Director of Financial Aid

Description

Recruitment Period: 10/27/2026 - Until Filled 

Status: Full-Time

Salary Information: Annual Minimum Salary-$88,800.00 - Annual Maximum Salary-$142,100.00.

Hiring Rate: Commensurate with qualifications and experience

On Campus Position

Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences (PNWU) was founded as a 501(c) (3) non-profit medical institution in 2005 aimed at increasing access to health care in medically underserved areas of the Pacific Northwest.\

The University has five health profession programs, including Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Doctor of Physical Therapy, Master of Arts in Medical Science, Master of Science in Occupational Therapy, and Doctor of Dental Medicine, with one mission: to educate and train healthcare professionals emphasizing service among rural and medically underserved communities throughout the Northwest.  The campus continues to expand supporting all of the new programs. It is truly an excellent time to work for PNWU!  Visit our website at https://www.pnwu.edu/academics/school-of-physical-therapy/ 

The Director of Financial Aid leads the University's financial aid office and is responsible for the administration of federal, state, institutional, and private student financial assistance in compliance with Title IV of the Higher Education Act, applicable federal and state regulations, accreditation standards, and University policy. The Director serves as the University's primary authority on financial aid regulations and compliance and oversees awarding, packaging, verification, professional judgment, satisfactory academic progress, return of Title IV funds, federal reporting, and student financial aid advising. The Director also serves as the University's primary School Certifying Official and liaison with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Reporting to the Vice President for Finance and Administration (CFO), the Director is a member of the Finance team and partners closely with Student Accounts, Finance, Enrollment Services, the Registrar, academic programs, and Information Technology to ensure aid is awarded accurately, disbursed on time, and reconciled across systems.

As a leader of others, the Director is responsible for building a cohesive, student-focused financial aid team grounded in trust, clear expectations, and psychological safety. The Director coaches and develops the Senior Financial Aid Advisor and the Financial Aid Advisor toward their full potential, delegates thoughtfully as people grow in capability, addresses concerns directly and with care, builds trust-based relationships across the departments that touch a student's financial experience, and keeps the connection between the team's daily work and PNWU's mission of serving rural and medically underserved communities visible and meaningful.

Financial Aid Administration and Compliance

• Directs the administration of federal Title IV, state, institutional, and private student aid programs in accordance with federal and state regulations, accreditation standards, and University policy.

• Serves as the University's primary authority on financial aid regulations; monitors changes in federal and state law, regulations, Electronic Announcements, and Dear Colleague Letters, assesses their impact on PNWU, and implements required changes to policies, procedures, and systems.

• Serves as the University's designated official with the U.S. Department of Education, the Washington Student Achievement Council, HRSA, and other agencies that fund or oversee student aid programs, and oversees required reporting for those programs.

• Maintains the University's Program Participation Agreement, Eligibility and Certification Approval Report, and related institutional eligibility requirements in coordination with University leadership.

• Establishes and maintains cost of attendance budgets for each academic program, aligned with academic calendars, program length, and actual student costs.

• Develops, documents, and consistently applies policies and procedures for verification, satisfactory academic progress, professional judgment, return of Title IV funds, consumer information, and other required federal policies.

• Ensures the separation of functions between authorizing and disbursing federal student aid is maintained, and partners with Student Accounts and Finance to maintain effective internal controls.

• Develops and monitors the financial aid office budget.

Awarding, Packaging, and Professional Judgment

• Oversees awarding and packaging of federal, institutional, and outside aid to ensure accuracy, consistency, and compliance with annual and aggregate loan limits.

• Oversees private and alternative loan processes, including lender relationships, loan certification, and clear, unbiased information for students on private loan options and terms, in compliance with federal preferred lender and code of conduct requirements.

• Monitors gaps between federal loan limits and cost of attendance across programs and develops strategies, resources, and guidance to help students plan for and responsibly finance those gaps.

• Reviews and approves professional judgment decisions, including cost of attendance adjustments and special circumstances, consistent with documented policy and second-review requirements.

• Reviews and decides satisfactory academic progress appeals and other complex or escalated aid determinations.

• Coordinates administration of institutional, endowed, and external scholarships in partnership with Advancement, Enrollment Services, and Student Accounts.

• Partners with Enrollment Services on recruitment, retention, and student success strategies, including timely financial aid information for admitted and prospective students.

Veterans Education Benefits

• Serves as the University's primary School Certifying Official, certifying enrollment for students using veterans education benefits accurately and on time.

• Serves as the University's liaison with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the State Approving Agency, maintaining program approvals and required documentation.

• Ensures compliance with applicable veterans education benefit requirements, and coordinates with Student Accounts on tuition and fee charges, payments, and debts related to veterans benefits.

• Ensures the Senior Financial Aid Advisor is trained and designated as backup School Certifying Official.

Federal Systems, Reporting, and Reconciliation

• Oversees loan origination and disbursement reporting in the Common Origination and Disbursement (COD) system, enrollment reporting, and other required federal and state reporting.

• Ensures monthly reconciliation of federal aid between COD, the student information system, Student Accounts, and the general ledger, and timely resolution of discrepancies.

• Coordinates with Finance on G5 drawdowns, excess cash requirements, and fiscal reporting for federal student aid.

