Senior Director, Financial Aid

If you're passionate about building a better future for individuals, communities, and our country-and you're committed to working hard to play your part in building that future-consider WGU as the next step in your career.

Driven by a mission to expand access to higher education through online, competency-based degree programs, WGU is also committed to being a great place to work for a diverse workforce of student-focused professionals. The university has pioneered a new way to learn in the 21st century, one that has received praise from academic, industry, government, and media leaders. Whatever your role, working for WGU gives you a part to play in helping students graduate, creating a better tomorrow for themselves and their families.

The salary range for this position takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs.

At WGU, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their position, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range is:

Job Description

The Senior Director of Financial Aid provides strategic leadership, operational oversight, and organizational influence to advance WGU's bold vision of providing equitable pathways to opportunity through accessible, student-centered financial aid programs. This critical leadership role drives innovative strategies and high-impact operations across Financial Aid and Financial Services, aligning student funding programs with WGU's growth, enrollment goals, student success objectives, and financial sustainability.

The Senior Director oversees the design, delivery, compliance, and continuous improvement of financial aid programs and services, managing over $1.2 billion in annual student aid and oversee a department budget of approximately 20M This role leads cross-functional collaboration with various stakeholders including Office of CAO/Provost, IAR, new ventures and Program Development, ensuring financial aid processes integrate seamlessly with enrollment, student services, finance, and technology functions. As the primary liaison to the U.S. Department of Education and key external partners, the Senior Director ensures regulatory compliance, institutional accountability, and financial stewardship while fostering a high-performing, service-focused team dedicated to student success.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

1. Strategic Leadership and Organizational Impact

• Shape and lead the strategic vision for financial aid and financial services, aligning all programs, policies, and processes with institutional priorities for student access, enrollment growth, retention, and financial health.
• Champion a student-centered financial aid experience, ensuring transparency, ease of access, and proactive support at every stage of the student lifecycle.
• Directly influence institutional enrollment, retention, and financial strategies, ensuring that financial aid programs drive both student success and responsible fiscal management.
• Participates and as a key representative of the Financial Aid department in leadership Weekly and Monthly Business Reviews providing data-driven insights and expert guidance on financial aid processes, compliance, and operational performance. Participates in the preparation of comprehensive summaries, executive-level reports, and analysis documents that capture key discussion points, decisions, action items, and performance trends for senior leadership review and decision-making.

2. Cross-Functional Collaboration and Institutional Influence

• Serve as a trusted advisor and strategic influencer to senior leadership, academic leadership, enrollment management, and student services teams to ensure financial aid programs and processes align with the university's broader mission and operational goals.
• Build and sustain collaborative partnerships across the university to ensure seamless integration of financial aid processes into the student experience and institutional technology platforms.
• In concert with VP of Financial Aid - represent WGU at institutional forums, town halls, all-hands meetings, and with external regulatory bodies to communicate financial aid strategies, initiatives, and program changes that impact the student experience.

3. Financial Stewardship and Regulatory Accountability

• Oversee the financial aid and financial services budgets approximately 20M budget ensuring prudent financial management and cost control.
• In partnership with the Vice President of Financial Aid, leads the strategic oversight, distribution, and compliance monitoring of more than $1.2 billion in student aid funds, ensuring all processes and policies align with federal, state, and institutional regulations, as well as audit requirements, to maintain the university's full compliance and financial integrity.
• Actively participate in high-level decision-making to shape policies, enhance operational efficiency, and uphold ethical stewardship of financial aid resources.
• Lead the development and implementation of financial aid policies and operational processes that balance student access, regulatory compliance, and institutional financial sustainability.

4. Operational Excellence and Process Optimization

• Provide strategic oversight and operational leadership for all financial aid operations, continuously improving processes to enhance efficiency, compliance, and service quality.
• Leverage technology, data analytics, and process innovation to drive operational improvements, reducing student friction while increasing automation, transparency, and accuracy.
• Conduct ongoing root cause analysis to identify and resolve service delivery challenges, ensuring continuous improvement and alignment with student needs and institutional objectives.

5. Team Leadership and Talent Development

• Lead, develop, and inspire a high-performing team across Financial Aid and Financial Services, fostering a culture of excellence, accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Provide strategic direction and coaching to leaders and staff, ensuring clear performance expectations and alignment with institutional goals and service standards.
• Attract, develop, and retain exceptional talent, building leadership capacity and ensuring the team has the technical expertise, regulatory knowledge, and student-first mindset to succeed in a complex, fast-paced environment.

