Director of Financial Aid and Scholarships

The University of Virginia’s College at Wise is seeking a Director of Financial Aid and Scholarships to join our Enrollment Management Team. This position is an in-person, on-campus assignment located in Wise, Virginia.

Reporting to the Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management, the Director of Financial Aid & Scholarships is the chief financial aid administrator and is responsible for overall leadership of departmental operations, including management of federal, state, and institutional aid funds, as well as compliance with federal and state programs and adhering to best practices.

Position Description

The Director of Financial Aid and Scholarships will play a vital role in supporting UVA Wise's enrollment growth initiatives. UVA Wise has been experiencing positive trends in student enrollment, and the College is supported by loyal alumni and friends who have helped the College to grow its endowment to $165 million at the end of June 2024. Of this, more than 70% is restricted for scholarship support generating an increasing number of scholarships. Year over year for the past few years, we are seeing increased numbers of applications for admissions to the institution.

As part of the Enrollment Management Team, the Director will be responsible for developing and implementing strategic financial aid policies that align with the College's recruitment and retention goals. They will oversee the distribution of financial aid packages, including the management of a recent, record-breaking gift with $15.7 million total impact from The Bill Gatton Foundation gift and UVA's Bicentennial Scholarship initiative.

The role involves ensuring compliance with federal and state regulations while also creating innovative scholarship programs to attract and retain talented students. The Director will work closely with other departments to provide comprehensive financial counseling to students and families, helping them navigate the complexities of college financing.

The Director of Financial Aid and Scholarships will be instrumental in upholding UVA Wise's commitment to making college more affordable for students in the region and similar areas across the U.S. They will need to stay informed about the latest trends in higher education financing and continuously adapt strategies to meet the evolving needs of the student population.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of higher education.
• Six (6) years of progressive professional experience in financial aid.
• Demonstrated successful and significant experience in financial aid including the ability to develop, implement, and manage financial aid programs and provide leadership for the college and staff.
• High level knowledge of the administration and disbursement of federal and state aid programs including best practices and latest trends in student aid and active participation in state, national, and regional financial aid associations.
• Experience ensuring compliance with federal and state reconciliation and reporting requirements, and other regulations pertaining to Federal Direct Loan and private loan programs.
• Proven ability to lead teams and leverage resources.
• Experience utilizing word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software, such as Microsoft Suite products to create, modify and format documents and presentations.
• Project management, coordination and/or supervisory experience.
• Demonstrated commitment to inclusion and/or experience working with students and/or co-workers from a wide range of abilities, backgrounds and experiences.
• OR applicable combination of education and/or experience which demonstrates the ability to perform the essential functions of the position.
• Increasingly responsible experience in office and general administrative work, including support of high-level executives in complex, large organizations.

Salary: $110,000 - $120,000; depending on experience.

UVA Wise is an equal opportunity employer committed to excellence, affordable access, and unwavering support of a collaborative and diverse community. Women, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Employee fulfills duties as a “responsible employee” under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. A Responsible employee includes any employee: who has the authority to take action to redress sexual violence; who has been given the duty of reporting incidents of sexual violence or any other misconduct by students to the Title IX Coordinator or other appropriate school designee; or whom a student could reasonably believe has this authority or duty.

UVA Wise is committed to helping the campus community provide for their own safety and security. The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report containing information on campus security and personal safety, including alerts, fire safety, crime prevention tips, and crime statistics is available at www.uvawise.edu/ASR . A copy is available upon request by calling 276-328-0190 or 276-376-3451.

Candidate resources

https://www.townofwise.net/resources/page/about

https://www.townofwise.net/visitorsguide/page/living-wise

https://visitwisecounty.com/

https://visitwisecounty.com/relocate/

The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. All interested persons are encouraged to apply, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Click here to read more about UVA’s commitment to non-discrimination and equal opportunity employment.