Senior Assistant Director for Financial Aid Operations and Student Experience

A global higher education leader in innovative teaching, research and public service, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill consistently ranks as one of the nation's top public universities. Known for its beautiful campus, world-class medical care, commitment to the arts and top athletic programs, Carolina is an ideal place to teach, work and learn.

One of the best college towns and best places to live in the United States, Chapel Hill has diverse social, cultural, recreation and professional opportunities that span the campus and community.

University employees can choose from a wide range of professional training opportunities for career growth, skill development and lifelong learning and enjoy exclusive perks for numerous retail, restaurant and performing arts discounts, savings on local child care centers and special rates on select campus events. UNC-Chapel Hill offers full-time employees a comprehensive benefits package, paid leave, and a variety of health, life and retirement plans and additional programs that support a healthy work/life balance.

The Office of Scholarships and Student Aid works to ensure that qualified students have the opportunity to study at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill regardless of their ability to pay. The office serves students at all levels, including graduate and professional school students and coordinates all student financial support for the campus. The office assists in the recruitment, retention and success of students while maximizing available funds, exercising good stewardship of those funds, and performing related research, analysis and program evaluation in support of long-range enrollment and campus goals. In addition, the office provides academic and co-circular support services for scholarships, provides financial literacy and educational tools, and partners with faculty and other student success areas across campus to provide excellent service to low- and middle-income students and other scholarship recipients. The work of the office is public in nature and closely scrutinized by students and their families, lawmakers, faculty and staff at the University, and by the media (local, regional, and national).

The Office of Scholarships and Student Aid ( OSSA) seeks an experienced financial aid professional to serve as Senior Assistant Director for Technology and Student Experience. This position provides leadership for financial aid operational readiness, technology development, process improvement, and student experience initiatives. The Senior Assistant Director applies extensive knowledge of financial aid regulations, program administration, and business processes to ensure accurate, timely, and compliant operations while leveraging technology, automation, and project management to improve efficiency and student success.

Working closely with financial aid leadership, including the Associate Director for Training and Summer Strategy, this position leads aid-year startup activities, regulatory implementation, and operational improvements. Responsibilities include coordinating updates to verification requirements, forms, procedures, and student-facing processes in response to federal, state, institutional, and University policy changes; maintaining financial aid processing expertise; and providing operational support during peak periods. The position develops quality assurance practices and ensures operational processes remain accurate, consistent, and responsive to changing requirements.

The Senior Assistant Director supervises two staff members and leads operational projects, technology initiatives, and process improvement efforts. Responsibilities include managing project plans, timelines, assignments, and deliverables through Asana; coordinating work across processing, counseling, systems, communications, and training teams; establishing priorities; developing staff expertise; maintaining documentation; and identifying opportunities to improve workflows, accountability, and operational effectiveness.

This position serves as a functional expert in Slate CRM, developing and maintaining queries, communications, automated workflows, forms, schedulers, and shared portals that support financial aid administration and collaboration. The Senior Assistant Director evaluates and implements technology solutions that streamline processes, improve data accuracy, reduce manual effort, and support compliance with changing regulations and business needs. The position partners with stakeholders to assess needs, design solutions, test functionality, and ensure technology resources remain effective and sustainable.

The Senior Assistant Director also leads efforts to improve the student experience across financial aid processes and digital interactions. Responsibilities include maintaining accurate and accessible website content and student-facing resources; reviewing communications for technical and regulatory accuracy; improving forms, surveys, and checklists; and developing targeted communications through Slate. The position collaborates with office leadership to promote plain language, accessibility, usability, and consistency across student and staff experiences.

Successful candidates will possess extensive knowledge of financial aid regulations, policies, processing, and program administration; experience with Slate CRM, technology-enabled workflows, project management, and staff supervision; and strong analytical, organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills. The ideal candidate will be proactive, adaptable, and committed to improving operational effectiveness, staff efficiency, and the student experience through technology and continuous improvement.

This position includes flexibility for a hybrid work schedule.

Relevant post-Baccalaureate degree required (or foreign degree equivalent); for candidates demonstrating comparable independent educational or instructional activities associated with the delivery and/or management of student support functions, will accept a relevant Bachelor's degree (or foreign degree equivalent) and at least 1 year of relevant experience in substitution.

The candidate must have strong oral and written communication skills. Experience delivering high-quality service in a high volume, fast-paced office environment and interpreting and explaining program policy and procedures in the field of financial aid or student services at a college or university setting. Must be able to manage multiple, ongoing priorities; work independently as well as in a team environment and in a professional manner.

* Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Office, WordPress, Asana, Slate, Canva and Microsoft Teams
* Financial Aid Processing experience using PeopleSoft
* Experience in developing dynamic and engaging presentations
* Experience interpreting and understanding financial aid processing and regulations

The University is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all to apply without regard to age, color, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.