Assistant Director of Scholarships, Financial Aid

The University of Montana invites applications for an Assistant Director of Scholarships for Financial Aid . This position provides university-wide leadership for the strategic management and administration of the university’s scholarship resources, ensuring these investments support institutional priorities, student access and success, and responsible stewardship of scholarship funds. With responsibility for a portfolio exceeding $10 million in annual scholarship resources, the Assistant Director plays an important role in shaping enrollment outcomes, student retention, affordability, and net tuition revenue.

The position works collaboratively with university leadership, the UM Foundation, and campus partners to maximize the impact of scholarship funding while balancing institutional goals, student needs, and donor intent. The Assistant Director also provides leadership and coordination across campus to promote consistent, effective, and compliant scholarship practices among the many units involved in awarding financial support to students.

Examples of Duties Develop and manage university-wide scholarship strategy in alignment with enrollment goals and institutional priorities. Oversee scholarship awarding, packaging, disbursement, reconciliation, and fund utilization across institutional, Foundation, endowed, and departmental funds. Analyze scholarship effectiveness, awarding trends, and yield; recommend strategic adjustments to maximize impact and meet enrollment targets.

Administer scholarship management systems, application cycles, eligibility criteria, review workflows, and system integrations. Ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, university policies, and donor agreements; maintain internal controls, documentation, and reporting. Coordinate with the UM Foundation and campus partners on fund creation, donor stewardship, scholarship criteria, and fund-related issues. Establish university-wide scholarship policies, procedures, awarding standards, and communications; lead cross-campus coordination and audit awarding practices.

Manage the unit budget and supervise staff, including hiring, training, performance management, and professional development. Qualifications Bachelor's degree and three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in financial aid, scholarships, enrollment management or a closely related area, including experience administering restricted or donor-funded resources, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Demonstrated experience managing or administering financial resources with compliance accountability. Demonstrated experience with a student information system and with data analysis in support of decision making. Working knowledge of federal student aid regulation, including Title IV, need analysis, over-award and cost of attendance rules, and FERPA. Ability to analyze enrollment and financial data and translate it into award strategy and revenue projections.

Ability to supervise staff and to direct the work of personnel outside the direct reporting line. Ability to write and administer policy that applies across an institution. Skill in administering enterprise student information and scholarship management systems. Ability to work effectively with external partners, including a separately incorporated foundation. Advanced skill in spreadsheet analysis, reporting tools and data visualization.

Ability to communicate technical and regulatory requirements clearly to students, families, faculty, administrators and donors. Ability to exercise independent judgment on decisions carrying financial, legal and reputational consequence for the university. Preferred Qualifications Master's degree. Experience with Ellucian Banner. Experience with Scholarship Universe or a comparable scholarship management platform. Experience in a public higher education institution with a separate affiliated foundation.

Experience establishing institution-wide policy or procedure. Supplemental Information Position is full-time, 1.0 FTE, MUS Contract and includes a comprehensive and competitive benefits package including insurance package, mandatory retirement plan, partial tuition waiver, and wellness program. Screening of applications will begin after the closing date ; however, applications will continue to be accepted until an adequate applicant pool has been established.

Complete applications received by the closing date will be guaranteed consideration. To apply, please upload the following materials: Letter of Interest – addressing the stated required skills for the position Detailed resume listing education and describing work experience Three (3) professional references - Names and contact information The University of Montana is interested in receiving applications from people who would assist the University in demonstrating its five priorities for action : Place student success at the center of all we do; drive excellence and innovation in teaching, learning, and research; embody the principle of “mission first, people always"; partner with place; and proudly tell the UM story.