Director, Financial Aid and Debt Management

Summary and Scope of the Position

Key Priorities

• Deliver a high-quality, student-centered service model that supports medical students’ unique financial aid needs.


• Ensure strict compliance with federal, state, and institutional regulations, including Title IV and all audit requirements.


• Leverage and expand technology to enhance efficiency, data accuracy, and workflow automation.


• Strengthen financial literacy education for students including responsible borrowing and debt management

Major Responsibilities

Leadership, Strategy, & Compliance

• Provide strategic leadership for financial aid operations across Chicago, Peoria, and Rockford campuses


• Develop, revise, and maintain policies and procedures to ensure full compliance with federal, state, and institutional regulations.


• Serve as the primary compliance lead, ensuring readiness for all internal and external audits.


• Produce and coordinate timely submission of all federal, state, university, and private agency financial aid reports.


• Oversee continuous process improvement and implementation of electronic systems, workflows, and reporting tools.

Operational Management

• Direct daily operations for the College of Medicine’s Financial Aid Office.


• Oversee eligibility determination, needs analysis, verification, professional judgment, data loads/exports, and award packaging.


• Authorize and monitor the disbursement of all federal, state, institutional, and private financial aid.


• Coordinate reconciliation of all Title IV programs in collaboration with central financial aid and university finance teams.


• Maintain accurate enrollment/aid data systems and ensure smooth integration with campus and university systems.

Student Advising, Outreach, & Financial Literacy/Wellness

• Provide individual and group counseling on financial literacy topics including budgeting, responsible loan use, repayment options, and debt management.


• Develop and implement high-impact financial wellness programs aligned with the needs of medical students.


• Participate in College-wide events (orientation, Match preparation sessions, admissions events, and recruitment activities).


• Host/co-host presentations such as Financial Aid Nights and residency-related financial literacy workshops.

Collaboration & Communication

• Partner with the Office of Advancement on scholarship strategy, donor stewardship, and annual awarding cycles.


• Collaborate on communications plans, including electronic and print materials for current and prospective students.


• Serve as a liaison to university partners, faculty, staff, and external agencies.


• Engage in state, regional, and national professional organizations to stay informed of emerging trends and best practices.

Budget & Resource Management

• Develop, manage, and forecast department budget needs.


• Provide recommendations on staffing, workflow design, and resource allocation.


• Oversee and train professional staff and student workers as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree in counseling, higher education, student affairs, public administration, business, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and professional experience.


• Five or more years of progressively responsible experience in financial aid administration, preferably within a complex institution.


• Demonstrated expertise in federal, state, and institutional financial aid regulations, including Title IV.


• Strong leadership skills with experience managing staff and within complex operations.


• Excellent communication, analytical, and organizational skills.


• Proven commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and supporting students from varied backgrounds.

Preferred Qualifications

• MBA


• Experience in medical or health professions financial aid


• Familiarity with Banner or similar enterprise student information systems


• Demonstrated ability to innovate, lead process improvements, and implement technological enhancements


• Demonstrated experience with using data to inform decision-making

Additional Information

Application Instructions