Director of Student Financial Services

Working
Title: Director of Student Financial Services

Classification:
MnSCU Academic Supervisor 2

Join
Us at M State

Where your work helps create a success story for every student.

Minnesota State Community and
Technical
College (M State) is seeking passionate, talented professionals to join our
learning‑centered community. Whether you are an
educator, administrator, or
staff professional, your work at M State will directly support students as they
shape their futures and will
strengthen the communities we serve.

With four welcoming campuses in Detroit
Lakes, Fergus Falls, Moorhead, and Wadena, M State
combines big‑college
opportunities with a small‑college feel, offering nationally accredited
programs, flexible learning options, and a
deeply student‑focused culture.

Why Work at M State?

At M State, we are all in on
student success.

Our
work is guided by shared values of:

*
Integrity – As dedicated professionals, we act with purpose in
everything we do. We are
sincere and honest in our relationships and
communications, and hold ourselves accountable to doing the right thing even
when no one is
watching.

*
Inclusion – We welcome, respect and accept people for who they are and
celebrate the power of our collective
differences in creating and shaping more
robust, energized communities.

*
Innovation – Through the power of our four campuses,
strategic
partnerships and creative problem-solving, we enhance communities. We
incorporate technology to improve student experience, and we
see continuous
improvement as a constant.

Together, these values support our
vision: A success story for every student.

Position Overview

M State is accepting applications for a Director
of Student Financial Services. The campus
location for this position is to
be determined; Moorhead, Fergus Falls, or Wadena.

This position provides serves as a strategic
leader and
thought partner for the design, administration, continuous improvement, and
future evolution of a comprehensive student financial
services ecosystem that
integrates regulatory compliance, fiscal stewardship, strategic enrollment
finance, student affordability, financial
literacy, community education,
institutional communication, and student success. This position directs and
administers the college’s
financial aid and student financial services programs
while leading strategic innovation and continuous improvement. This role
provides
visionary leadership and oversight of financial aid, student financial
services, affordability strategy, and financial communications while
ensuring
compliance with federal, state, institutional, and accreditation requirements.
The Director oversees the development and execution
of annual goals and work
plans, implements effective procedures, and collects and analyzes data to
evaluate program outcomes. Beyond
operational oversight, the Director positions
financial services as a central institutional driver supporting access,
recruitment,
retention, persistence, completion, public trust, and long-term
sustainability, while also providing direct supervision, coaching, and
performance
management to foster a collaborative, accountable, and high-performing team.
The Director leads a transformation from
traditional financial aid
administration to an integrated strategic financial ecosystem that aligns
enrollment management, student success,
and community engagement, creating a
seamless student financial journey from prospect through completion and beyond.
This position serves as
both an operational expert and strategist, ensuring
students, families, employees, and community stakeholders have clear,
transparent,
accessible, and empowering financial guidance that supports
educational opportunity and the institutional mission.

The values that
guide our work include: access
and opportunity, equity, inclusion and belonging, cultural competence, cultural
responsive pedagogy &
service, and community engagement. Our educational environments are culturally
relevant, responsive, and innovative to the students we
serve. Our students are
assets, we affirm their identities and lived experiences, and provide spaces
that are emotionally safe and reflect
who students are.

Customer Service.

On a daily basis, live the
mission, vision and
values of M State to ensure a positive experience for all
students and stakeholders. Service to M
State students and stakeholders is a core
component of the position and work
responsibilities.

Serve as the Director of the
Financial Aid Department.

