LACKAWANNA COLLEGE HAS BEEN VOTED ONE OF THE

“BEST PLACES TO WORK IN PA” FOR 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2023 and 2024!

Lackawanna College is a private, accredited college serving the people of Northeastern Pennsylvania. Our main campus is located in downtown Scranton, and our footprint includes satellite centers in Covington Twp., Hawley, Hazleton, Sunbury, Towanda and Tunkhannock

Our mission is to provide a quality education to all persons who seek to improve their lives and better the communities in which they live. We provide our students with a direct path to a bachelor’s degree, associate degree, or one of many different professional certifications. Additionally, our Continuing Education department helps put the people of Northeastern Pennsylvania back to work with modern career skills. Lackawanna is also one of the most cost-efficient regional higher education institutions.

If our mission inspires you, and you are willing to go the extra mile to help our students succeed, please feel free to apply for this or future employment opportunities for which you meet the minimum qualifications. Please know that only the candidates who meet the minimum qualifications can be considered, and only those selected for interviews will be contacted by a college representative. No phone calls, please.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS, PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES AND OBJECTIVES:

The Executive Director of Student Financial Services (“Executive Director”) will provide the administrative direction and leadership necessary to manage all operations within the Student Financial Services office of Lackawanna College. The position is instrumental in assisting the College through growth initiatives and ensuring compliance. In the continued effort to serve the needs of all students, the Executive Director must provide the knowledge and skills to both enroll and retain students while maintaining regulatory compliance and ensuring a quality student service experience.

Student Financial Services’ primary objective is to provide the pathway for Lackawanna College students to finance their education by generating student financial aid packages and collecting remaining balances in support of the enrollment and retention processes and meet annual and bi-annual enrollment objectives. The Executive Director must have a broad knowledge base of state and federal regulations as they pertain to financial aid and student accounts. The Executive Director also should be able to counsel and advise students and staff members about financial aid eligibility, application procedures, aid programs, costs, billing, student loan indebtedness, money management and financial planning/wellness.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Provides strategic leadership of the College’s student financial aid, billing and student account collection systems across all locations.
2. Develop, implement and maintain policies and procedures to ensure compliance with all federal, state, and institutional regulations, policies, and procedures related to financial aid and student accounts in order to achieve collections goals.
3. Develop and implement financial aid packaging strategies that maximize eligible external sources, considers students’ financial needs and contributes to the enrollment and financial goals of the institution.
4. Monitors, approves, and revises overall financial aid strategies and packaging in accordance with federal, state, and institutional regulations, laws, and policies.
5. Plans, develops, and implements up-to-date systems and policies to communicate student financial services information to students, determines financial aid eligibility, awards and disburses funds into student accounts, refunds credit balances, manages data exchanges and funds drawdowns, and performs required reconciliations and reporting.
6. Oversees the Return to Title IV (R2T4) funds process.
7. Collaborates with the Enrollment staff and Center Directors for financial aid presentations, FAFSA Nights, financial aid workshops, and other recruitment/outreach events.
8. Collaborates with the Communications team to create materials and content for effectively communicating student financial services-related information across multi-channel platforms to students, parents and other Lackawanna stakeholders.
9. Works with the appropriate college areas to expand scholarship opportunities and effectively processes all appropriate scholarship awards to students.
10. Facilitates college-wide coordination and communications related to the Student Financial Services’ office operations.
11. Hires, trains, develops, evaluates, and supervises employees in the Student Financial Services (SFS) Office.
12. Works with the Director of Budgets and & External Reporting to develop and manage the operating budget for the Student Financial Services Office.
13. Maximizes Student Financial Services’ involvement in recruitment and retention efforts.
14. Develops and implements a quality customer service approach for SFS.
15. Aligns annual departmental goals to the College’s strategic plans, tracks progress, and strategically enhances processes to reach goals.
16. Serves as a senior leader in the Campus Operations Division.
17. Maintains up-to-date knowledge of college financial aid and student accounts policies and procedures, federal and state regulations and laws, and best practices in student financial services, and shares with leadership and staff
18. Stays abreast of the latest changes and trends in student financial services throughout the higher education industry and implements strategies to facilitate growth for the department.
19. Represents the college in meetings with appropriate external organizations, institutions, and groups.
20. Performs other Executive Director duties as assigned.

KEY COMPETENCIES:

1. Extensive knowledge of federal, state and agency regulations for financial aid and student billing/payments.
2. Strategic leadership with the ability to coach, mentor, and drive performance.
3. Solid understanding of qualitative and quantitative assessment data, including experience using data to improve outcomes.
4. Demonstrated ability to
   • Create, implement, and assess strategic and operational plans.

1. Work effectively in a participatory manner with all segments of the college community, as well as the external community.

1. Proven ability in addressing the needs of an increasingly diverse student body.
2. Works effectively across all segments of the college and external communities, fostering inclusive, participatory environments that support institutional goals.
3. Innovative thinker, with the ability to translate ideas into action.
4. Demonstrated knowledge of management principles, budgeting practices, and supervision.
5. Demonstrated ability to support the College's Mission, particularly in administering the responsibilities of the Department and to maintain a high level of confidentiality with all aspects of the job duties.
6. Highly organized, detail-oriented, and thorough in managing complex tasks and projects.
7. Demonstrates initiative, reliability, and the ability to work independently while maintaining high standards of performance.
8. Applies sound judgment and business insight to prioritize and manage multiple responsibilities effectively
9. Skilled in communicating institutional policies and procedures with tact, professionalism, and clarity.

1. Outstanding customer service skills and philosophy.

EDUCATION:

• Bachelor’s Degree required preferably in Business, Finance or other related field.
• Master’s Degree preferred.

EXPERIENCE:

• Progressively responsible experience in student financial services administration.
• Management or supervisory experience in higher education is preferred.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Position will require the ability to frequently reach, stand, walk, bend, twist, grasp, sit, talk, hear, see, climb and perform repetitive motions.
• Position will require the ability to lift and carry items up to 20 pounds, and push/pull items weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Applications will only be accepted via online method by clicking the link below. Deadline for applications is October 5, 2025.

In compliance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and all other applicable non-discrimination laws, Lackawanna College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran’s status, or genetic information in its educational programs and activities, admissions, and with regard to employment.

Lackawanna College is an accredited, private, non-profit educational institution providing opportunities for career and personal development within selected associates degree, certificate and continuing education program.

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