Associate Director of Financial Aid Analysis and Research
University of Denver

Job Info

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The Enrollment Division at the University of Denver works to attract, enroll, and graduate an optimal mix of qualified students that will enrich the composition of the University community. The division, which consists of Undergraduate Admission and Financial Aid, seeks to enroll students who will become leaders, scholars, artists, entrepreneurs, and public servants uniquely qualified to live in and shape a global society. The Financial Aid Office is dedicated to serving and educating students, families, colleagues, and the community through the financial aid process from pre-enrollment to program completion. We value empathy and integrity, knowledgeable and professional staff, advocacy and access, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, clear and consistent communication, and compliance. We have primary responsibility for the undergraduate financial aid process and we also serve the graduate student population.

The University of Denver is committed to enhancing the diversity of its faculty and staff and encourages applications from women, minorities, members of the LBGTQ community, people with disabilities and veterans. The University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.

Position Summary

This individual will work closely with the Director of Financial Aid and other senior members of financial aid and enrollment staff to plan and assess the strategies and tactics needed to achieve stated enrollment goals with a specific emphasis on data analysis needed to support these endeavors. Further, they will work with financial aid colleagues to gather data to inform and optimize individual and team performance and management of funds. This person will also assist in assessing how well we effectively deliver on our stated mission, goals and objectives relative to our resources.

The position encompasses a broad range of data analysis and support for all aspects of the University's financial aid programs. This includes conducting analyses and developing and updating various reports of financial aid data to internal and external constituents; supporting the compliance and audit team to ensure financial aid compliance with federal, state, institutional, and private foundation policies; operational data support that provides year-over-year and day-to-day monitoring of financial aid operations. The position will have significant responsibilities to support University financial aid reporting needs on surveys, market analysis, and work with enrollment management vendors. The position will support the financial aid data reporting and analysis needs for SURDS and FISAP and assistance with IPEDS reporting. It also supports the data needs for the advising and scholarships team, the systems team, and the compliance staff. The position also may be responsible for FAFSA resolution and reporting needs including verification reporting. The position will support the financial aid requests for University Advancement needs and the Communications and Marketing division. The financial aid data analysis position supports undergraduate recruitment and enrollment needs, graduate units, provost, budgeting, and business operations. The position provides data analysis relief to the financial aid systems team and IT staff. The position responds to ad hoc financial aid data requests and assists with or creates presentations and creates dashboards to aid in the access and presentation of the multiple data needs described. The data analyst position is distinct from a systems management role.

The Associate Director of Financial Aid Analysis reports directly to the Associate Vice Chancellor for Enrollment/Director of Financial Aid. The position works closely with other members of the financial aid team to achieve enrollment division and University goals on recruitment, retention, and compliance.

Essential Functions

In addition to following the University of Denver's policies and procedures and maintaining federal and state compliance, principal responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Data Analysis, Modeling, and Reporting:
• Update and develop new Financial Aid Dashboard reports for the Enrollment Divisions senior staff, the University's senior staff, and Board of Trustees to inform strategic decisions and goals for the University.
• Work with financial aid colleagues to develop, update, and utilize data to understand and improve financial aid processes and strengthen the customer service experience.
• Conduct data analyses to include modeling and assessing existing, proposed, and new aid initiatives.
• Work with Institutional Research and Analysis to prepare and submit regular and annual financial aid data reports to internal and external audiences such as the Common Data Set Report, IPEDS, University Factbook Reports, SURDS, etc.
• Assist other offices in the utilization of financial aid data including enrollment trends, discount rates, Advancement goals, and undergraduate student recruitment and retention efforts.
• Translate data for presentation and discussion.
• Assist Director of Financial Aid in development and analysis of financial aid initiatives to support and enhance enrollment strategies and goals.
• Project Management and Implementation:
• Assist the Director of Financial Aid and collaborate with other members of the Financial Aid staff in the development, management, and implementation of office-wide projects requiring major changes to or the creation of new policies and procedures regarding aid eligibility and awarding processes.
• Other Duties:
• Data analysis, research, modeling, presentations, and other duties as requested by the Director of Financial Aid, Enrollment Division Budget Office, or the Vice Chancellor for Enrollment with special attention to the University's and the office's values and goals.
• Participation in overall and specific financial training to build capacity around office knowledge and functions.
• Participation may include student advising, application training, compliance issues, systems, communications, and financial aid outreach within the DU community and the Colorado community.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Clear written and oral English communication ability required. Ability to explain complex data to a wide variety of people required.
• Solid mathematical skills and general familiarity with accounting methods required.
• Solid understanding of Microsoft Office products, including Excel, Access, and Word required.
• Ability to analyze complex problems.
• Experience with strategic planning and problem solving. Familiarity with University financial systems.

Required Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree.
• Work Experience:
• 5 or more years working in financial aid or related field and experience in data collection and preparation, analysis, and reporting. Higher degree may substitute for portion of work experience. More robust and specific experience or training in data analysis, fund management, presentations of complex topics and data.
• Ability to analyze, compile, and present data and research in appropriate formats. Ability to write research reports and summarize and present research findings to a variety of audiences.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree.
• Degree in field strongly utilizing quantitative research methods and statistics.
• Proficiency with Tableau, Banner, Cognos, data visualization, and dashboard development.
• Knowledge of FERPA and Federal financial aid regulations.

Working Environment

• Collaborative work environment with flexibility possible in both work hours and location as appropriate.
• Unexpected interruptions and short deadlines could occur.
• Noise level is quiet to moderate.

Physical Activities

• Ability to sit in front of a computer for an extended period.
• Occasionally required to move about the office/campus with the capability of transporting objects up to 20 lbs.
• Occasional travel for training, conferences, presentations, and outreach.

Work Schedule

The University's administrative offices are open Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Work schedule may vary.

In accordance with the University's flexible work policy, this position is eligible to be considered for partial remote work. Further details regarding this plan will be determined with the hiring manager and are dependent on the division and team specific needs.

Application Deadline

For consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) January 10, 2025.

Special Instructions

Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.

Salary Grade

The salary grade for this position is 12.

Salary Range

The salary range for this position is $80,000 - $90,000.

The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, but not based on a candidate's sex or any other protected status.

Benefits

The University of Denver offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO pass. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver.

Please include the following documents with your application:

1. Resume
2. Cover Letter

The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital, family, or parental status, pregnancy or related conditions, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. The University of Denver does not discriminate and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, creed, disability, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital family, and parental status, pregnancy, genetic information, military enlistment, or veteran status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance in any of the University's educational programs and activities, and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; the Americans with Disabilities Act; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; the Equal Pay Act; the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act; the Colorado Protecting Opportunities and Worker's Rights ("POWR") Act; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For more information, please see the University of Denver's Non-Discrimination-Statement.

All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history background check.

Advertised: December 11, 2024
Applications close: January 10, 2025

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