Executive Director of Student Financial Services

Position Description

Saint Michael’s College, in partnership with the national search firm, Scott Healy & Associates, invites applications and nominations for the position of Executive Director of Student Financial Services.

Major Objectives:

• Under the direction of Vice President of Enrollment and Marketing, the Executive Director of Student Financial Services collaborates to develop a financial award model, manages and maintains financial aid and accounts receivable operations including quality assurance, development of policies and procedures, verification, funds management, billing and collections, reporting, fiscal accountability, audit compliance, and consultation with external firms and vendors.
• This position plays a key collaborative leadership role in the strategic goals and mission of the division of Enrollment and Marketing and works closely with the Directors of Admissions, Enrollment Operations, Finance and Marketing to implement the enrollment and retention goals of the College.
• The position is "hands-on" - directing a collaborative team and actively participating as a coach developing and training staff, as well as meeting with students and families.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Contributes to efforts to meet College revenue and enrollment goals.
• Collaborates with the Enrollment Leadership team to develop institutional fund awarding models and parameters.
• Develops and implements strategies for awarding federal Campus-Based Program funds
• Hires and manages Student Financial Services staff, and provides support by setting priorities, training and cross-training, and offering opportunities for growth and development.
• Oversees semester billing and account collection processes, and the production of 1098-T forms.
• Collaborates with Institutional Advancement to manage and award endowed scholarships.
• Reviews eligibility and awards financial aid for all undergraduate, graduate and special program applicants.
• Serves as primary contact for financial aid appeals.
• Creates and implements default prevention and financial literacy campaigns.
• Provides excellent customer service to students, parents, and outside agencies and partners, including counseling on all aspects of the financial aid and billing processes.
• Gives presentations to internal and external groups about financial aid and billing policies and procedures.
• Manages and maintains compliance with all federal, state and other regulations and laws related to financial aid, billing and collections.
• Participates in training sessions and remain current on federal regulations and guidelines.
• Completes audits, and federal and other reporting requirements, in an accurate and timely manner.
• Develops, implements and maintains institutional policies and procedures.
• Manages office and institutional financial aid budget.
• Serves on the Enrollment Leadership team and other College committees, and collaborates with other departments on issues related to financial aid, billing and recruitment.
• Serves as primary college representative for vendors, and government and other external agencies, related to financial aid, billing and collections.
• Oversees communications including the College website, letters and emails, automating when appropriate.
• Creates and implements default prevention and financial literacy campaigns.
• Keeps software current, functional to support office operations, and student-serving.
• Supports and encourages the SFS staff in continued learning and awareness development of inclusivity and equity concepts and frameworks to support their work and engagement with students and families of various backgrounds, especially those with identities historically and currently excluded and minoritized.
• Participates in departmental and campus-wide learning opportunities to further develop awareness, skills, and knowledge in supporting and fostering inclusion and belonging for students and colleagues.
• Appreciates the value of cultural, ethnic, gender, and other individual differences in people. Helps to create an environment of learning about, valuing, encouraging, and supporting differences.
• Seeks different points of view and leverages diverse perspectives in group processes and decision-making.
• Checks own views against the views of others.
• Supports fair treatment and equal opportunity for all. Listens to and objectively considers the ideas/input of others.

Qualifications

Demonstrates Excellence:

• Engages with constituents with a high level of inclusivity, equity, and sensitivity.
• Displays a commitment to continuous growth and development to support a culture of inclusion and belonging.
• Draws upon exceptional customer service and problem-solving skills to explain complex processes to students and families. Goes beyond the question that was asked to assist students and families in making informed decisions.
• Develops a high-performing and engaged team that can use informed judgement, works collaboratively, and brings forward new ideas and approaches.
• Demonstrates a student-centric approach when working with students and families and an ability to diffuse escalated customer service situations.
• Ability to reflect on one’s own racial identity and how it has shaped one’s own life experiences and current perspectives.
• Understands the impact, challenges, and barriers that racism, inequities and bias have on developing systems of advantage and disadvantage relative to access and attainment in higher education.
• Maintains expert level knowledge of current federal regulations, monitors changes to federal guidelines and uses that knowledge to direct office policy development and the implementation of best practices.
• Understands current trends in Enrollment Management as well as the College’s goals and objectives in this area.
• Thrives in a fast-paced environment; learns new information quickly.
• Works collaboratively both within the department and with colleagues from across campus to solve problems in a manner that meets the needs of students and families while ensuring compliance with applicable regulations and policies.
• Respects the confidentiality of information provided by students, families, and other constituencies. Understands FERPA, HEA, GLB and other applicable privacy and data security regulations.
• Is well organized, self-motivated, and a problem solver who can think analytically and critically.
• Actively participates in and contributes to the larger Saint Michael’s community in a variety of ways, including supporting occasional weekend events, professional conferences, meetings, etc.