• Direct
  and administer financial aid and student financial services programs to ensure
  effective, compliant, and student-centered
  delivery of
  services.
• Lead
  and ensure regulatory compliance, governance, and fiscal stewardship. Provide
  comprehensive oversight of
  all
  financial services systems to ensure the
  institution maintains the highest standards of regulatory compliance,
  operational integrity,
  and
  fiscal accountability.
• Manage
  the daily operations of financial aid delivery systems, including awarding,
  disbursement,
  verification, and reconciliation processes.
• Ensure
  ongoing compliance with Title IV regulations, FAFSA administration,
  return-to-title calculations, satisfactory academic progress, verification,
  reconciliation, and audit protocols
• Direct
  and
  oversee
  institutional compliance with all applicable federal, state,
  tribal, institutional, and accreditation regulations related to
  financial aid,
  scholarships, grants, loans, veteran benefits, work-study, tuition payment
  systems, and student financial support
• Oversee
  fiscal
  controls, budget alignment, reconciliation systems, and stewardship of
  institutional resources. Systematically monitor,
  evaluate, and
  project the use
  and expenditures of all aid funds, ensuring effective utilization and full
  compliance with appropriate
  regulations, policies
  and procedures
• Prepare
  and submit accurate and timely applications for loan, grant and work funds to
  federal, state institutional
  and agency funding sources so that adequate aid
  funds are requested to meet student needs (i.e.: PPA, FISAP,
  monthly reporting
  to
  Federal/State Agencies, etc.)
• Monitor
  legislative and regulatory developments and translate them into
  operational and
  strategic
  institutional responses
• Develop,
  maintain, and continuously improve policies, procedures, controls, and
  governance frameworks and
  translate
  institutional mission into financial systems and strategies
• Lead
  audit preparation, response,
  corrective action planning,
  and risk mitigation
• Collaborate with executive
  leadership, enrollment, admissions, business office,
  student affairs,
  academics,
  advancement, workforce development, and community partners to align
  financial aid strategies, optimize the
  student financial experience, and
  ensure
  coordinated support from recruitment through completion
• Advance equity and access by
  ensuring financial aid policies,
  practices, and services reduce barriers and
  support diverse student populations and workforce pathways
  while strengthening
  student success
  and institutional effectiveness

Exercise Supervisory
Authority and Provide Leadership
for the Financial Aid
Employees so the Department Operates in an Effective and Efficient Manner.

• Perform supervisory
  responsibilities in accordance with established equal opportunity/Affirmative
  Action, non-harassment,
  discrimination, and employee safety
  policies and
  procedures
• Review applications for the
  selection of interviews, interview
  candidates, hire employees, conduct
  probationary reviews, and independently make decisions regarding certifications
  and promotions. Conduct
  performance evaluations, grant or
  withhold step increases,
  and reward employees
• Create and approve position
  descriptions. Approve
  employment status changes and
  transfers based on
  performance, classification changes, and departmental needs
• Take corrective and
  disciplinary
  action, up to and
  including discharge and participate in grievance processes as
  appropriate
• Direct and orient new
  employees
  on their job duties, and
  provide employee training, coaching, and performance
  feedback. Set clear performance expectations and
  priorities. Assign, review,
  approve or
  deny completed work. Approve time records, as well as vacation and
  sick leave requests
• Ensure collective bargaining
  agreements and
  MnSCU policies and procedures are implemented and appropriately
  enforced
• Develop
  annual budget requests
  to support personnel,
  training, and professional development needs. Prepare
  annual goals and objectives to guide
  department operations, improve efficiency,
  and
  align with institutional initiatives and student success efforts

Lead the
Institution’s Comprehensive Financial
Communication Strategy to Ensure
Students, Prospective Students, Families, and Community Stakeholders
Experience
a Coherent, Accessible,
Empowering, and Strategically Aligned Financial
Journey.

• Design, implement,
  and
  continuously revise a strategic
  financial communications framework
  spanning the full student lifecycle from prospect through alumni
  transition
• Map
  and
  improve every financial communication touchpoint from:
• Prospecting
• Recruitment
• FAFSA
  and
  scholarship education
• Admissions
  and yield
• Enrollment
  onboarding
• Persistence
  and re-enrollment
• Completion
  and repayment readiness


• Partner with
  Enrollment
  Management,
  Admissions, Student Success, Business
  Office,
  Marketing, and Communications to align messaging into a unified financial
  journey
• Eliminate
  fragmented communication
  and institutional silos that create confusion or
  barriers
• Revise
  award letters,
  financial instructions, payment
  communications, and support
  resources for clarity, transparency, accessibility, and
  strategic
  effectiveness
• Develop
  community-facing educational opportunities including:
• FAFSA workshops
• Parent and family financial planning
  sessions
• Scholarship readiness programs
• Community budgeting and
  educational
  financing workshops
• Adult
  learner and workforce learner
  financial literacy initiatives


