Description

Bradley University seeks a strategic, collaborative, and analytically driven leader to serve as its inaugural Assistant Vice President of Financial Aid (AVPFA). Reporting to the Vice President for Enrollment Management, Marketing and Communications, this role is responsible for shaping and executing a comprehensive financial aid strategy that advances the University’s enrollment goals, strengthens net tuition revenue, and ensures long-term fiscal sustainability.

The AVPFA serves as the University’s lead architect for financial aid leveraging strategy and a key advisor to senior leadership on pricing, discounting, and enrollment performance. This leader will guide the development of multi-year modeling strategies, oversee the selection and optimization of financial aid leveraging partners, and ensure data-driven decision-making across all student populations.

Bradley seeks a highly collaborative and forward-thinking leader who brings deep expertise in financial aid strategy, predictive modeling, and regulatory compliance, while fostering a student-centered and service-oriented culture. Experience with systems such as PowerFAIDS, Blackbaud Award Management, Workday, and Slate is preferred.

This is a foundational leadership role at a pivotal time for Bradley University. The AVPFA will play a central role in advancing a modern, data-informed financial aid strategy that supports sustainable enrollment growth, enhances access and affordability, and strengthens the University’s long-term financial position.

Interested candidates should apply directly through the University website: Assistant Vice President of Financial Aid Job Posting

Requirements

Key Responsibilities
Strategic Financial Aid Leadership
Lead the development and execution of a comprehensive, multi-year financial aid strategy aligned with the University’s Strategic Enrollment Management plan
Partner with senior leadership to align financial aid strategy with institutional priorities, including enrollment growth, academic program strength, and financial sustainability
Serve as the University’s primary advisor on financial aid leveraging, optimizing the balance of discount rate, net tuition revenue, and student profile across undergraduate, transfer, graduate, online, and international populations
Oversee predictive modeling and scenario planning to inform enrollment and revenue projections
Maximize the strategic value of financial aid leveraging and analytics partners, ensuring insights directly drive institutional decision-making

Compliance, Risk, and Policy Leadership
Serve as the University’s primary authority on federal and state financial aid compliance, ensuring adherence to all regulatory requirements
Provide strategic interpretation of regulatory changes and guide institutional response across policy, systems, and communication
Oversee financial aid reporting and audit readiness through strong internal controls and accountability structures
Establish and maintain institutional policies that ensure compliance while supporting enrollment and student success goals

Operational Strategy and Systems Integration
Provide executive oversight of financial aid operations, ensuring efficient, accurate, and student-centered delivery through a strong leadership team
Lead the strategic integration and optimization of financial aid systems, including Workday, Blackbaud, and Slate, aligning technology with institutional goals and student experience
Champion process improvement and innovation to enhance service delivery, reduce complexity, and improve outcomes for students and families
Provide expert level experience in industry best practices, including industry best-practice system solutions

Leadership and Organizational Development
Lead a high-performing, collaborative financial aid team with a focus on accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement
Establish a culture of professional development, cross-training, and operational excellence
Oversee departmental planning, resource allocation, and budget management to ensure alignment with strategic priorities

Institutional Collaboration and Influence
Partner with Enrollment Management, Marketing and Communications, and Admissions to align financial aid strategy with recruitment and yield efforts
Collaborate with Advancement to ensure effective stewardship and compliance of endowed scholarship funds
Support Athletics in maintaining NCAA Division I compliance while advancing recruitment and retention goals
Contribute to a campus-wide culture of enrollment by aligning financial aid strategy with academic and programmatic priorities

Required Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred
Minimum 7–10 years of progressive financial aid leadership experience in higher education
Demonstrated expertise in federal and state financial aid regulations and compliance
Experience managing audits and regulatory reviews
Proven experience with financial aid leveraging and enrollment-driven strategy
Strong analytical skills with experience interpreting complex enrollment and financial data
Supervisory experience leading professional staff

Preferred Qualifications
Experience partnering directly with senior leadership and boards
Familiarity with predictive modeling and enrollment forecasting at a private institution
Experience working at a tuition-driven private institution
Knowledge of CRM Slate, Blackbaud Award Management, ERP Workday, and financial aid technology PowerFAIDS platforms