Associate Director of Financial Aid - Operations

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Associate Director of Financial Aid - Operations

Please see Special Instructions for more details.

Employment is contingent upon successfully completing a criminal background check as mandated by Tennessee State University.

Official transcripts for positions which require a post-secondary undergraduate degree, advanced degree and/or certification must be presented upon hire.

An unofficial transcript may be attached in the “Transcript” section.

You will be required to provide names and contact information for three references during your application to the posting. If you are the recommended candidate for the position, our online hiring system will automatically generate solicitation for these letters using contact information you provided.

Position Information

Position Title

Position Title Associate Director of Financial Aid - Operations

Division

Division Business and Finance

Department

Number of hours per week

Number of hours per week 37.5

Days to be worked

Months per year

Months per year Fiscal (12 months)

If modified, list months

Job Type

Job Type Full-Time

Campus

If other location, please indicate

Position Number

Position Number

Advertised Salary

Advertised Salary Commensurate with education and experience

Pay Basis

Pay Basis Monthly

Job Description

Tennessee State University Office of Financial Aid invites applicants for the role of Associate Director of Financial Aid for Operations . The Associate Director of Financial Aid for Operations provides leadership and oversight for financial aid processing operations and serves as the functional owner of the Banner Financial Aid system.
This position ensures the accurate, timely, and compliant administration of federal, state, institutional, and private aid programs while leveraging Banner and related technologies to improve operational efficiency, data integrity, and student experience.
Job Responsibilities
Financial Aid Processing and Compliance:
Oversee all aspects of financial aid processing, including FAFSA / ISIR intake, verification, awarding, disbursement, reconciliation, and year-end closeout.
Ensure compliance with Title IV regulations and all applicable federal, state, and institutional policies.
Monitor regulatory changes and coordinate the implementation of required updates to Banner configurations, processing rules, and business procedures.
Develop, maintain, and enforce documented policies, procedures, and internal controls related to financial aid processing.
Assist Director with financial aid audits, program reviews, and data requests; ensure timely and accurate responses.
Banner Systems Leadership
Serve as the primary functional lead for Banner Financial Aid, including setup, configuration, rule tables, population selection, and job submission.
Lead annual rollover activities, new aid year setup, and ongoing Banner maintenance.
Partner with IT and functional offices to manage Banner upgrades, patches, testing, and implementations.
Troubleshoot Banner processing issues, analyze errors, and implement corrective solutions.
Ensure data integrity and alignment between Banner Financial Aid, Student Accounts, Admissions, and other integrated systems.
Develop and maintain Banner-based reports, queries, and extracts to support operational and compliance needs.
Process Improvement and Automation
Identify opportunities to streamline workflows through Banner functionality, automation, and third-party integrations.
Lead testing and validation of new processes, regulatory updates, and system enhancements prior to production release.
Support continuous improvement initiatives focused on accuracy, efficiency, and service delivery.
Leadership and Supervision
Supervise and mentor operations staff; provide training on Banner functionality, financial aid regulations, and office procedures.
Establish priorities, manage workloads, and ensure processing deadlines are met.
Coordinate and provide scheduled and just-in-time training to staff in conjunction with the Director and the Associate Director of Financial Aid for Student Engagement.
Participate in staff performance evaluations and professional development planning.
Serve as a member of the financial aid leadership team, contributing to strategic planning and office initiatives.
Collaboration and Communications
Act as a subject matter expert for financial aid processing and Banner systems for campus partners.
Collaborate with Student Accounts, Registrar, Admissions, Institutional Research, and IT to support accurate data exchange and reporting.
Communicate complex regulatory and system changes clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required from an accredited institution.
• Minimum of five years of progressively responsible financial aid experience, including hands-on
• Banner Financial Aid experience (required).
• Strong working knowledge of Title IV regulations and financial aid compliance. Demonstrated
• experience configuring and maintaining Banner Financial Aid rule tables and processes.
• Proven analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a high-volume environment.

Special Instructions to Applicants

Employment is contingent upon successfully completing a criminal background check as mandated by Tennessee State University.

Official transcripts for positions which require a post-secondary undergraduate degree, advanced degree and/or certification must be presented upon hire.

An unofficial transcript may be attached in the “Transcript” section.

You will be required to provide names and contact information for three references during your application to the posting. If you are the recommended candidate for the position, our online hiring system will automatically generate solicitation for these letters using contact information you provided.

Open Date

Open Date 05/19/2026

Close Date

Job Category

Job Category Administrative/Professional

Requisition Number

Tennessee State University offers eligible employees a competitive benefits package that includes annual leave (vacation), sick leave, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, retirement, flexible benefits plans and more.

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