Description

The Associate Director of Financial Aid and Data Systems is responsible for managing the day-to-day operations and system functions within the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office (FASO). This position will manage system maintenance for administering financial aid, ensure reporting and data integrity, create, automate, and execute operational processes for the timely awarding, disbursement, tracking, and quality assurance reviews of financial aid programs.

In this role, the Associate Director will provide leadership, guidance, and training to the FASO Staff on the various systems implemented by the FASO. The Associate Director will work independently to establish timely, accurate, and understandable system processes and maintain federal, state, and institutional policy and regulatory compliance. Additionally, they will collaborate with University of Missouri – System, University of Missouri – Kansas City, and external software partners to implement, modify, install, and create solutions to support and streamline FASO processes and to remain compliant with federal, state, institutional, and external requirements.

This position combines technical expertise with strategic leadership, ensuring that financial aid systems not only function effectively but also align with broader institutional goals and student success initiatives. 

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Manages and maintains core PeopleSoft financial aid processes, including packaging, repackaging, disbursements, originations, data imports and exports, etc.
• Applies advanced business systems concepts to define highly complex systems scope and objectives based on both users’ needs and a good understanding of applicable business systems and industry requirements.
• Performs highly complex analysis of business and user needs, documentation of requirements, and translation into proper system requirement specifications.
• Supports, executes, and trains others on unit integration and acceptance testing. Initiates, facilitates, implements and documents work process changes.
• Creates and implements automated financial aid system solutions where there are no standardized policies or procedures.
• Initiates, designs, or modifies procedures to solve complex financial aid system problems considering software capacity and limitations, processing time, and form of desired results.
• Gathers, analyzes, and reports on financial aid data to track trends, measure outcomes, and support decision-making and ensure compliance with all federal, state, and institutional regulations, policies and procedures.
• Identify and resolve systemic financial aid issues based on aggregated information from student interfaces.
• Develops and maintains SQL scripts, PS Queries, and PS Equations to support and improve business processes, reporting, and compliance.
• Creates highly technical specifications for financial aid systems with broad impact to our student body.
• Works with federal and state systems and contacts to address reporting issues with originations, disbursement errors, timing issues, and receipt and return of funds.
• Maintains thorough and current knowledge of all federal, state and institutional regulations and procedures to ensure accurate processing and program compliance.
• Ensures that irregularities related to financial aid data missing between PeopleSoft and external systems are resolved appropriately.
• Participates in and leads cross-functional teams to solve complex business or systems issues involving all aspects of financial aid on campus.
• May approve access requests to any financial aid systems, and web applications to appropriate staff and outside parties to assist with financial aid compliance or processing.
• Coordinates data integration between financial aid systems and other campus departments
• Works with University of Missouri systemwide teams of Financial Aid technical and analytical staff to support implementation, modifications and updates, and testing of PeopleSoft.
• Assesses financial aid data systems and carefully considers the broader implications of how system changes might affect other departments, processes, and the overall student experience—both now and in the future.
• Participates in Financial Aid and Scholarships office strategic planning and leadership activities.
• Provide leadership and strategic guidance for the development and delivery of all financial aid system operations and compliance, working as a part of the FASO leadership team.
• Provide user support and training on new applications, updated processes, procedures, systems and regulatory changes related to financial aid.
• Develops and participates in development activities, such as attending classes, joining organizations, working on special projects, and serving on departmental or campus-wide committees, in order to enhance expertise in job areas.
• Establishes and maintains protocol and priorities for all financial aid staff
• Researches PeopleSoft, other system updates and regulatory trends specific to financial aid and implements proven and effective tools to enhance current financial aid office operations.
• Develops initiatives in line with the University on ways to enhance the student financial aid experience.
• Ensures appropriate compliance with privacy related laws in relation to disclosure of student information.
• Leads timely resolution of escalated system issues in collaboration with leadership and other campus partners.
• Other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications

• A Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience and at least 6 years of experience from which comparable knowledge and skills can be acquired is necessary

Preferred Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s degree in computer science, information management, applied statistics, data science, computer science, business analytics, or related field or equivalent level of training and experience.
• SQL Experience
• Experience with data reporting and analytics tools
• Demonstrated knowledge of financial aid rules, regulations, and procedures.
• Strong technical background with experience in financial aid systems, preferably in PeopleSoft
• Experience working withing Higher Education
• Proficiency in MS Office Suite, and other reporting tools

Anticipated Hiring Range

$70,000 - $82,500 annually commensurate with experience, education, and internal equity.

Application Deadline

For best consideration submit all application materials by September 29, 2025. Applications will continue to be accepted and reviewed until filled. 

Other Information

Position is considered on-site with option of hybrid work. However, fully remote work may be considered for highly qualified candidates based on experience, skills, and operational needs.

Community Information

Kansas City offers the best of both worlds—a vibrant, urban community with Midwestern appeal. The city’s rich history and its modern-day, innovative thinking come together to create an eclectic group of neighborhoods that offer a little something for everyone. From thriving arts districts, an energetic downtown nightlife, casual to upscale shopping and champion sports teams, you will have no problem making yourself at home. Of course, one of Kansas City’s biggest claims to fame is its food, especially its world-famous barbecue. Foodies will delight in the culinary scene found throughout the city. Ranging from award-winning chefs to cozy pizza joints, Kansas City definitely is not lacking any flavor.  

UMKC’s campuses are conveniently nestled in the middle of all the action. Volker Campus is just minutes from the legendary Country Club Plaza, perfect for shopping or restaurants for lunch or after-work happy hours. Surrounded by hip neighborhoods and eateries, the Health Sciences Campus is located downtown near University Health Truman Medical Center and Children’s Mercy Hospital.  

UMKC is proud to be “Kansas City’s university,” and the campus and its people celebrate all the characteristics of the surrounding community. To learn more about life in Kansas City and find more resources, visit VisitKC.com.