Director of Financial Aid

Description

Recruitment Period: 08/25/2026 - Until Filled

Status: Full-Time, 40 hours/week

Salary Information: Annual Minimum Salary-$67,200-Annual Maximum Salary-$107,500

Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences (PNWU) does not sponsor employment visas. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire and for the duration of their employment with PNWU. Employment eligibility will be verified in accordance with federal law.

Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences (PNWU) was founded as a 501(c) (3) non-profit medical institution in 2005 aimed at increasing access to health care in medically underserved areas of the Pacific Northwest.

The University currently offers the degrees of Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Doctor of Physical Therapy, Doctor of Dental Medicine, Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences, and Master of Science in Occupational Therapy enrolling over 550 students annually. Interprofessional education partnerships with other universities adds another 100 students to the population. The campus includes 300 employees with academic programming spread over a five-state region.

PNWU is located in Yakima, WA, a city of approximately 95,000 located in the south-central part of the state near the eastern slopes of the Cascade Mountains in a major agricultural and outdoor recreation region. It is approximately 140 miles from Seattle, 170 miles from Portland, and 200 miles from Spokane. The Yakima Valley is a wonderful place to live, work and play. For more information, visit https://www.visityakima.com/.

General Summary:

Provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for all financial aid programs and services. Directs the planning, implementation, and continuous improvement of financial aid operations. Serves as the institutional authority on financial aid compliance, data governance, and policy development. Oversees staff, systems, and process to ensures effective delivery of aid and federal (Title IV) program compliance. Partners with enrollment leadership to develop financial aid strategies that support recruitment, retention, and student success goals. 

Essential Job Functions:

• Leads and supervises high-volume, deadline-driven financial aid office; including staff supervision, performance management, hiring, and training.
• Oversees day-to-day operations, strategic planning, and assessment of financial aid activities to align with the PNWU mission, and strategic plan. Collaborates with enrollment management leadership and advises other units and stakeholders to ensure compliance and strategic enrollment support.
• Ensures institutional compliance and administration of federal (Title IV) regulation, state regulation, accreditation requirements, and institutional policies and procedures with regard to financial aid activities. Interprets regulatory guidance, develops policies and procedures.
• Oversee the accurate and timely disbursement of financial aid funds. Ensuring reconciliation between federal databases (COD, G5) and institutional systems. Leads annual financial audit response with regard to student financial aid.
• Provides oversight of financial aid software system; including system configuration, upgrades, testing, implementation of new functionality, documentation updates, and training of staff. Serves as primary data custodian of the financial aid records and oversees data reporting to internal and external stakeholders.
• Provides guidance on complex or escalated student cases and manages communication strategies. During peak financial aid processing cycles, Communicates regulations, eligibility, and funding options clearly and effectively. Serves as the primary School Certifying Official (SCO) and liaison with the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA). 
• Identifies opportunities to improve aid sources, monitors regulatory changes, and uses best practices to improve aid eligibility and options.
• Performs other related duties as assigned and based on departmental need.

Requirements

Education and Experience:

• Required: A Bachelor’s degree AND 7-9 years of progressively responsible financial aid or bursar experience and supervisory or leadership experience.

• An equivalent combination of education and experience that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the essential functions of the position.

• Preferred: Master's Degree and experience with health sciences or graduate/professional programs.  

Desired Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities:

Excellent organizational and leadership skills; skill in effective communication (both written and oral); skill in independent decision making; skill in problem solving; skill in public speaking; skill in coordinating and monitoring the work of others; knowledge of administrative procedures and practices; knowledge of advising and counseling practices; knowledge of customer service principles and practices; knowledge of human resources principles and practices; knowledge of the practices, procedures, and activities of a financial aid office and the systems that support the work; ability to maintain professional composure in emergent and crisis situations; and ability to interpret and apply complex regulatory requirements.

To ensure full consideration submit:

• A letter of introduction outlining background and qualifications for the position

• Detailed resume

• Contact information for three professional references

The job announcement above is not the full job description but represents the job responsibilities and requirements. A full job description can be provided upon request.

PNWU offers a comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees first of the month following date of hire and competitive salary.

Benefit Package (benefit eligible is at least .5 FTE):

• Health Benefits - Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance
• Paid Time Off
• 403b with Roth Option
• Paid Holidays

For information about life in Yakima visit our PNWU page.

PNWU is a drug-free workplace, equal opportunity employer and educational institution. To request this publication in an alternative format, or to apply in an alternative format, please call Human Resources, 509.452.5100.