areas involved, no matter how small; showing concern for all aspects of the job; accurately checking processes and tasks; being watchful over a period of time.
• Able to plan and support the development of individuals skills and abilities so that they can fulfill current or future job/role responsibilities more effectively.
• Responds promptly to departmental needs; solicits feedback to improve service; Responds to requests for departmental service and assistance. Meets commitments.

CORE COMPETENCIES

Adaptability: Maintaining effectiveness when experiencing major changes in work tasks or the work environment; adjusting effectively to work within new work structures, processes, requirements, or cultures.

Contributing to Team Success: Actively participating as a member of a team to move the team toward the completion of goals.

Decision Making: Identifying and understanding issues, problems, and opportunities; comparing data from different sources to draw conclusions; using effective approaches for choosing a course of action or developing appropriate solutions; taking action that is consistent with available facts, constraints, and probable consequences.

Communication: Clearly conveying information and ideas through a variety of media to individuals or groups in a manner that engages the audience and helps them understand and retain the message.

Contributing to Team Success: Actively participating as a member of a team to move the team toward the completion of goals.

Diversity & Inclusion: Working with situations involving different cultures/languages and responding to the ambiguity of unexpected/unfamiliar approaches.

Facilitating Change: Encouraging others to seek opportunities for different and innovative approaches to addressing problems and opportunities; facilitating the implementation and acceptance of change within the workplace.

Stress Tolerance: Maintaining stable performance under pressure or opposition (such as time pressure or job ambiguity); handling stress in a manner that is acceptable to others and to the organization.

Managing Conflict: Dealing effectively with others in an antagonistic situation; using appropriate interpersonal styles and methods to reduce tension or conflict between two or more people.