Director of Federal Aid

Overview

The Director of Federal Aid (Associate Director in HR information system) reports to the Executive Director in Student Financial Support. This position is responsible for overseeing Federal Student Aid (Compliance, Operations, Counseling, Auditing, Reporting) and serves as the acting institutional Title IV Federal Aid Administrator.

All team members strive to possess the following characteristics:

• Friendly disposition and enjoys working with students.
• Detail oriented, accurate, and self-motivated.
• Organized and able to work in a fast-paced office as a community-minded team member.

Team Responsibility:  Within Student Financial Support, we have established different teams to fulfill our mission. These teams include Federal Aid Counseling, Scholarships, Operations & Compliance, Systems & Data, Student Money Management, and Leadership. These teams work closely with each other to collaborate, reduce barriers, and enhance resources.

The Leadership Team works closely to support each other, and the other teams within the office. This team supports university programs that are large in size, scope, and complexities which are embedded within enrollment management strategies at USU. Regardless of position, all team members have the following responsibilities:

• Compliance: Administering federal, state, and institutional aid requires team, office, and institutional compliance to different laws, statutes, regulations and policies. All team members have a responsibility to focus on compliance.
• Data Privacy: Student Financial Support has access to sensitive data, and this data is protected through different federal laws and institutional policies. All team members have a responsibility to protect data.
• Integrity: Being honest and having strong ethical principles is vital. Embracing unity and collaboration is at the core of our culture, fostering a strong work ethic that values the diverse strengths and perspectives each team member brings.
• Collaboration: Creating a culture of open communication, respect, and purpose is essential. All team members have a responsibility to contribute to a positive, collaborative team. This includes continuous training, deductive reasoning and problem solving, customer service, willingness to learn and acquire new skills, and commitment to deadlines.

Responsibilities

The Director of Federal Aid will be part of the Leadership Team and work collaboratively with all office staff, including campus partners across the USU system. Duties and responsibilities of this position may include:

• Ensure compliance to current federal and state regulations, related to Title IV aid administration, and implementation of changes for Title IV aid processing.
• Oversight of Federal Work-Study policies & procedures.
• Oversight of default management and required internal procedures to reduce university’s cohort default rate.
• Ensure accurate and timely completion of federal reporting, data submissions, and operational calendars.
• Lead the recruitment, training, development, supervision, and evaluation of a dedicated team within the Federal Aid Administration.
• Represent the institution in addressing Department of Education inquiries and required reporting.
• Serve on various institutional, state, and national committees as time and resources allow.
• Oversee budget and account management.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree plus 5 years of relevant experience OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in higher education.
• Utah State University experience.
• Masters Degree.
• 8+ years of progressive experience at an institution of higher education of similar scope and size as Utah State University.
• Experience with state financial aid compliance audits, budget management, or financial aid reporting.
• Supervisor/managerial leadership experience.
• Experience developing and analyzing data.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge, skillset, or potential related to the specific duties & responsibilities of the position.
• Familiarity with any of the following systems: Office 365, Banner, Campus Logic (Student Forms, Campus Communicator, Scholarship Universe), ServiceNow, FSA Partner, NSLDS or similar systems.
• Familiarity with USU policies and procedures.
• Familiarity with Federal and/or State aid regulations.
• Excellent communication skills including oral and written.

Required Documents

Along with the online application, please attach:

1. Resume to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Resume/CV”

2. Cover letter to be typed/pasted at the end of your application

**Document size may not exceed 10 MB.**

Advertised Salary

Minimum of $85,000, Commensurate with Experience

ADA

Employees work indoors and are protected from weather and/or contaminants, but not, necessarily, occasional temperature changes. The employee is regularly required to sit and often uses repetitive hand motions.

College/Department Highlights

Division Information

The Division of Strategic Enrollment Management at Utah State University is dedicated to overseeing and implementing effective enrollment strategies that help students seamlessly apply and enroll. With a focus on student success and exceptional customer service, the division promotes innovative and data-informed approaches to support student needs. It offers various admissions pathways tailored to different learners, while administering all levels of financial aid to address affordability. By fostering collaboration and staying ahead of trends, the division aims to enhance the overall student experience, guiding individuals from application to graduation.

