Title: Assistant Financial Aid Director

Position Type: Professional Tech Full time, 12 month (261 work days per year)

College: Otero College

Division: Student Affairs

Department: OC Financial Aid

Campus: Otero College

Location: La Junta

Salary Range: $43,645-$48,720

Who We Are:

At Otero College, we are more than a college, we are a community dedicated to students’ personal and professional growth through high-quality education and workforce training. With more than 30 academic and workforce programs, a student-centered culture, and a commitment to supporting employee growth, Otero College provides an opportunity to make a meaningful impact every day.
Our faculty and staff are passionate about student success and work to create a welcoming, inclusive environment where students feel a sense of belonging. Through meaningful connections and personalized support, Otero employees help students build confidence, stay engaged, and achieve success both in and out of the classroom.
Otero College offers the opportunity to contribute to student success while enjoying the benefits of living and working in a rural community. Join the Rattler family and help shape the future of our students.

Job Summary:

The Assistant Financial Aid Director is responsible to, and works with, the Director of Financial Aid in the administration of an overall financial aid program, in accordance with 34 CFR 668.16(b)(1). This requirement ensures that institutions have qualified personnel overseeing federal student aid programs, thereby promoting compliance and effective administration.

The Assistant Financial Aid Director position is largely a student-facing position. In order to administer Federal Direct Loans in accordance with Title IV guidelines, and to ensure Cohort Default Rates stay within federally accepted guidelines, this position is responsible for screening all accepted loans and providing loan counseling to students. The Assistant Financial Aid Director also works with prospective work-study students, and Human Resources, to determine work-study eligibility of students, in addition to providing daily support to all students and prospective students regarding options for financing their education.

Duties & Responsibilities:

1. Assist the Director of Financial Aid in the administration of a comprehensive Student Financial Aid program in accordance with federal and state regulations.
2. Assist in the collection, processing, and the analysis of data from student applications in order to determine student’s eligibility for financial aid.
3. Responsible for assisting students in the processing of financial aid applications, counseling students concerning financial aid procedures, application deadlines, satisfactory academic progress requirements, effects of enrollment changes, etc.
4. Responsible for awarding grants, scholarships and loans.
5. Responsible for verification of student financial aid data by reviewing submitted information for completeness and accuracy according to financial aid regulations. Make corrections to student data using Banner computer system and/or FAFSA Partner Portal.
6. Responsible for reviewing student loan applications; looking up enrollment status, student loan debt and verifying the completion of master promissory note and entrance counseling. Send loan reduction and/or denial letters as necessary.
7. Record and monitor all additional financial resources received by the students and verify eligibility to assure awards do not exceed need.
8. Maintain proficiency and current knowledge on developments in student financial aid matters through workshops and professional meetings.
9. Provide and receive information to and from financial aid offices of other institutions of higher education and Department of Education.
10. Advise students on financial assistance in cooperation with other offices or departments.
11. Organize and coordinate institutional scholarships to be reviewed by the Otero Scholarship Committee.
12. Provide information concerning the Work/Study Program to appropriate staff members.
13. Coordinate and attend all service area high school financial aid nights.
14. Responsible for scanning and indexing all records into the Banner Document Management system.
15. Assist in other Student Services functions as needed.
16. Perform other duties as assigned by the Director of Financial Aid.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and/or experience may substitute year-for-year for the degree
• One year of experience in customer service, records management, or an administrative office environment
• Strong customer service, interpersonal, and communication skills

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ability to interpret and apply a variety of rules and regulations
• Strong computer skills
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, and meet deadlines
• Experience using Ellucian Banner, FAFSA Partner Portal or similar student information systems.
• Educational philosophy in alignment with that of a small rural, comprehensive Community College and enthusiasm for this type of environment and the aspirations of its people.

Selection Process:

Position will remain open until filled with a priority date of August 17, 2026

Application Instructions: 

The search will be conducted through a competitive, merit-based evaluation of all qualified applicants. Final candidates will be invited to travel to the College, at their own expense, to interview.
For consideration, an applicant file must contain:
1. Cover letter that addresses the minimum and preferred qualifications
2. Resume
3. Copies of transcripts (A.A., B.A., and M.A.) (Official transcripts requested upon hire) - As part of our commitment to a fair hiring process, we invite you to redact any information from your transcripts that may be confidential/protected under law, including your age, date of birth, or dates of attendance/graduation.
4. Names, addresses, and phone numbers of 3 professional references

Additional Information/Benefits:

At Otero, we value and uphold a commitment to a workplace that focuses on employees. In addition to rewarding and meaningful work, we offer a comprehensive selection of benefits to support our employees, including:
• Flexible retirement benefits including Colorado PERA’s Defined Benefit Plan or Defined Contribution Plan. Otero contributes 21.61% of your salary on your behalf. Supplemental retirement plans including 401(k) and 457 plans are also available.
• Comprehensive health benefits including medical, dental, vision, life, and flexible savings benefits.
• Employee assistance services such as counseling, professional coaching, financial planning, and more, are available to you and members of your household at no cost through the Colorado State Employee Assistance Program (C-SEAP).
• Generous paid time off benefits including up to 15 hours of annual leave and 10 hours sick leave per month, 10 paid holidays per year, and up to 18 hours for academic and volunteer activities.
• Tuition assistance for employees and their eligible dependents at any community college within the Colorado Community College System or CCCOnline.
• State employees are eligible to participate in BenefitHub which offers discounts for retailers and services and other benefits resources.
• Employees may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Additional information about this program can be found on the Colorado Division of Human Resources website.