6. Data-Informed Decision Making and Continuous Improvement

• Establish and maintain Objective and Key Results (OKRs) and service level agreements (SLAs) to monitor program effectiveness, operational efficiency, student satisfaction, and compliance performance.
• Use data-driven insights to recommend strategic changes, operational improvements, and new initiatives, ensuring that financial aid operations evolve to meet emerging institutional needs and student expectations.
• Foster a culture of evidence-based decision-making, using data analytics to inform strategy, assess program performance, and encourage continuous innovation.

7. External Partnerships and Industry Leadership

• Develop and maintain strategic relationships with external consultants, regulatory agencies, industry associations, and peer institutions, ensuring WGU remains a leader in financial aid innovation and compliance excellence.
• Proactively monitor and respond to regulatory changes, emerging best practices, and sector trends, ensuring that WGU's financial aid programs remain competitive, compliant, and aligned with evolving student and institutional needs.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Strategic and Systems Thinking

• Proven ability to navigate complexity, addressing multi-dimensional issues that impact student access, compliance, institutional finance, technology, and operational effectiveness.
• Adept at balancing long-term strategy with short-term operational needs, ensuring alignment with institutional mission and strategic priorities.

Communication and Influence

• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to distill complex financial aid concepts into clear, actionable information for diverse audiences, including students, families, faculty, staff, leadership, and external regulators.
• Strong ability to influence at all levels, aligning diverse stakeholders behind shared strategies and fostering a culture of collaboration, transparency, and student-centered service.

Financial Ownership and Compliance Expertise

• Demonstrated financial acumen, with proven experience managing large-scale aid programs and multi-million dollar budgets in compliance with federal, state, and institutional regulations.
• Expertise in federal financial aid programs, Title IV regulations, audits, reporting, and program design, ensuring compliance and operational excellence.

Team Leadership and Development

• Skilled at building, developing, and leading high-performing teams, fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, and student-centered service excellence.
• Ability to mentor and develop leadership talent, building the next generation of financial aid leaders through ongoing coaching, professional development, and performance management.

Data-Driven Continuous Improvement

• Strong data analysis and interpretation skills, with the ability to diagnose root causes, identify performance drivers, and implement data-informed changes that enhance outcomes.
• Experience using data and technology to streamline processes, improve student experiences, and optimize resource allocation.

Adaptability and Change Leadership

• Demonstrated managerial courage and adaptability, able to make tough decisions, challenge conventional thinking, and lead through ambiguity with confidence, integrity, and professionalism.
• Proven track record of driving innovation and change, balancing regulatory requirements with student-first approaches and institutional priorities.

Technology and Process Optimization

• Expertise in financial aid and student information systems, ensuring seamless integration across the university's technology ecosystem.
• Deep understanding of process automation, reporting tools, and data management practices that enhance operational efficiency, compliance, and service delivery.

Job Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Higher Education Administration, Business Administration, Finance, or relevant degree.
• 12+ years of progressively responsible experience in financial aid administration in higher education, including managing large-scale operations and driving strategic initiatives.
• 5+ years of leadership experience managing and developing high-performing teams.
• Demonstrated track record of successfully navigating complex regulatory environments, influencing policy decisions, and delivering measurable results in student aid programs at a university or similarly complex institution, demonstrating increasing levels of responsibility, leadership, and strategic impact across diverse functions.
• Strong experience working with cross-functional teams and consulting with internal business stakeholders.
• Proven and consistent record of producing results and a strong passion for experimentation and data-driven insights

Preferred Qualifications:

• Keen knowledge and understanding of the Higher Education industry and other domains across the University
• Master's degree
• Certified Financial Aid Administrator

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Position & Application Details

How to Apply: If interested, an application will need to be submitted online. Internal WGU employees will need to apply through the internal job board in Workday.

Additional Information

Disclaimer: The job posting highlights the most critical responsibilities and requirements of the job. It's not all-inclusive.

Accommodations: Applicants with disabilities who require assistance or accommodation during the application or interview process should contact our Talent Acquisition team at recruiting@wgu.edu.

Equal Employment Opportunity: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any protected characteristic as required by law.