Employment Opportunities at USD

Position Title & Department:

 Director, Law School Financial Aid; School of Law Posting #

5737

Department Description: USD School of Law is one of the 84 law schools elected to the Order of the Coif, a national honor society for law school graduates. The law school's faculty is a strong group of outstanding scholars and teachers with national and international reputations and currently ranks in the top 20% (36th out of 204) among U.S. law schools in scholarly impact according to a 2018 study. The school is accredited by the American Bar Association and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools. Founded in 1954, the law school is part of the University of San Diego, a private, independent, Roman Catholic university chartered in 1949. University Description:

The University of San Diego, an engaged and contemporary Catholic institution, was founded by the Diocese of San Diego and the Society of the Sacred Heart in 1949. Governed by an independent board of trustees since 1972, USD remains committed to a liberal arts education grounded in the Catholic intellectual tradition and the pursuit of truth, goodness and beauty. Inspired by this centuries old tradition of Catholic higher education, the University welcomes people of all faith traditions and any, or no, religious background. The future success of USD relies on the contributions of those who seek to foster the development of engaged global citizens and an earnest confrontation of humanity’s urgent challenges.

Detailed Description:

The Director of Law School Financial Aid plays a crucial role in shaping law school financial aid policies and developing strategies for the efficient utilization of funds. These efforts are geared towards advancing the law school’s strategic enrollment goals for student recruitment and retention. This position carries the responsibility of overseeing the accurate and timely administration of myriad financial aid programs, ensuring strict adherence to federal, state, and institutional regulations, policies, and procedures. The regulatory landscape governing student financial aid is fluid and subject to frequent change at both the federal and state levels’ and the Director is responsible for independently monitoring, interpreting, and operationalizing new and amended statutes, regulations, and guidance, frequently under compressed timelines and without settled interpretive precedent. In this capacity, the Director will oversee day-to-day operations of processing financial aid for over 1,000 JD, LLM, MSLS and Paralegal students. The Director functions as the lead administrator for Law Financial Aid and is expected to provide consistent leadership, direction, and staff development for all law school financial aid matters. The Director works closely and collaboratively with other University administrators and staff as a resource for federal regulations and institutional policies that govern financial aid.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Exemplifies exceptional skills in financial aid management and leadership, driving the advancement of accessible and inclusive financial aid, student support, and financial wellness services. The focus is on promoting student recruitment, retention, and ensuring that a world-class education is not only attainable but also an affordable reality, with benefits extending beyond degree completion.
• Demonstrates leadership by overseeing and guiding a team of two Law School Financial Aid Counselors, offering supervision and support to foster a collaborative and efficient environment within the Law Financial Aid department.
• Reviews, interprets, and ensures compliance with federal, state, University, and agency regulations in accordance with financial aid policies and procedures. Collaborates with the University Office of Financial Aid Director on regulatory updates and campus policies. Advises the Assistant Dean, JD Admissions & Law Financial Aid on operational and regulatory changes that may impact law student financial aid issues including eligibility and disbursement.
• Maintains current, expert-level knowledge of the federal and state laws, regulations, and administrative guidance governing student financial aid within a continuously changing regulatory landscape. Independently monitors legislative and regulatory developments, including U.S. Department of Education rulemaking, Dear Colleagues letters, Federal Register notices, California State aid program requirements, and ABA reporting standards; evaluates their operational, financial and compliance implications for the Law School; and revises institutional policy, system configuration, and awarding practice accordingly. As such, collaborates with Law School Development to ensure new laws, regulations, and policies’ alignment with existing and future gifts and scholarships.
• Exercises independent professional judgment in interpreting newly issued, ambiguous, or unsettled regulatory guidance where established institutional precedent does not yet exist. Serves as the Law School’s authoritative interpretive resource on financial aid regulation and advises the Assistant Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid, the Assistant Dean of Finance and Administration, and the Dean and University administrators on institutional compliance exposure and risk, including potential liability under Title IV. 
• Conducts annual internal financial aid audit, potential program reviews, FISAP, and ABA data, analysis, and reporting. Prepares and presents to the Assistant Dean for review.
• Establishes verification and awarding policies and determines eligibility for packaging and revisions. Performs professional judgments. Oversees the administration of the Federal Direct Loan Programs including Direct Loan file processing, origination, disbursement, and reconciliation; certification and disbursement for private student loans using ELM Resources; and awarding, tracking, and reconciling of Federal Work-Study. Oversees Return to Title IV processing.
• In collaboration with Law School Admission, manages and maximizes effectiveness of institutional scholarship awarding with use of Scholarship Management tool.
• In collaboration with Law School Admission, manages and maximizes effectiveness of the Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP).
• Develops and maintains loan default prevention and management program. Monitors cohort default rate.
• Develops and advises the Assistant Dean regarding the annual and forecasted student cost of attendance (COA).
• Assists in counseling prospective and current students on financial aid programs, eligibility criteria, deadlines, and application procedures by appointment, walk-in, phone, and email. Resolves complex cases regarding financial aid issues.
• Oversees Department of Education COD Direct Loan and CPS ISIR file transfers via EdConnect. Serves as primary DPA for Federal Student Aid systems for Law Financial Aid and Registrar offices.
• Responsible for annual updates and set up for the Law School’s portion of the Ellucian Banner Financial Aid Module. Leads the implementation of all new financial aid systems, testing of update releases, enhancements, and software in conjunction with the IT department. With the assistance of IT and LSAC, coordinates the USI interface between the admissions database and Banner Student system.
• Develops and delivers financial aid webinars, outreach presentations, and information sessions. Develops and updates all financial aid publications, correspondence, and website.
• Attends conferences, trainings, and workshops as needed and disseminates information to direct reports and appropriate campus staff.
• Represents the Law School Office of Financial Aid and Admissions at select recruiting events during the admissions cycle.
• Performs other financial aid and/or administrative duties as assigned.

