Director, Financial Aid Optimization

Reports to: Senior Vice President, Client Development

Supervisory Responsibilities: None

Classification: Full-Time, Salaried Exempt

Location: Remote (U.S.)

Travel: Up to 25%

Compensation: $100,000 - $125,000 per year, including base salary and anticipated commissions

enrollmentFUEL partners with colleges and universities to solve complex enrollment challenges through data-driven strategy, technology, and consulting services. Our team combines deep higher-education expertise with modern analytics and innovative enrollment solutions that help institutions improve enrollment outcomes and financial sustainability. Our services span the full enrollment lifecycle, including student search, digital marketing, recruitment strategy, financial aid optimization, CRM solutions, analytics, and staffing support.

The Director, Financial Aid Optimization leads the delivery and continued development of enrollmentFUEL’s Financial Aid Optimization solutions. This role serves as both a strategic advisor to client institutions and the internal leader responsible for advancing enrollmentFUEL’s financial aid optimization practice. The Director, Financial Aid Optimization partners with institutional leaders to develop financial aid strategies that improve enrollment outcomes and net tuition revenue. This role is accountable for the overall performance and continued evolution of the Financial Aid Optimization practice, including client outcomes, solution development, and the financial performance of related engagements. The ideal candidate brings a data-driven approach to financial aid strategy, using historical enrollment and aid data to develop net tuition revenue (NTR) optimization strategies rather than relying solely on traditional aid matrix approaches. This role emphasizes analytical, evidence-based financial aid strategy rather than traditional heuristic approaches, and works closely with the Client Development team to support new opportunities and expansion within existing partnerships.

• Serve as the primary strategic advisor to client institutions on financial aid policy, strategy, and optimization
• Lead Financial Aid Optimization engagements and ensure strong outcomes for client partners
• Analyze historical financial aid, enrollment, and yield data to develop strategies that optimize net tuition revenue and enrollment outcomes
• Build trusted relationships with senior institutional leaders including Vice Presidents for Enrollment and Financial Aid Directors
• Support retention and growth within client partnerships by identifying opportunities to expand financial aid and related enrollment services
• Serve as enrollmentFUEL’s internal subject matter expert on financial aid optimization and data-informed strategy
• Contribute to the continued development of enrollmentFUEL’s Financial Aid Optimization methodologies, tools, and solutions
• Partner with the Client Development team to support discovery conversations, solution design, and proposals where financial aid expertise is required
• Represent enrollmentFUEL through conference presentations, professional engagement, and thought leadership within the financial aid community
• Accurately reflect and portray the mission and core values of enrollmentFUEL
• Other duties as assigned

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred
• 10+ years of leadership experience in higher education financial aid administration
• Experience at the Director or Vice President level within a college or university financial aid office preferred
• Deep knowledge of federal and institutional financial aid policy and strategy
• Familiarity with enrollment analytics, financial aid modeling, and net tuition revenue analysis required
• Demonstrated experience using institutional enrollment and financial aid data to develop evidence-based financial aid strategies
• Strong communication, presentation, and relationship-building skills
• Ability to manage multiple client engagements while collaborating effectively with remote and cross-functional teams

enrollmentFUEL provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, or national origin.