• Position the
  institution as a trusted regional leader in
  educational financial
  empowerment
• Strengthen
  community trust,
  recruitment
  pipelines, and public engagement through
  financial
  education
• Use
  CRM, data segmentation, and communication
  analytics to
  improve
  effectiveness across diverse populations

Lead Financial Strategy
Efforts That Support Enrollment,
Student
Affordability, and Long-Term
Institutional Sustainability.

• Develop and continuously refine
  strategic financial aid
  leveraging models that support recruitment, conversion,
  affordability,
  and persistence
• Partner closely with enrollment
  management, admissions, finance, institutional research, and executive
  leadership
  to align aid strategies with institutional priorities
• Lead scholarship optimization
  strategies that maximize mission alignment and
  student opportunity while
  responsibly stewarding
  resources
• Analyze tuition discounting, net
  tuition revenue, demographic trends,
  FAFSA completion, and yield indicators
• Build predictive models that
  evaluate financial barriers, student decision-making,
  enrollment elasticity,
  and stop-out risk
• Support institutional strategic
  planning related to changing demographics, market
  conditions, workforce
  pathways, and financial
  competitiveness
• Ensure financial services
  functions as a strategic contributor to
  organizational resilience

Provide
Support for Student Financial Wellness, Accessibility, and Success. Design and
Lead a
Student-Centered Financial Ecosystem That Supports Not
Only Enrollment
but Long-Term Persistence, Completion, and Life Readiness.

• Ensure equitable,
  student-centered financial
  counseling and support systems
• Expand financial literacy,
  budgeting, debt
  awareness, scholarship literacy, and repayment
  education
• Develop proactive intervention
  systems for financially vulnerable students
• Lead appeals, emergency aid,
  special circumstances, and basic needs financial pathways
• Reduce barriers to persistence
  by
  addressing financial confusion, unmet
  need, and preventable stop-out factors
• Support students and families
  through increasingly
  transparent and accessible
  communication
• Promote financial wellness as an
  essential component of student success

Lead
the Improvement and
Integration of Systems and Processes to Ensure Efficient
Operations and a Streamlined, Student-Centered
Financial Services Experience.

• Oversee SIS, CRM, automation,
  digital communication tools, and service delivery systems and
  improve workflow
  efficiency and
  remove unnecessary barriers
• Build technologically modern
  systems that improve accessibility and
  responsiveness and lead redesign
  of
  processes that impact student navigation and service quality
• Develop dashboards and
  performance
  indicators to monitor
  effectiveness
• Ensure innovation aligns with
  compliance, service excellence, and strategic priorities

Support
for
Campus and College Operations.

• Recognition of broad and varied professional
  responsibilities
  which include but are not
  limited to support for campus and
  college operations such as: registration events, Spartan Welcome Days,
  Commencement, this is not an
  exhaustive list
• Support the operation of college and campus
  operational area(s) beyond the financial
  aid office
• Serve
  on campus, college and community committees
  as assigned, approved and appropriate that seek to enhance the student
  experience
• Other related duties as assigned by the Associate Vice
  President of Recruitment & Retention

