Assistant or Associate Director of Financial Aid

About McDaniel College:

McDaniel College is a four-year, independent college of the liberal arts and sciences offering over 100 undergraduate and graduate programs. One of the original "Colleges That Change Lives," McDaniel emphasizes experiential learning and student-faculty collaboration to develop the unique potential in every student. Represented by the Green Terror, over 20 athletic teams compete in the NCAA Division III Centennial Conference. A student-centered community of 1,600 undergraduates and 1,400 graduate students offers access to both Baltimore and Washington, D.C., plus a European campus in Budapest, Hungary.

At McDaniel College we value our employees by offering our full-time employees tuition remission, 403B retirement accounts, paid time off, medical insurance, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, and paid maternity and parental leave. For more information about the college's benefits, please click here to review the 2026 benefits guidebook and click here to view 2026 premium rates.

This position has a budgeted hiring rate of $57,000 for an Assistant Director or $62,000 for an Associate Director. The position is classified as A4. The A4 salary band for all full-time, 12-month positions at the college with this classification have a minimum rate of $50,000 and a maximum rate of $93,780. For benefit purposes only, the workweek is estimated to be 35 hours per week. The actual schedule for exempt positions may vary based on the workload and responsibilities assigned.

Job Description:

The Enrollment Management Division is a dynamic, high-performance division that plays an essential role in the mission of McDaniel College. Reporting to the Director of Financial Aid, the Assistant/Associate Director of Financial Aid plays a key leadership role within the financial aid team. As an experienced financial aid professional, the Assistant/Associate Director must demonstrate a strong understanding of the value of a liberal arts education, McDaniel College's Strategic Plan, and how financial aid strategies and processes align with broader institutional priorities.

The Assistant/Associate Director of Financial Aid oversees major functional areas in Financial Aid and has systems management experience with a highly automated financial aid management system as well as a working knowledge of the overall operation of the Financial Aid Office. The Assistant/Associate Director assists the Director with administration of the Financial Aid Office, represents the office in administrative and public venues, and has a key role in decision-making and policy development within the department.

In addition, the Assistant/ Associate Director supervises the Office Manager and is responsible for advancing team and system development, and supporting the execution of financial aid strategies as well as recruitment, enrollment and retention efforts. The role requires the ability to set goals, manage time effectively, and deliver results while balancing individual responsibilities with project leadership and team support.

An appreciation for diversity, strong interpersonal and communication skills, and the ability to manage staff and multiple projects, and institutional priorities simultaneously are essential for success in this role. Foster trust and transparency through clear, compassionate communication, leading challenging conversations with students, parents, faculty, and external agencies regarding financial aid eligibility, verification, and appeals.

The position may include the option of one remote workday per week when possible, pending successful performance metrics, based on office coverage and staffing needs. During peak and yield seasons, flexibility is essential, and evening/weekend hours or full in-office presence will be required.

