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University of South Carolina
Director of Financial Aid
🇺🇸
Lancaster, South Carolina
🕑
Full-Time
💰
$59K - $88K
💻
Financial Aid
🗓️
October 5th, 2026
Edtech.com's Summary
University of South Carolina is hiring a Director of Financial Aid. The Director administers federal, state, and institutional financial aid policies, oversees day-to-day operations of the Financial Aid and Veterans Affairs Office, and supervises staff while maintaining strong partnerships with various university departments. This role also includes managing veterans' educational benefits, the College Work Study program, and conducting presentations and workshops as needed.
Highlights
- Manage all federal, state, and institutional financial aid programs, including awarding, disbursing, auditing, and compliance.
- Oversee Veterans Benefits certification, counseling veterans and coordinating with external Veterans Affairs offices.
- Supervise office staff, providing training, performance evaluations, and ensuring customer service excellence.
- Manage Federal Work Study program, including securing supervisors, training, hiring, and budget oversight.
- Evaluate financial aid applications, verify eligibility, monitor academic progress, and handle appeals.
- Conduct financial aid seminars and workshops for high school students and serve as a resource for guidance counselors.
- Prepare reports and communicate with campus leadership, state, and federal agencies regarding financial aid programs.
- Work extensively with Banner or similar complex data systems for financial aid administration.
- Required qualifications include a bachelor's degree and 5+ years of relevant experience; supervisory experience preferred.
- NASFAA credentials in Federal Student Aid administration are preferred but not required.
Director of Financial Aid Full Description
Director of Financial Aid Bookmark this Posting Print Preview | Apply for this Job
Please see Special Instructions for more details.
Positions are advertised for a minimum of five (5) business days on our job website. After five (5) business days, positions can be closed at the discretion of the department at any time. This employment site is updated on a regular basis. The length of the recruitment and screening process may vary from position to position, depending upon a variety of factors. Should review of your qualifications result in a decision to pursue your candidacy, you will be contacted by phone or email.
A complete application must include the following:
- Completed application form
- Cover Letter
- Resume
- Contact information - including a phone number and email address for a minimum of three professional references
Positions are advertised for a minimum of five (5) business days on our job website. After five (5) business days, positions can be closed at the discretion of the department at any time. This employment site is updated on a regular basis. The length of the recruitment and screening process may vary from position to position, depending upon a variety of factors. Should review of your qualifications result in a decision to pursue your candidacy, you will be contacted by phone or email.
Posting Details
Supplemental Questions
Posting Summary
| Logo | |
|---|---|
| Posting Number | STA00741PO26 |
| Job Family | Student Administrative Services |
| Job Function | Financial Aid |
| USC Market Title | Financial Aid Director |
| Link to USC Market Title | https://uscjobs.sc.edu/titles/133932 |
| Job Level | M2 - Managerial |
| Business Title (Internal Title) | Director of Financial Aid |
| Campus | Lancaster |
| Work County | Lancaster |
| College/Division | USC Lancaster College/Division Level |
| Department | USC Lancaster - Palmetto College |
| State Pay Range | G10 |
| USC Market Range | MRG - $58,934 $73,667 $88,401 |
| Anticipated Hiring Range | Salary commensurate with qualifications. |
| Location of Vacancy | |
| Part/Full Time | Full Time |
| Hours per Week | 37.5 |
| Work Schedule | The standard work schedule will be Monday – Friday from 8:30am – 5:00pm. Must be willing to work a flexible schedule to meet the needs of the department. |
| Basis | 12 months |
| Job Search Category | Other |
About USC
| About University of South Carolina | From the Upstate to the Lowcountry, the University of South Carolina system is transforming the lives of South Carolinians through the impact of our eight institutions and 20 locations throughout the state. More than 50,000 students are enrolled at one of eight institutions, including the research campus in Columbia and comprehensive four-year universities in Aiken, Upstate and Beaufort. In addition, our Palmetto College campuses in Salkehatchie, Union, Lancaster and Sumter enable students to earn associate or bachelor’s degrees through a combination of in-person, online or blended learning. All of our system institutions place strong emphasis on service — helping to build healthier, more educated communities in South Carolina and beyond. |
|---|---|
| Veterans' Preference Statement | The University of South Carolina is committed to equal opportunity and proudly values the skills and experience military veterans bring to our workforce. Across South Carolina, we are making veterans a priority for employment and recognize their vital contributions to our state and our communities. |
Benefits for FTE Positions
The University of South Carolina (USC), through the State of SC and Public Employee Benefit Authority (PEBA), offers employees a valuable benefits package, including health and life insurance, generous paid leave and retirement programs. To learn more about USC benefits, access the "Working at USC" section on the Applicant Portal at https://uscjobs.sc.edu. Research Grant or Time-limited positions may be eligible for all, some, or no benefits, based on the grant or project funding.
