Description

Work Location: Coral Gables Campus

The Assistant Vice President is a strategic leader within Enrollment Management, responsible for guiding the university’s financial assistance programs across all academic levels, including undergraduate, graduate, law, and medical students. The incumbent will collaborate closely with the Vice President of Enrollment Management and other senior EM leaders to develop and implement effective strategies to attract, fund, and retain students to and through the University of Miami.  This role oversees financial aid processing, disbursement, financial counseling, and student employment initiatives, while ensuring compliance with federal, state, and institutional regulations, managing a budget impacting up to $350 million in aid and $200 million in institutional funds. The office also administers athletic scholarships, tuition remission and graduate assistant waivers totaling nearly $80 million. This role requires independent decision-making, emphasizing compliance, and risk management across all aid programs. 

Key Responsibilities: 

• Leadership and Strategy: Develop and implement merit and need-based financial aid strategies aligned with recruitment and retention initiatives. Collaborate with senior leadership to create policies that balance financial needs with enrollment goals. Serve as a key leader within the office of Enrollment Management and with multiple campus partners. 
• Compliance and Risk Management: Act as the primary compliance officer, ensuring adherence to federal Title IV, NCAA, and state regulations. Oversee processes for athletic scholarships and special awards. Ensure policies and procedures support university goals and are well documented for compliance purposes. 
• Financial Oversight: Manage the financial aid budget, including institutional grants, scholarships, and stipends, and student employment. Partner with the Office of Advancement to align scholarship management with donor intentions and to provide support for scholarship fundraising. 
• Management and Operations: Lead and support a team of approximately 35 staff assuring professional development, current technical knowledge and a student service culture.  Develop a service model emphasizing high-quality, responsive support to students. 
• Reporting and Analysis: Develop and provide reports and analyses on student financial aid and employment that supports university decision making and daily operations. Monitor discount rates, project budget needs, and prepare compliance and performance reports for leadership review. 

Requirements

Qualifications: 

• Master’s Degree in Higher Education, Finance, or related field. (Or Bachelor’s degree with equivalent experience) 
• 10+ years in financial aid or student financial services with a record of success in managing complex aid programs across multiple student levels  
• Demonstrated experience with institutional methodology, as well as federal Title IV and NCAA compliance 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and demonstrated collaboration within and across departments. 
• Five or more years of management experience.
• Strong leadership, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
• Proficiency in financial aid systems such as PowerFaids and PeopleSoft is preferred.
• Experience in managing financial aid for graduate and professional students such as medicine and law preferred.