Required Qualifications and Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of seven to 10 years of experience in student financial services, financial aid and/or account services
• Analytical skills and significant analysis of cause-and-effect problems based on a standard approach learned through training, established policy, or the use of established procedures.
• Ability to read and interpret a wide range of information. May interpret documents to others. Regularly writes reports and correspondence.
• Ability to shift writing style as needed for different audiences.
• Ability to explain policies, listens to questions, responds, and problem solves.
• Ability to speak to individuals and small groups effectively.
• High proficiency with Microsoft Excel and reporting tools such as Informer.
• High proficiency with Higher Education Student Information Systems such as Ellucian Colleague.

About The Institution

About Saint Michael’s College:
Saint Michael's College is a Catholic, liberal arts, fully residential college located in Colchester, Vermont, just outside of Burlington. The community at Saint Michael's welcomes students of all faiths, backgrounds, cultures, and identities to search for truth, explore their curiosity, and engage in ways of uplifting others. With over 40 majors and minors, plus three graduate programs, Saint Michael’s provides a comprehensive education that gives students the best opportunity to succeed in a rapidly changing, complex world.

As a liberal arts College, students at Saint Michael’s are encouraged, intellectually stimulated, and inspired by a variety of disciplines in addition to their major. The College believes in providing flexibility so that students can pursue a second major or multiple minors so that students can explore more of what they are passionate about. Graduates of Saint Michael’s are prepared not only for their first job, but for an employment marketplace that is constantly evolving.

It is the mission of Saint Michael’s College to contribute through higher education to the enhancement of the human person, and to the advancement of human culture, in the light of the Catholic faith.

About The Community

About Colchester and Burlington, Vermont:
Colchester is known as one of the best places to live in Vermont. Living in Colchester offers residents a suburban feel with a multitude of restaurants, parks, and miles of recreation paths connecting the town to nearby Burlington. Colchester also features Vermont’s largest historic drive-in movie theater, a farm market, and miles of river and lakefront for water activities. The town is surrounded by water on three sides, including the Lamoille River to the north, the Winooski River to the south, and Lake Champlain to the west. With so much waterfront to offer residents, it is no wonder it is the 4th largest community in Vermont.

Colchester is located about three miles north of Burlington, Vermont, a quintessential, beautiful town located between Lake Champlain and the Green Mountains. The scale of Burlington and Vermont ensures everything you need is well within reach – from outdoor adventure, to working on restoring ecosystems, to meaningful job opportunities.

Application Process

All correspondence relating to the position of Executive Director of Student Financial Services at Saint Michael’s College should be directed in confidence to the College’s executive search consultant:

Adam W. Barrett, Associate Vice President
Scott Healy & Associates
adam@scotthealy.com

A complete application should include the following:

1. Cover Letter outlining your interest and qualifications for the position;
2. Updated CV;
3. Three (3) professional references with contact information, title, institutional affiliation, email address and direct phone numbers. (No references will be contacted without written permission from the candidate.)

Applications received by May 31, 2023 will receive priority consideration. The search will remain open until the position is filled.

Saint Michael’s College is committed to equal opportunity. It does not discriminate against students, employees, or applicants for admission or employment, on the basis of race, color, gender, age, national origin, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or physical characteristics.

Saint Michael’s College is a multicultural community which values each individual, celebrates diversity, encourages high ethical standards, instills a passion for justice and shapes a campus-wide environment of responsibility, and compassion. Through the efforts of various groups on campus, such as the Multicultural Committee, which is composed of staff and faculty, the College provides ongoing educational opportunities, events, and programs for personnel and students to increase awareness of and appreciation for the rich diversity of humankind.