Position Description
| Advertised Job Summary | The Director of Financial Aid and Veterans Affairs (Director) will administer all federal, state, and institutional policies and procedures relating to student financial aid, scholarships, and Veterans Affairs. The Director is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Financial Aid and Veterans Affairs Office, and is responsible for supervising office staff to ensure the highest level of personnel effectiveness and customer service. This role requires strong working relationships with Admissions, Records and Advisement, Student Accounts, and other key partners across the University. Ability to supervise and evaluate personnel and work with a complex data system, such as Banner is required. This office serves as a resource for area high school guidance offices and campus offices, as needed. The Director also serves as the Veterans Benefits Certifying Official and counsels Veterans and their family members on educational benefits available to them. The Director manages the College Work Study program for the University. Some travel and evening and weekend presentations/workshops will be required. |
|---|---|
| Job Related Minimum Required Education and Experience | Requires a bachelor’s degree in a job related field and 5 or more years of job related experience, which may be substituted by an equivalent combination of job related certification, training, education, and/or experience. |
| Required Certification, Licensure/Other Credentials | |
| Preferred Qualifications | At least 2 years of experience in supervisory/administrative responsibilities. Preference will be given to those with NASFAA credentials in Federal Student Aid administration. |
| Knowledge/Skills/Abilities | Ability to supervise and evaluate personnel. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, parents, faculty, staff, federal and state agency officials and the general public. Must be computer literate. Effective oral and written communication skills are necessary. Accounting and personal finance knowledge are helpful. Reading and comprehension of complex federal guidelines and regulations. Ability to retainvast amounts of information. Ability to adhere to rules and guidelines. |
Job Duties
| Job Duty |
Management of Federal, State, Institutional and External Financial Aid Programs: Oversee the administration, awarding, disbursing, and audit resolution of all Federal, State and Institutional Financial Aid programs (Pell, SEOG, DL, FWS, PFELL, LIFE, LTAP, SNBG, NGCAP, Foundation Scholarships, Athletic Scholarships and other aid programs), following all federal and state regulations and institutional policies. The Director must have a strong understanding of all federal and state regulations related to the management of these aid programs, and must be able to direct staff in the management of these programs successfully. The Director must be able to train new staff in their specific duties related to this task. The Director also directly oversees the processing of LTAP Applications for Dually Enrolled High School Students, awarding those who are eligible, and working directly with the Dual Enrollment Coordinator, Admissions Office, and Business Office to resolve eligibility issues. The Director is also responsible for working with 3rd party agencies in the administration and awarding of external aid resources and internal tuition offset programs. This includes but is not limited to Free Tuition for the Dependents of Certain War Veterans, AmeriCorps, 4% Funds, Scholarship Recipient Tuition Rate, External Scholarships, and External Contracts in conjunction with the USCL Business Office. The Director must assure the proper awarding and disbursement of these awards, to assure that billing and other aid are adjusted appropriately. The Director must be able to train and supervise staff in their specific duties related to this task. |
|---|---|
| Essential Function | Yes |
| Percentage of Time | 20 |
| Job Duty | As the Veterans Benefits Certifying Official, the Director will serve as an exclusive counselor for Veterans Education Benefits and will verify eligibility, certify enrollment status, confirm enrollment status monthly and assist Veterans in the application process. For National Guardsmen and Reservists, the Director will verify eligibility for the College Assistance Program and Tuition Assistance, and post awards to accounts in a timely manner. The Director will serve as liaison to Veterans Affairs officers of other colleges and the Veterans Affairs Office in Walterboro/Allendale. The Director will also serve as advisor to the Veterans and Military Persons Student Organization, and will report, for reconciliation and auditing purposes, to the Commission on Higher Education and the U.S. Veterans Affairs Office. |
|---|---|
| Essential Function | Yes |
| Percentage of Time | 5 |
| Job Duty |