What
We’re Looking For

Minimum
Qualifications

• Minimum
  of three (3) years of experience in financial aid
  administration with
  demonstrated
  expertise in operations and compliance. A master’s degree in
  finance, accounting, education, business,
  human services, or another related
  field may substitute for 18 months of experience; a bachelor’s degree finance,
  accounting, education,
  business, human services, or another
  related field may
  substitute for one year of experience; an associate’s degree finance,
  accounting,
  education, business, human services, or
  another related field may
  substitute for six months of experience
• Experience
  supervising
  staff or providing lead work direction
• Extensive knowledge of federal and state financial
  aid regulations and experience managing
  financial aid operations, awarding
  processes, and compliance programs. Demonstrated financial stewardship and
  budget oversight experience.
  Familiarity with financial aid
  systems (e.g.,
  Oracle, Salesforce, PowerFAIDS, ISRS data entry, processes, and reporting). Ability to
  accurately and effectively communicate
  complex rules and
  regulations to diverse stakeholder groups with a commitment to equitable access
  and
  student success
• Experience
  using data to inform decisions and
  improve outcomes and the ability to assess, imagine, and design new
  programs
  and initiatives. Exceptional
  skills in collaboration, communication, and change
  management, with experience in process improvement
  and automation and building
  partnerships across division
• Ability to maintain composure and make sound
  decisions in fast-paced or
  high-pressure situations
• Must have a propensity for detail, a concern for
  accuracy and demonstrate the ability to work with
  confidential materials and
  information
• Ability
  to exhibit intercultural competency and ability to work with diverse
  populations

Preferred
Qualifications

• A bachelor’s or master’s degree in finance, accounting,
  education, business,
  human services, or another
  related field
• Five years of progressively responsible experience
  in higher education, including
  financial aid administration,
  enrollment management,
  admissions, or student affairs and supervising staff or
  leading teams
• Extensive experience in the
  development,
  documentation, and implementation of policies and procedures
• Experience
  working
  in a collective bargaining
  environment
• Experience
  working within the Minnesota State system or a similar multi-campus public
  higher
  education system.

Work Shift (Hours /
Days of work)

• 40 hours per week, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30
  p.m.
• Please note our
  summer hours: effective May 20 – July 28, 2026 – summer hours will be Monday
  through Thursday 7:30 AM – 5 PM and
  Friday 7:30 AM – 11:30 AM
  (excluding the
  following weeks which will be five, 8-hour days due to the holiday)
  • Juneteenth – June 17 –
    June 23
  • Fourth of July – July 1 – July 7
  
  

Application
Procedure

The vacancy is posted online
through July
5, 2026.
Applications must be submitted by 12:01 a.m. on July 6, 2026. To apply, submit a letter of interest, resume, three
professional references,
and any applicable transcripts. Internal applicants need to apply through the
Jobs Hub in Workday.

NOTICE: The
college
regrets that it is unable to offer H-1B sponsorship. The successful
candidate under U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Services regulations
must be
able to accept work in the U.S. by the day employment begins.

Salary

This is
the correct salary range for
this
position, disregard the full range listed by this website: $34.11- $49.39
per hour or $71,222 – $103,126
annually

Questions
About the
Position? Contact Heidi Balgaard, M State’s Staff Recruiter,
at Heidi.Balgaard@minnesota.edu

About

M State is a regional
student-focused
institution that is poised for a strong future. It is the sixth-largest
outstate college in the Minnesota State system and
the largest two-year college
in Greater Minnesota, serving more than 10,500 students in credit and
non-credit courses each year. M State
offers big-college resources and a
small-college feel on our four welcoming campuses and in our many online
courses and programs. Our
faculty and staff are dedicated to the values of
integrity, inclusion and innovation, and that dedication is reflected in our
programs and
in the support we offer to our students.

Minnesota State is an equal
opportunity
employer/educator committed to the principles of diversity. We
prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals
based on their race, sex,
color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran
status, marital status, status with
regard to public assistance, sexual
orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or membership in a local
commission as defined by law.
As an affirmative action employer, we encourage
applications from women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and individuals
with
protected veteran status. All applicants must be able to lawfully accept
employment in the United States.

If you need accommodations
to take part in the
application process, please contact Human Resources at (218) 736-1512. For more
information regarding M State, refer to
our website at: www.minnesota.edu.
Minnesota State Community and Technical College,
a member of the Minnesota
State system, is an affirmative action, equal opportunity educator and
employer.

NOTICE: In accordance
with the Minnesota
State Vehicle Fleet Safety Program, employees driving on college/university
business who use a rental or state vehicle
shall be required to conform to
Minnesota State’s vehicle use criteria and consent to a motor vehicle records
check.

This
vacancy notice may be removed at any time for any reason.

Tagged as: Employment