Special Conditions of Employment:

• Must have the ability and flexibility to work occasional evenings and weekends for law financial aid and admissions-related deliverables and events.
• Must be able to travel for some admissions-related recruiting events.

Background check:  Successful completion of a pre-employment background check.

Degree Verification Requirement: Persons offered employment in this position will be required to provide official education transcripts for degree verification purposes. 

Job Requirements:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master's degree in related area required. Substitution: A Bachelor's degree and 1 additional year of work experience may substitute for Master’s degree, at the rate of one year of work experience is equivalent to two years of education.
• Minimum five years of progressively responsible financial aid management experience in roles such as Financial Aid Director, Deputy Director, or Associate Director within a university setting is required, six or more years of experience is preferred.
• Demonstrated advanced knowledge of policies, regulations, and practices for awarding higher education financial aid, including needs analysis and packaging.
• Demonstrated ability to independently research, interpret, and apply complex and frequently changing federal and state financial aid laws and regulations, and to reach defensible operational conclusions where authoritative guidance is incomplete or evolving.
• Demonstrated knowledge of techniques for recruitment and retention of higher education students through financial aid.
• Demonstrated knowledge of higher education policies, processes, and procedures related to budget, accounting, and student services.
• Demonstrated advanced knowledge of the electronic processes used in higher education financial aid. These include but are not limited to Common Origination and Disbursement (COD), FAA Access to CPS Online, National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS), and Electronic Loan Management (ELM) System.
• Demonstrated proficiency in Ellucian Banner Financial Aid and/or WorkDay Finance/HR is desired. Additionally, advanced experience with Microsoft Office and Google Mail is highly regarded.
• Advanced knowledge of higher education financial aid advising and counseling techniques.
• Advanced skills in higher education financial aid policy and program development.
• Advanced problem identification, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills; judgment and decision-making ability.
• Advanced quantitative analysis and resource management skills.
• Skill and experience in project management and organizational effectiveness.
• Advanced written and verbal communication, active listening, persuasion, and negotiation skills.
• Advanced customer service orientation.
• Strong ability to assess processes and implement improvements.
• Advanced interpersonal skills including social perceptiveness.
• Experience using complex databases.
• Strong ability to oversee and define specifications for financial aid systems programming.
• Must be sensitive to the needs of individuals while maintaining the legal and fiscal integrity of federal, state and institutional aid programs.
• Ability to work well under pressure, to meet deadlines, maintain a high level of accuracy, professionalism, and a customer-oriented and service-centered attitude.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in fast-paced environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in a higher education setting is preferred.
• Knowledge of admissions processes and procedures is preferred.

Posting Salary:

$9,1666.66 - 10,000 per month; Excellent Benefits

The University of San Diego offers a very competitive benefits package including; medical, dental, vision, a retirement contribution given to you by the University, and access to on-campus Fitness Centers.  Please visit the benefits section of our website to view all of the perks and benefits that USD has to offer.  USD: Human Resources: Benefits

The salary range provided in this posting reflects what we reasonably expect to pay for this position.  Actual compensation offered or earned is dependent on experience, education and other factors including departmental budget.

Special Application Instructions:

Click the 'Apply Now' button to complete our online application. In addition, please upload a cover letter and resume to your application profile for the hiring managers’ review.  If you have any questions or difficulties please contact the Employment Services Team at jobs@sandiego.edu.

Additional Details:

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Closing date: Open until filled

Note: External job postings will be up for at least three days. After that time, applications will be reviewed by the hiring manager/committee throughout the posting period. A candidate may be selected at any time which could then close this posting on a date earlier than listed.

The University of San Diego is a smoking and tobacco-free campus. For more information, visit www.sandiego.edu/smokefree.