General Office Management: The Director oversees all personnel in providing customer service to students, parents and others seeking the assistance of the Financial Aid Office. This includes but is not limited to all ingoing and outgoing communications with applicants, keeping website information up to date and accurate, properly packaging and shipping mail-outs in a timely manner, receiving and sorting incoming mail and faxes, performing initial assessment of incoming applicant documentation for completion and accuracy, updating tracking requirements to notify applicants when documents are received or incomplete, and processing when ready. The Director also oversees the proper scanning of all documents, verifying scans were completed accurately, filing the original documents in the applicant files, maintaining the integrity of the applicant filing system, and moving files to and from archives when appropriate. The Director provides training and supervision of two-full time employees and up to four work studies in the performance of these functions. The Director must be able to train and supervise staff in their specific duties related to this task. |
|---|---|
| Essential Function | Yes |
| Percentage of Time | 5 |
| Job Duty |
Evaluating Aid Applications and Student Eligibility: Oversee the receipt and processing of FAFSA and other aid applications, verifying data, resolving conflicting information and evaluating student eligibility for particular programs. The Director must have a strong understanding of the application process, eligibility criteria, federal needs analysis formula, cost of attendance budgeting, verification, special circumstance adjustment, and administrative capability necessary for the proper processing of applications. The Director must be able to train and supervise staff in their specific duties related to this task. The Director is also directly responsible for monitoring the Academic Progress of all financial aid recipients under the Federal Title IV Regulations related to aid eligibility; evaluating, notifying and processing of appeals. The Director must serve as an ex-offico member of the SAP appeals committee, providing guidance on the federal and institutional policies regarding the process. |
|---|---|
| Essential Function | Yes |
| Percentage of Time | 15 |
| Job Duty |
Federal Work Study Management: The Director oversees the Federal Work Study program for the USC Lancaster Campus. The Director must secure on-campus supervisors, establish position descriptions and pay levels for positions and train supervisors annually on their responsibilities. Likewise, the Director must secure off-campus contracts for America Counts, America Reads, and other community service positions as necessary, and provide the same training for those supervisors. The Director must award students, advertise positions, conduct interviews, and complete all Human Resources hiring responsibilities for work-study students. The Director must monitor working hours and time sheets for all work-study student on and off campus. The Director must maintain and manage the Federal Work Study budget in coordination with the Palmetto College Central Financial Aid Office. All duties of the Work Study Management must be done in compliance with federal law, state law, and institutional policies. |
|---|---|
| Essential Function | Yes |
| Percentage of Time | 5 |
| Job Duty |
Manage Loan Programs: The Director oversees the management of all Loan Programs, by training The Loan Counselor and assuming these responsibilities when the loan counselor position is vacant. The duty requires the calculation of Direct loan eligibility based on year-in-school, need, annual loan limits and aggregate loan limits. Work loan reports and correct loan amounts when necessary. Contact students when documents are missing. Notify borrowers of Loan Exit Counseling requirements, sending letters and providing in person counseling as necessary. Develop a Default Prevention plan to monitor Cohort Default Rate and reduce rate annually. Monitor borrowers after leaving college, and through continued contact assist students in communications with servicer to keep students in repayment, deferment or forbearance. Certify Private and Direct PLUS Loans. Monitor disbursements. The Director is also responsible for managing Default Prevention at the campus level, communicating with current and prior borrowers about information and resources available to avoid delinquency and default. The Director is responsible for reviewing the annual Cohort Default Rate report and developing new initiatives to help reduce this rate. The Director is responsible for establishing a committee to oversee Default Prevention and Financial Literacy initiatives on-campus. The Director must be able to train and supervise staff in their specific duties related to this task. |
|---|---|
| Essential Function | Yes |
| Percentage of Time | 5 |
| Job Duty |
