- Full Time
- New York, NY
Vice President of Funding & Financial Aid – New York, NY
Reports To: CFO
Position Overview
The Vice President of Funding & Financial Aid serves as the institution’s senior authority on student funding strategy, Title IV administration, and financial aid risk management. This role is designed for an experienced executive who can step in immediately to provide a high-trust student experience across campus-based and online populations, guide, stabilize, and support and scale a streamlined New York operating model.
The VP will lead the design and execution of a diversified funding strategy that protects institutional working capital, ensures regulatory compliance, and expands access through federal aid, state programs, employer reimbursement, and union-based tuition partnerships. This individual will act as a strategic advisor to senior leadership while maintaining hands-on command of audits, compliance, and financial aid operations.
Key Responsibilities
Institutional Funding Strategy & Growth Enablement
- Design and lead a comprehensive, enterprise-level student funding strategy aligned with enrollment growth, affordability goals, and long-term financial sustainability
- Serve as a strategic partner to Enrollment, Finance, Academic Leadership, and Student Success to ensure funding models support persistence, completion, and responsible growth
- Evaluate funding risk at the student level, including payment viability, accounts receivable exposure, debt write-offs, and working capital implications
- Advise senior leadership on funding mix, policy decisions, and growth scenarios tied to enrollment expansion
Financial Aid, Title IV & Audit Leadership
- Act as the institution’s senior Title IV authority, overseeing all federal, state, institutional, and private aid programs
- Personally lead preparation for and execution of federal and state audits, program reviews, and accreditor inquiries
- Serve as the primary executive contact with the U.S. Department of Education, state agencies, and accreditors
- Establish and enforce internal controls, compliance frameworks, and risk management practices across the financial aid operation
Union, Employer & Workforce Funding Expertise
- Lead strategy and execution for union-based tuition reimbursement programs, employer-sponsored funding, and workforce partnerships
- Build and manage relationships with labor unions, employers, lenders, and third-party funding partners, particularly within the New York healthcare and workforce ecosystem
- Expand and optimize alternative funding pathways to reduce student debt risk and institutional AR exposure
Financial Stewardship, Analytics & Risk Management
- Partner closely with Finance to manage financial aid budgets, discount rates, Return to Title IV exposure, and institutional cash flow risk
- Develop executive-level reporting and dashboards to track aid utilization, AR risk, borrowing outcomes, and regulatory indicators
- Proactively identify and mitigate financial aid and compliance risks associated with scale
Team Leadership & Operational Oversight
- Provide executive leadership to the financial aid and funding organization, setting clear expectations for performance, accountability, and compliance
- Assess organizational structure and staffing needs as enrollment grows, with authority to recommend additional roles or restructuring as needed
- Build a culture of operational excellence, audit readiness, and student-centered service
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred
- Minimum of 10 years of progressive leadership experience in higher education financial aid or student funding
- Demonstrated senior-level authority over Title IV programs
- Proven experience leading federal and state audits, program reviews, or accreditor evaluations
- Deep knowledge of federal and state financial aid regulations and compliance standards
- Direct experience working with union-based tuition reimbursement, employer-funded education programs, or workforce partnerships
- Strong executive writing, analytical, and advisory skills, with the ability to opine, document, and guide institutional strategy
Preferred Experience
- Experience partnering closely with Enrollment Management and Institutional Finance during periods of rapid growth
- Familiarity with enterprise financial aid and student information systems
- Experience operating in complex, highly regulated environments such as New York State
- Demonstrated success balancing access, compliance, and financial risk at scale
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