Director Of Student Financial Aid

Company Description Hudson Valley Community College, located in New York’s Capital Region, serves approximately 13,000 students each semester and employs more than 630 full- and part-time faculty members. It is the second-largest institution of higher learning in the region and offers over 80 degree and certificate programs through the Schools of Business and Liberal Arts, Health Sciences, and Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). Many programs are available in flexible formats, including online and evening options, to support diverse learner needs. Founded in 1953, the college is sponsored by Rensselaer County and is part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system. Governance is provided by a 10-member Board of Trustees representing state, county, and student interests.

Role Description The Director of Student Financial Aid is a full-time, on-site role based in Troy, NY, responsible for leading the College’s financial aid operations and ensuring equitable, compliant, and student-centered services. This role oversees the administration of federal, state, and institutional aid programs, including grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study, and ensures adherence to all regulatory and audit requirements. The director manages and develops financial aid staff, sets service standards, and coordinates training to provide accurate counseling to current and prospective students and their families. Day-to-day responsibilities include reviewing complex student cases, monitoring budgets and aid packaging strategies, analyzing enrollment and funding trends, and optimizing aid distribution to support access, retention, and completion. The director collaborates closely with Enrollment, Bursar, Institutional Research, and other campus offices to streamline processes, support outreach and recruitment, and contribute to strategic planning and reporting related to student financial aid.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated leadership and management skills, including supervising teams, setting priorities, and overseeing daily operations in a student services environment.
• Extensive knowledge of federal, state, and institutional financial aid regulations, policies, and compliance requirements (e.g., Title IV, verification, satisfactory academic progress, return of funds).
• Strong analytical and data-informed decision-making skills, including experience with budgeting, forecasting, reporting, and assessing the impact of aid policies on enrollment and student outcomes.
• Proficiency with student information systems and financial aid management systems, as well as comfort working with spreadsheets, databases, and reporting tools.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to provide clear, empathetic counseling to students and families from diverse backgrounds and to collaborate effectively with campus and external partners.
• Proven ability to develop and improve processes, implement best practices, and lead change initiatives that enhance efficiency, accuracy, and service quality.