Community Education and Financial Aid Awareness: The Director shall provide Financial Aid Seminars to High School students in our service area and shall organize and provide workshops to assist students in filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The Director shall serve as a resource to area High School Guidance Counselors and students, as necessary. The Director must be able to train new staff in their specific duties related to this task. |
|---|---|
| Essential Function | Yes |
| Percentage of Time | 5 |
| Job Duty |
Reports and Inter-Office Communications: The Director shall be responsible for reporting to the Executive Director of Enrollment Management, The Dean for Academic and Student Affairs, The Campus Dean, and the Associate Vice-Chancellor of the Palmetto College Central Financial Aid Office. The Director shall provide statistics and complete reports necessary for the approval, administration, and reporting of Financial Aid programs to other offices, state, and federal agencies. The Director shall work closely with other offices on campus to assist in the management of their own programs, such as TRIO, the Business Office, and the USC Lancaster Scholarship Foundation Office. |
|---|---|
| Essential Function | Yes |
| Percentage of Time | 5 |
| Job Duty |
Evaluating Aid Applications and Student Eligibility: Supervises employees by applying appropriate management principles according to university policy and procedures, completing EPMS timely and accurately, and monitoring employee progress towards goal attainment. Communicates expectations and provides feedback to assist employee with performance improvement, professional development, and skills/competency development. |
|---|---|
| Essential Function | Yes |
| Percentage of Time | 10 |
| Job Duty |
Federal Work Study Management: The Director oversees the Federal Work Study program for the USC Lancaster Campus. The Director must secure on-campus supervisors, establish position descriptions and pay levels for positions and train supervisors annually on their responsibilities. Likewise, the Director must secure off-campus contracts for America Counts, America Reads, and other community service positions as necessary, and provide the same training for those supervisors. The Director must award students, advertise positions, conduct interviews, and complete all Human Resources hiring responsibilities for work-study students. The Director must monitor working hours and time sheets for all work-study student on and off campus. The Director must maintain and manage the Federal Work Study budget in coordination with the Palmetto College Central Financial Aid Office. All duties of the Work Study Management must be done in compliance with federal law, state law, and institutional policies. |
|---|---|
| Essential Function | Yes |
| Percentage of Time | 15 |
| Job Duty |
Other Objectives: Other Objectives and Duties as assigned annually. |
|---|---|
| Essential Function | Yes |
| Percentage of Time | 10 |
Position Attributes
Employees in Safety-Sensitive or Security-Sensitive positions will be subject to pre-employment and post-employment drug testing in accordance with University policy HR 1.95 Drug and Alcohol Testing.
| Safety Sensitive or Security Sensitive | No |
|---|---|
| Hazardous weather category | Non-Essential |
Posting Detail Information
| Number of Vacancies | 1 |
|---|---|
| Desired Start Date | 01/01/2027 |
| Job Open Date | 10/02/2026 |
| Job Close Date | |
| Open Until Filled | Yes |
| Special Instructions to Applicant | A complete application must include the following:
Positions are advertised for a minimum of five (5) business days on our job website. After five (5) business days, positions can be closed at the discretion of the department at any time. This employment site is updated on a regular basis. The length of the recruitment and screening process may vary from position to position, depending upon a variety of factors. Should review of your qualifications result in a decision to pursue your candidacy, you will be contacted by phone or email. |
| Quicklink for Posting | https://uscjobs.sc.edu/postings/213997 |
| EEO Statement | The University of South Carolina does not discriminate in employment opportunities or decisions for qualified persons on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender, gender identity or expression, genetic information, military status, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other protected category under applicable law. |
Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).
- *
Do you have at least a bachelor's degree and 5 or more years of experience, which may be substituted by equivalent combination of certification, training, education, and/or experience?
- Yes
- No
- *
Do you have at least 2 years of experience in supervisory/administrative responsibilities?
- Yes
- No
- *
Do you have National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) credentials in Federal Student Aid administration?
- Yes
- No
Required Documents
- Cover Letter
- Resume
Optional Documents
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