Director of Financial Aid

Reporting to the Vice President of Enrollment Management, the Director of Student Financial Aid will lead the College’s student financial aid functions during a period of operational refinement and enrollment focus. This role exists to ensure that student financial aid is delivered consistently, in compliance, and with a student-centered mindset, while supporting the institution’s broader enrollment and retention goals.

The Director provides leadership and oversight of student financial aid operations, ensuring policies, processes, and systems are executed with rigor and aligned with regulatory requirements. Success in this role requires balancing regulatory precision with practical problem-solving, maintaining service quality, and ensuring the student financial aid function operates as a reliable partner to the overall enrollment strategy of the College.

This leader will be a visible presence on campus, setting expectations, reinforcing accountability, and helping the team navigate with clarity and stability. The ideal candidate brings both technical expertise and a steady leadership approach, ensuring students receive accurate, timely support while the College maintains strong compliance and operational discipline.

Interested individuals should read further to learn more about the College and the responsibilities for this full-time, exempt position. Applicants are required to submit a resume and cover letter that describes how your previous experience will contribute to the role, the Progressive Promise, and the mission of Warren Wilson College.

Applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis as they are received. The new priority consideration date for applications is Tuesday, May 26, 2026. All applications must be received electronically. 

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
• Demonstrated fluency with CRM systems and data analytics.
• Three to five years of previous Financial Aid experience, with progressive responsibility, supervision and leadership.
• Experience with financial aid reporting to include IPEDS, ACTS, FVT, and FISAP.
• Working knowledge of tuition discounting practices, packaging philosophies, and Title programs.
• Previous experience managing and leading teams of people; focus on team culture with a strong sense of urgency and accountability.
• Demonstrated experience working effectively with a wide range of constituents with diverse backgrounds and perspectives.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree.
• Experience with PowerFAIDS, Jenzabar and Slate or similar systems.
• Experience in a non-profit higher education institution.

Successful candidates will demonstrate knowledge of:

• Federal, state, institutional, and local sources of financial aid.
• Institutional/organizational, policies, procedures, and administrative practices generally administered in higher education.
• Finance, accounting, and management.
• Principles of training and providing work direction; developing and mentoring early- to mid-career team members.
• The following financial aid systems/programs: ED Connect, COD, CFNC, ELM, NSLDS, FSA Partner Connect.
• Rules, regulations, requirements, and policies related to enrollment, financial aid, and student accounts.
• Interpersonal skills using tact, patience, and courtesy.

Our mission: Warren Wilson College’s distinctive approach to education intentionally integrates academics, work, and community engagement to cultivate curiosity, empathy, and integrity. We empower graduates to pursue meaningful careers and lead purposeful lives dedicated to a just, equitable, and sustainable world.

We are committed to a culture of educational access and to ensuring that students and employees from a diverse range of identities and experiences will thrive in this community. We seek and support an academically and culturally diverse faculty and staff with a genuine interest in our innovative approach to education and focus on inclusive excellence, as well as a willingness to fully participate in the life of the College. We welcome applications from individuals who have experience working with diverse student populations.

Warren Wilson College is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.