Specific Responsibilities

• Performs the "Return of Title IV Funds" refund calculations for all withdrawn students, all grant recalculations and all ineligible disbursements to resolve the over awards and over payments.
• Independently manages and provides critical and direct oversight for assessing regulatory compliance for the awarding and verification process. Through Regulatory Evaluation, monitors the reconciliation of aid funds to ensure institutional compliance and to demonstrate administrative capability as required by regulations. Monitors verification accuracy, fund balances, disbursements, adjustments, Return to Title IV calculations and year-end closeout procedures.
• Performs and coordinates the reconciliation of all federal programs including Pell program, direct loan disbursements and alternative loan disbursements to COD and the Bursar's office on a monthly basis.
• Creates and executes assigned database reports to ensure compliance with state and federal regulations and preparation for annual audits.
• Ensures effective operation of the areas of responsibility within the Financial Aid Office by advising the Director regarding office operations, developing and recommending student financial aid policy, managing aid funds, conducting program evaluation, adapting the financial aid management system to maximize efficiency, working collaboratively with colleagues, and performing duties as assigned by the director.
• Manages specialized financial aid processing functions, including veterans' affairs education benefit certification and processing, endowment matching and coordination of institutional fund sources. manual awarding for special populations such as study abroad and Budapest campus students. decentralized state aid processing, ensuring accuracy and adherence to institutional and state requirements, oversight of transmittals and disbursement notifications to ensure timely and accurate delivery of aid.
• Promotes a positive image of the Financial Aid Office by participating in administrative and professional venues and making presentations to inform the public about the various financial aid programs and associated application processes. Provide and promote service excellence through courteous, informed, accessible and professional engagement.
• Supervisor of record for the Office Manager. Responsibilities include lead, motivate and empower develop and maintain job description, plan, direct and assign work, make hiring and disciplinary decisions, provide feedback on performance and approve timesheet.
• Serves as a subject matter expert for internal and external staff.
• Develops procedures, job aids and trainings for financial aid professionals to ensure that accurate information about various financial aid sources is provided to parents and students.
• Supports the College's enrollment management plan by managing the areas of responsibility in a manner consistent with the recruitment and retention goals.
• Prevents institutional liability and ensures College compliance with federal and state regulations governing financial aid by maintaining current knowledge on same and by revising the College's Policy and Procedure Manual of Financial Aid.
• Ensures the maximum utilization of aid funds by assuring efficient processing in the area of responsibility.
• Serves as a second level resource to resolve parent/student complaints.
• Provides leadership and direction for the Financial Aid office, and acts on behalf of the Director in his/her absence.
• Contributes to a work environment that encourages knowledge of, respect for, and development of skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds.
• Remains competent and current through self-directed professional reading, developing professional contacts with colleagues, attending professional development courses, and attending training and/or courses as required by the Director of Financial Aid.
• Develops working relationships with internal and external partners, as well as various college departments, staff and faculty ensuring they are provided with the financial aid support needed.
• Contributes to the overall success of the Financial Aid office by performing all other duties as assigned by Director.

Requirements:

Qualifications

• Assistant Rank: Bachelor's degree with minimum of two years of experience in a financial aid office that demonstrates increasing responsibility. Associate Rank: Bachelor's degree with a minimum of four years of experience in a financial aid office that demonstrates increasing responsibility, Master's degree or some graduate coursework preferred.
• Excellent organizational skills with the proven ability to organize work strategically by conceptualizing and prioritizing the greatest needs based on institutional and divisional priorities.
• Proficient knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, enterprise data management systems such as Colleague, Outlook, relational database report writing and other cloud-based products.
• Knowledge of financial recordkeeping/reporting principles and procedures.
• Knowledge of basic mathematical and accounting principles.
• Working knowledge of federal, state, and local financial aid regulations and guidelines.
• Working knowledge of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
• Knowledge of basic tax forms - 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ, W2's.
• Applies understanding of organizational priorities policies, data and trends to all decision-making.
• Must be able to anticipate and strategically plan for cyclical activities.
• Proven ability to accurately assess and handle phone calls, visitor requests, etc., with discretion and a positive attitude to deliver excellent customer service.
• Ability to communicate effectively in English orally, by phone, in person, and in writing.
• Discretion and reliability in sensitive and confidential matters.
• Ability to respond to emergency situations in a timely and calm manner
• Excellent oral and written communication skills to convey complex financial aid processes, ideas, facts, and information effectively and accurately to students, staff, faculty, and the general public.
• Ability to handle confidential matters judiciously.
• Ability to think critically to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Detail-oriented and skilled in reviewing data and proofreading materials to ensure accuracy.

Physical Abilities

The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job:

• Sitting for long periods of time.
• Some bending and stooping when working with files.
• Limited lifting involved but not more than 25 pounds at a time.
• Finger and hand dexterity for typing and handling paperwork.

Working Conditions

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is routinely working in a normal office environment with minimal exposure to adverse conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually minimal to moderate.

Additional Information:

McDaniel College, in compliance with federal and state laws and regulations, does not discriminate in the recruitment, admission, and employment of students, faculty, and staff in the operation of any of its educational programs and activities. McDaniel College will not tolerate any discrimination or harassment on basis of any protected status including protective hairstyle, race, religion, color, ancestry or national origin, disability, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy, military status, genetic information, marital status, veteran's status, or any other actual or perceived legally protected characteristics.

Application Instructions:

Completed applications must include a cover letter addressing position qualifications and related experience, resume, and the names and contact information of three professional references. Review of applications will begin immediately. The position will be open until filled.

Please click the Apply Now button below to begin your application.