Senior Associate Director of Operations

General Summary: 

The Senior Associate Director of Operations will direct and manage all technical business processes and functions of the Financial Aid Services (FAS) office.  The incumbent will direct and manage the use of technology within FAS and will work to capitalize on the use of technology to support and enhance the business functions of FAS, as well as to support and enhance the objectives of the Enrollment Management Division in promoting sound business practices that assist in the recruitment and retention of students.  Serving on the University’s Cross-Functional Team, the Senior Associate Director of Operations will ensure the accuracy of data being shared and used amongst University offices and external agencies, such as the Department of Education and the Massachusetts Office of Student Financial Aid Administration.

Examples of Duties: 

• Direct and manage all technical business processes and functions, as well as the use of technology, within the Financial Aid Services (FAS) office; work to capitalize on the use of technology to support and enhance the business functions of FAS, as well as to support and enhance the objectives of the University’s Enrollment Management Division, in promoting sound business practices that assist in the recruitment and retention of students; 
• Develop and maintain daily, weekly and monthly production schedules that supports financial aid office efforts to enhance customer service and promote the enrollment objectives of the Enrollment Management Division;
• Work closely with the University’s Central Office, to establish, monitor and synchronize financial aid batch processing;
• In coordination with the University’s Central Office, evaluate and test yearly PeopleSoft Federal Regulation Releases, as well as patches and fixes, determining impacts on current business processes and incorporating required changes into the FAS daily business operations;
• Initiate and assist in the development of PeopleSoft modifications to insure that the FAS office remains compliant with Federal and State regulations, as well as University policies and procedures;
• Evaluate current business processes and ensure that the FAS office is maximizing electronic capabilities of the PeopleSoft system;
• Serve on the University Cross-Functional Team to coordinate student service business processes specific to the FAS office, in conjunction with offices such as the Offices of Admissions, Bursars and Registrar;
• Work closely with the FAS Assistant Directors and Program Managers, to establish procedures to support the Department of Education and Mass Office of Student Financial Assistance electronic data exchange;
• Provide technical support to the FAS team for all electronic processes; serve as Tier II Problem Resolution Specialist, as well as the primary contact for the FAS team and external constituents in troubleshooting Financial Aid  PeopleSoft module problems;
• Create and provide reports to staff and external agencies to comply with federal regulations, university policies and general office management, as requested;                                                                                                               
• Coordinate the departments use of additional technology/platforms including CampusLogic and Slate, to support student recruitment and retention.
• Work closely with the Director and other senior level staff to ensure the FAS and One-Stop staff is adequately trained and that the electronic processes of the FAS operations are well coordinated and support superior customer service;
• Responsible for the design, implementation and maintenance of complex technical solutions to replace existing manual and/or inefficient processes;
• Maintain a library of all electronic process and procedures to be used as a reference for annual updates, staff training and continuous operations during times of absence;
• Supervise support staff assigned to the FAS operations unit;
• Participate in meetings, workshops and conferences to stay abreast of local, regional and national financial aid policies;
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications: 

Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree preferred, and a minimum of five-seven years of progressive experience in an automated financial aid office, of which a minimum of three-five years of experience includes working with PeopleSoft or other integrated student administrative software, as it relates to Financial Aid business processes, is required.  Demonstrated experience in providing technical support in a large financial aid operation is required. 

• Extensive knowledge of standard financial aid office business practices in multiple areas with demonstrated ability to troubleshoot complex issues;
• Knowledge of and experience working with a variety of financial aid and administrative software applications, including PeopleSoft and Banner;
• Knowledge of the regulatory requirements governing financial aid programs;
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and to develop, manage and implement large projects;
• Demonstrated ability to grasp key points from complicated details;
• Demonstrated ability to provide technical support in a large financial aid operation;
• Proven ability to populate and test rule and validation tables;
• Ability to analyze financial aid business needs and to develop strategies to resolve issues;
• Ability to work independently and make sound decisions;
• Ability to develop, manage and implement large projects;
• Ability to multi-task and work effectively in a high-volume, fast-paced environment;
• Ability to supervise the work of others;
• Ability to work as a representative of Financial Aid within the broader context of the division of Enrollment Management to provide solutions to overlapping or integrated procedures;
• Ability to work with and handle confidential information and materials;
• Strong analytical skills;
• Strong interpersonal, management, decision-making and organizational skills;
• Strong commitment to customer service.

Application Instructions: 

Please apply online with your resume, cover letter and list of three professional references.

Review of candidates will begin following the application closing date. 

Only Internal candidates in the Professional Staff Bargaining Unit will be considered during the first 10 business days of the posting.  All other candidates will be considered after that period. 

Salary Ranges for the appropriate Pay Grade can be found at the following link: 

Grade:34

Salary Ranges

This is an exempt union position.

All official salary offers must be approved by Human Resources.

UMass Boston requires all employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and to confirm proof of their vaccination status including booster. Exemptions from the vaccine requirement will be permitted only for qualifying religious or medical reasons. Regardless of vaccination status, you must wear a face covering in public indoor spaces on campus.