Director of Admissions & Financial Aid

About Zaytuna College

Zaytuna College is America’s first accredited Muslim liberal arts college that offers undergraduate and graduate degrees. A central goal of the College is to reintegrate the once vital and influential voice of Muslim thought and erudition back into the ongoing conversation of great ideas, which is informed largely by shifting Western values, and to do so within the context of our new, globalized society and in the manner articulated by the College’s mission statement: “to educate and prepare morally committed professionals, intellectuals, and spiritual leaders, who are grounded in the Islamic scholarly tradition and conversant with the cultural currents and critical ideas shaping modern society.”

Overview of the Position

The Director of Admissions and Financial Aid is responsible for the leadership of the Admissions Department and Financial Aid Department at Zaytuna College and represents Zaytuna College, its mission, ethos and values, to potential and current students on and off campus. This role includes setting the strategy and managing the staff and resources of both departments. As Director of Admissions, he or she recruits applicants to the undergraduate and graduate programs, counsels prospective students and follows their progress from recruitment to the preliminary application through the admissions process. As Director of Financial Aid, he or she is responsible for distributing financial aid to students in a manner that is fair, efficient, and compliant with Zaytuna’s ethical and legal responsibilities, including those pertaining to Islamic Law. The Director of Admissions and Financial Aid is also responsible for leading the Admissions Committee and Fees & Financial Aid Committees, which comprises of faculty & staff. This role will report to and receive strategic direction from the Zaytuna College Provost.

Essential Functions: Admissions

· Develop the strategy for the Admissions Office, including Key Performance Indicators, determining target-student profiles, conducting competitor analysis, developing impactful messaging, and planning an effective use of the office’s resources to meet admissions goals.

· Advise and counsel students, parents, and high school and college guidance counselors on application processes, programs, academic requirements, financial aid options, housing, and other student services 

· Recruit qualified students who will benefit from Zaytuna College’s program offerings

· Be intimately familiar with all of the College’s academic programs in order to promote and generate interest and represent Zaytuna College in all recruitment activities

· Promote the College by planning, leading and participating in recruitment events: open houses, special programs, off-campus events, information sessions, exhibitions, school visits, tours, webinars, etc.

· Develop informational presentations about Zaytuna College’s program offerings and present them to target audiences.

· Establish new relationships and maintain existing relationships with high school counselors, prospective students, and organizations to promote recruitment.

· Plan, organize, and execute daily, weekly, and long-term communication with potential students and follow-up with students through direct meetings, live chat, phone calls and emails from initial contact through application.

· Manage the CRM database of leads and applicants and facilitate streamlined data collection and retention, in accordance with best practices and regulatory requirements.

· Assist and provide guidance on marketing plans and objectives as it relates to recruitment.

· Lead the Admissions Committee through the process of evaluating applications and determining key policies, including conducting detailed benchmarking research to develop impactful policy memos.

· Represent the College in an ethical and professional manner

Essential Functions: Financial Aid

· Supervise the operation and administration of aid programs to comply with College policies and procedures. 

· Develop new policies and procedures to ensure that the operation and administration of aid programs are compliant with the College’s ethical and legal responsibilities.

· Ensure compliance with College and Zakat regulations, processes, and procedures. 

· Develop clear communications with students on financial aid policies and application procedures.

· Build and maintain Excel models used to calculate and project aid disbursements.

· Review applications for completeness of information, verify information and calculate eligibility for or denial of awards 

· Lead the Fees & Financial Aid Committee through the process developing and reviewing key policies, including conducting detailed benchmarking research to develop impactful policy memos.

Other Duties

· This position is responsible for supervising at least one personnel in the Department of Admissions and Financial Aid.

· This position requires approximately 15% travel time; frequent out-of-the area and overnight travel can be expected, including weekends and holidays.

· This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required for this position. Duties, responsibilities, and activities are subject to change, preferably with adequate notice.

Required Education, Professional Certification, Experience, and Competencies

· Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in related field

· Aware of Zaytuna College’s vision, mission and values and committed to its aims and objectives

· Excellent written and verbal communications skills with strong oral presentation skills

· Experience in developing and implementing strategic initiatives, programs and plans for recruiting and counseling for admissions is preferred, strong leadership skills that exhibit integrity, collaboration, flexibility and result-oriented approach with the ability to make well-reasoned decisions

· Strong organization skills with high attention to details; ability to prioritize work effectively and adjust to multiple demands.

· Excellent research skills to identify areas of recruitment and assist with marketing initiatives 

· Strong knowledge of electronic mail and calendars, Windows and Apple platforms, including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and other office productivity packages.

· Prior management and supervisory experience.

· Experience developing flexible Excel models to assist with data analysis and financial aid calculations.