Director of Financial Aid
Palo Alto University
Department: Enrollment Management
Reports to: Vice President of Enrollment Management
Location: Palo Alto and Mountain View, CA, In-Person
Status: Full-Time, Exempt
Salary Range: $120,000-$160,000
About Palo Alto UniversityPalo Alto University (PAU) is a private, nonprofit university dedicated to advancing human understanding through innovative education, research, and practice in behavioral science.
Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, PAU offers graduate and undergraduate programs in psychology, counseling, social work, and behavioral science, including the PAU-Stanford PsyD Consortium with Stanford Medicine.
PAU is entering an important period of growth and transformation, with new leadership, a new strategic direction, and an opportunity to strengthen how the university supports student access, enrollment, and long-term success.
The OpportunityPAU is seeking a strategic, highly knowledgeable, and student-centered Director of Financial Aid to lead the university's financial aid function.
Reporting to the Vice President of Enrollment Management, the Director is responsible for the full financial aid lifecycle, including aid strategy, award modeling and packaging, disbursement, compliance, reporting, and student counseling across federal, state, institutional, and scholarship programs.
This role requires a leader who understands financial aid as both a critical compliance function and a strategic tool for student access, enrollment, and institutional sustainability. The ideal candidate combines regulatory expertise, analytical thinking, strong operational leadership, and a genuine commitment to helping students navigate the financial dimensions of their education.
Key Responsibilities- Develop and implement a comprehensive financial aid strategy aligned with PAU's enrollment goals, access and equity commitments, and long-term financial sustainability.
- Partner with Enrollment Management, Finance, and Institutional Research on financial aid leveraging, discount rate analysis, and net tuition revenue projections.
- Design and oversee aid packaging approaches that support student access, enrollment goals, and responsible use of institutional resources.
- Oversee all aspects of financial aid administration, including applications, award packaging, disbursement, student communications, and scholarship administration.
- Ensure compliance with federal and state financial aid regulations, Title IV requirements, university policies, audit standards, and reporting obligations.
- Maintain effective policies, procedures, internal controls, documentation, and workflows that support accuracy, accountability, and audit readiness.
- Monitor regulatory changes and lead timely implementation of new requirements and professional best practices.
- Provide clear, accurate, and student-centered financial aid counseling on federal aid, institutional scholarships, private loans, employer sponsorship, and other financing options.
- Partner with Student Success and Admissions to reduce financial barriers, strengthen student communications, support retention, and integrate financial aid into recruitment and yield efforts.
- Lead the effective use of PowerFAIDS, Jenzabar, and related systems to improve accuracy, efficiency, reporting, forecasting, and data integrity.
- Develop standard operating procedures, training resources, and audit practices that support consistency, compliance, and continuous improvement.
- Lead, develop, and support a high-performing financial aid team through clear expectations, cross-training, professional development, accountability, and student-centered service.
- Collaborate across Enrollment Management, Finance, Advancement, Academic Affairs, and other university offices to improve processes and the student experience.
- Represent PAU with external agencies, professional organizations, and accreditation bodies as appropriate.
- Bachelor's degree required; master's degree preferred.
- Five or more years of progressively responsible financial aid experience, including experience with undergraduate and graduate student populations.
- Five or more years of supervisory or people-management experience.
- Expert knowledge of federal and state financial aid regulations, Title IV compliance, and financial aid administration.
- Demonstrated experience with financial aid leveraging, discount rate modeling, and net tuition revenue analysis.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, budget management, and project management skills.
- Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex financial aid information clearly.
- Sound judgment, discretion, and the ability to manage sensitive and confidential information.
- Commitment to equity, belonging, student access, and student-centered service.
- Ability to work regularly and consistently on campus.
- Experience with PowerFAIDS, Jenzabar, or comparable financial aid and student information systems.
- Experience in graduate and professional program financial aid, particularly within psychology, counseling, social work, behavioral science, or a related clinical field.
- Experience leading financial aid strategy during periods of institutional transformation or regulatory change.
- Active engagement with NASFAA or other relevant professional organizations and continuing education.
We are looking for a leader who is strategic, analytically grounded, and operationally disciplined, with the regulatory expertise required to manage a complex financial aid environment. The successful candidate will bring high emotional intelligence, strong relationship-building skills, integrity, empathy, and a commitment to data-informed decision-making without losing sight of the student behind every aid award.
Work LocationThis is a full-time, in-person leadership position based at PAU's Palo Alto and Mountain View, California campuses. Regular on-campus presence is essential. Occasional evening and weekend availability may be required during peak financial aid processing and enrollment periods. This position is not eligible for a remote work arrangement.
CompensationThe salary range for this position is $120,000-$160,000 annually, commensurate with qualifications and experience.
Equal OpportunityPalo Alto University is an equal opportunity employer committed to non-discrimination and to creating a high-quality work environment that welcomes employees from a wide range of backgrounds. Reasonable accommodations are available to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with applicable law.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree
- At least 7 years of progressive financial aid experience in a higher education environment serving undergraduate and graduate students
- At least 5 years of supervisory experience
- Experience with financial aid counseling, award packaging, budgeting, financial aid accounting, reporting, and financial aid computer systems
- Extensive knowledge of federal and state financial aid programs, regulations, policies, and resources
- Experience ensuring compliance with federal and state financial aid laws and regulations
- Leadership, strategic thinking, analytical, problem-solving, organizational, interpersonal, and multitasking skills
- Understanding of higher education processes, shared governance, strategic planning, resource allocation, and budget management
- Excellent budget preparation and management skills
- Proficiency with financial aid software including EdConnect, COD, CPS, and NSLDS
- Expertise with Microsoft Office Suite and financial aid or higher education management software
- Excellent written, oral, presentation, and public speaking skills
- Accuracy, attention to detail, organization, and time management
- Ability to work evenings and weekends when needed; one day per week in-office may be required
- Ability to maintain discretion around sensitive and confidential information
- Compassion, patience, respect, and cultural awareness when working with diverse populations
- Master's degree in higher education or a related field
- Experience with Jenzabar and PowerFAIDS
- Track record of strategic thinking and focus on student success
- Excellent presentation skills and experience presenting at conferences
- Membership and active engagement in organizations such as NASFAA, CASFAA, or WASFAA
What We Do
Founded in 1975 as the Pacific Graduate School of Psychology, Palo Alto University (PAU) is a non-profit and accredited institution dedicated to improving lives through education and research anchored in psychology, counseling, social work, clinical training and practice in a diversity of cultures, and service to communities around the world.
