The Catholic University of America

Provides strategic, student-focused leadership for the Law School Financial Aid Office, with a strong emphasis on service excellence, recruitment, and staff development. Ensures the effective and compliant delivery of financial aid by applying sound business practices and adhering to all relevant federal, state, and institutional regulations. Advances the mission and vision of the Law School and The Catholic University of America through close collaboration with internal departments and university-wide partners.

The projected salary or hourly pay range for this position which represents the full range of anticipated compensation is: $80,000-90,000/yr.

Leadership, Strategy & Administration
 

• Staff & Office Management: Hires, trains, supervises, and evaluates all financial aid office staff.
• Fiscal Oversight: Develops and monitors the Financial Aid Office’s operational expense budget in collaboration with university and Law School administration.
• Policy & Compliance: Develops, implements, and maintains financial aid policies and procedures to ensure strict compliance with all federal, state, and institutional regulations. Leads the determination of the annual Cost of Attendance budget.
• Strategic Representation: Represents the law school's financial aid mission at professional meetings, recruitment events, and university initiatives.
   

Financial Aid & Loan Management
 

• Awarding & Packaging: Oversees the entire student aid lifecycle, including determining eligibility, creating financial aid packages, and managing the processing, adjustment, and return of student loans according to federal timelines.
• Withdrawals & Title IV Funds: Manages student withdrawal processes and coordinates the Return of Title IV funds in partnership with the Registrar and Student Financial Assistance.
• External Relations: Serves as the primary contact for external partners, including private lenders, loan servicers, and government agencies, to resolve student loan issues.
   

Scholarship Program Management
 

• Awarding & Administration: Manages the awarding of all scholarships for new, returning, and transfer students, including endowed, annual, and specially administered funds (e.g., the O'Brien Scholarship).
• Fund Management: Coordinates the budgeting, use, and reclassification of scholarship funds to ensure compliance with donor intent and strategic utilization.
• Advancement & Development: Partners with the Advancement office to steward existing donor scholarships and develop new aid opportunities.
   

Student Counseling & Communication
 

• Direct Student Counseling: Provides individualized financial counseling to applicants, students, and graduates on aid eligibility, budgeting, debt management, and loan repayment options.
• Financial Literacy: Collaborates with Student Affairs and Academic Affairs to develop and deliver financial literacy programming and required exit counseling.
• Communications: Manages all student-facing financial aid communications, including maintaining web content and providing clear information on procedures, deadlines, and billing.
   

Collaboration & Enrollment Management
 

• Admissions Partnership: Acts as a strategic partner to the Admissions office by co-developing recruitment communications, awarding scholarships to support enrollment goals, and participating in recruitment events like Admitted Students Day.
• Cross-Departmental Coordination: Collaborates with numerous internal departments—including the Registrar, HR, Budget, Accounting, and Military/Veterans Affairs—to ensure seamless aid delivery and resolve complex student issues.
• Data, Systems & Reporting: Supports institutional research and reporting for accreditation and rankings (ABA, U.S. News), participates in financial aid systems testing, and analyzes student financial survey data to inform policy.

• Bachelor's degree in a Finance-related, Master’s in student services desirable.
• Two to three years finance-related administrative experience.
• Two to three years customer-service experience.
• Established knowledge of, and work with, complex database systems, particularly practical experience with data extraction and problem-solving.
• Experience in higher education highly desirable.
• Extensive use of typical computer applications: word processing, spreadsheet, database, and presentation programs.
• Extensive experience with Enterprise Resource Platforms (e.g. PeopleSoft) used for the administration of student financial aid is highly desirable.