Department Information

Student Financial Support provides resources to help students pay for school. These resources include Federal Financial Aid, State of Utah Aid, and Institutional Aid. Additionally, The Student Money Management Center provides free, one-on-one coaching sessions to help students create budgets and to discover how they can pay for college.

The heart of our work is to serve students. Recognizing finances is a concern for many students, Student Financial Support diligently strives to provide all sources of funding and coaching that may help a student achieve their educational goals. Because Student Financial Support administers federal, state, and institutional aid, we focus on discretion, accountability, and compliance. Within this framework, we will do everything we can to help students.

University Highlights

Founded in 1888, Utah State University is Utah’s premier land-grant, public service university. As an R1 research institution, Utah State is dedicated to advancing knowledge and serving the public good through innovative research and scholarly activities that are grounded in reciprocal engagement with local, regional, and global communities. USU prepares students to be active, civically engaged leaders who are prepared to address critical societal challenges. Dedicated to providing a high-quality and affordable education, USU remains a leader in research, discovery, and public impact.

USU enrolls over 29,800 students, both online and in person at locations throughout the state. Utah State’s 30 locations include a main campus in Logan, Utah, residential campuses in Price and Blanding, and six additional statewide campuses, along with education centers serving every county. USU educates students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries. For over 100 years, USU Extension has served and engaged Utahns, serving every county in the state.

Competing at the NCAA Division I level, USU is a proud member of the Mountain West Conference and will join the Pac-12 Conference beginning in the 2026-2027 season. The Aggies’ long-standing tradition of athletic and academic excellence is exemplified by recent Mountain West regular-season and tournament championships in women’s volleyball, three consecutive Mountain West tournament titles in women’s soccer conference championships, and a first-ever conference championship for gymnastics, reflecting USU's commitment to perseverance and achievement.

Utah State is dedicated to fostering a community where all individuals feel respected, valued, and supported and where diversity of thought and culture are cultivated. We seek to recruit, hire, and retain people from all walks of life who will champion excellence in education, research, discovery, outreach, and service. We believe that promoting a strong sense of community and belonging empowers and engages all members of USU to thrive and be successful. Forbes recognized our commitment to employees when they named Utah State the best employer in Utah in 2023. Learn more about USU. 

The university provides a Dual Career Assistance Program to support careers for partners who are also seeking employment. Additionally, USU is committed to providing access and a reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities. To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability, contact the university’s ADA Coordinator in the Office of Human Resources at (435) 797-0122 or [email protected]. 

*updated 12/2025

Notice of Non-discrimination

In its programs and activities, including in admissions and employment, Utah State University does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination, including harassment, based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy, Title IX, or any other federal, state, or local law.

Utah State University is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination including harassment in employment including in hiring, promotion, transfer, or termination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy or any other federal, state, or local law.

Utah State University does not discriminate in its housing offerings and will treat all persons fairly and equally without regard to race, color, religion, sex, familial status, disability, national origin, source of income, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Additionally, the University endeavors to provide reasonable accommodations when necessary and to ensure equal access to qualified persons with disabilities.

In all circumstances, Utah State University follows state and federal laws related to sex-segregated spaces.

The following individuals have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations and/or USU’s non-discrimination policies:

Matthew Pinner

Executive Director

Civil Rights & Title IX Office

[email protected]

435-797-1266 | Old Main Rm. 401D

1475 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322

Cody Carmichael

Title IX Coordinator

[email protected]

435-797-1266 | Old Main Rm. 402D

1475 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322

For further information regarding non-discrimination, please visit crtix.usu.edu or contact:

U.S. Department of Education

Denver Regional Office

303-844-5695| [email protected]

U.S. Department of Education

Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

800-421-3481 |  [email protected]

*updated 10/2025