Audit, Program Review, and Risk Management

• Serves as the primary contact for the financial aid portion of the annual single audit, program reviews, and other external reviews, and prepares required documentation and responses.

• Leads corrective action resulting from audits, program reviews, and internal assessments.

• Identifies compliance risks, errors, and control concerns, and promptly communicates significant matters to the Vice President for Finance and Administration (CFO).

Student Advising and Financial Literacy

• Ensures students receive clear, accurate, and timely guidance on financial aid eligibility, borrowing, cost of attendance, budgeting, and repayment.

• Develops and oversees financial literacy programming, including entrance and exit counseling, budgeting, debt management, and loan repayment options such as Public Service Loan Forgiveness and service-based scholarship and loan repayment programs.

• Handles complex and escalated student cases with patience, respect, and an understanding of the challenges many PNWU students face.

• Ensures required consumer information and cost of attendance are published accurately and on time.

Student Information System and Process Improvement

• Serves as the functional lead for financial aid within the University's student information system, including annual award year setup, testing, upgrades, and data integrity.

• Serves as the primary data custodian for financial aid reporting and ensures financial aid data is accurate and secure.

• Maintains current written procedures, processing calendars, and training materials for each award year.

• Partners with Student Accounts, the Registrar, Enrollment Services, and Information Technology to improve student financial workflows and data integrity.

Leadership and Team Development

• Supervises, trains, and establishes clear performance expectations, accountabilities, and priorities for the Senior Financial Aid Advisor and the Financial Aid Advisor.

• Ensures staff complete required federal training and stay current on financial aid regulations and best practices.

• Coaches and develops team members toward their full potential and career goals, providing timely, specific, and growth-oriented feedback and recognizing good work.

• Builds staff development plans that align individual growth with PNWU's mission and strategic direction, and recognizes and celebrates work that advances it.

• Delegates thoughtfully, matching responsibility to capability and readiness, and expands delegated authority as skill and confidence grow.

• Addresses performance concerns early, directly, and with care, creating space for learning and growth.

• Builds a team culture grounded in trust, psychological safety, and open communication, where team members have a voice in decisions that affect their work.

• Establishes appropriate cross-training and backup coverage for critical financial aid responsibilities.

• Leads the office through regulatory changes, system implementations, and periods of transition with stability and transparent communication, regularly asking whether the office is doing the right things for students and the University.

• Models accountability, transparency, service, collaboration, timely communication, and continuous improvement, and holds the team accountable for results and for the way those results are achieved.

• Performs other related duties as assigned and based on departmental need.

Standard Institutional Requirements (apply to all roles):

• Performs job duties in accordance with safety, legal, and regulatory requirements; University policy and procedures; and accepted business practices.

• Acts with the highest level of professional ethical standards in all aspects of job performance, in accordance with the mission and values of PNWU.

• Understands and adheres to accreditation standards and expectations specific to the department.

This description is a general statement of the major duties and responsibilities performed on a regular and continuous basis, with or without reasonable accommodation. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all functions and does not exclude other duties as assigned. Job descriptions are reviewed regularly and may be updated to reflect changing institutional needs.

Required Education and Experience:

To perform the essential functions of this position, the incumbent must have:

• A bachelor's degree in business administration, finance, education, or a related field from an accredited institution AND five years of progressively responsible experience in financial aid administration, bursar operations, or student accounts, including experience with Title IV federal student aid programs and experience training, guiding, or supervising others, OR

• An equivalent combination of education and experience that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the essential functions of the position.

Required Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities:

• Strong knowledge of Title IV regulations and federal, state, and institutional financial aid programs.

• High degree of integrity, accountability, confidentiality, and professional judgment, with the ability to interpret complex regulations and apply them consistently.

• Strong analytical, reconciliation, and problem-solving skills and attention to detail.

• Strong written and verbal communication and customer-service skills, including the ability to explain complex financial information clearly and kindly to students and non-financial audiences.

• Ability to collaborate effectively across Student Accounts, Finance, Enrollment Services, the Registrar, academic programs, and other University departments.

• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple deadlines and cyclical workloads.

• Demonstrated ability to coach and develop staff, set clear expectations, recognize good work, and hold people accountable with directness and care.

• Ability to build a cohesive team environment grounded in trust, psychological safety, and open communication in every direction.

• Skill in delegating thoughtfully, matching responsibility to capability and readiness, and providing clear technical guidance.

• Ability to lead through change and periods of transition with stability and transparent communication.

• Ability to resolve conflict constructively and to address performance concerns early, directly, and with compassion.

• Ability to connect the team's work to PNWU's mission and to the students and communities the University serves.

• Commitment to internal controls, documentation, process improvement, and responsible stewardship of University resources.

Preferred Qualifications (optional):

• Master's degree in business administration, higher education, finance, or a related field.

• Prior experience in a financial aid leadership role.

• Experience in consumer, student, or private lending.

• NASFAA Professional Credentials.

• Experience with graduate, professional, or health sciences programs.

• Experience as a School Certifying Official.

• Experience with Ellucian Colleague or a comparable student information system.

Benefit Package (benefit eligible is at least .5 FTE)

PNWU offers a comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees first of the month following date of hire and competitive salary.

• Health Benefits - Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance
• Paid Time Off
• 403b with Roth Option
• Paid Holidays