Senior Director Financial Aid Optimization Research

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Senior Director, Financial Aid Optimization Research
Location: Washington, D.C.
Number: 483050
Job Category: Professional Services
Job Type: Full Time
Level: Director



About **MEMBERS ONLY**SIGN UP NOW***.

**MEMBERS ONLY**SIGN UP NOW***. is an education best practices firm that uses a combination of research, technology, and services to improve the performance of 1,400 educational institutions. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., **MEMBERS ONLY**SIGN UP NOW***. forges and finds the best new ideas and proven practices from its network of thousands of leaders, then customizes and hardwires them into every level of member organizations, creating enduring value.

At **MEMBERS ONLY**SIGN UP NOW***., we serve not only our members but each other—that's why we are always working to make sure our employees love their jobs and are invested in their community. See how we've been recognized for this dedication to our employees by checking out our recent awards.

For more information, visit our Careers page.

The Role in Brief

Senior Director, Financial Aid Optimization

**MEMBERS ONLY**SIGN UP NOW***. seeks a Senior Director to lead the Enrollment Management Forum within the firm’s higher education best practice research division. The Research division conducts in-depth interviews with thought leaders at progressive institutions, and performs data and root cause analyses to identify market-leading strategies and best practices in our pursuit to make education smarter. The Enrollment Management Forum serves vice presidents of enrollment management and directors of admissions and financial aid at leading colleges and universities. The Forum’s research investigates the impact of the economy and demographics on enrollment, college-going behavior and decision-making among students, frontier marketing and admissions practice, and the role of analytics and forecasting to support institutional mission and financial goals.

The Senior Director leads a team of consultants and analysts in producing national roundtable meetings for member organizations, on-site workshops, web-conferences, digital content, and print publications. You will also be a valued expert consultant to **MEMBERS ONLY**SIGN UP NOW***. member organizations, advising them on strategy and best practice implementation. The Senior Director collaborates with senior leaders in the commercial division as well to ensure that we are delivering outsized value to current and prospective members.

This role is based in Washington D.C.

Primary Responsibilities:

The Enrollment Management Forum Senior Director will develop an annual research agenda that addresses the major strategic, management and operational issues facing enrollment leaders today, and is responsible for executing against that agenda across the year. Senior Directors assume an integral role in moving the substance of major research studies forward and provide intellectual leadership within teams and terrain leadership across the firm. They provide analytical direction and guidance throughout all stages of the research process, working through extensive primary and secondary research, hypothesis generation and testing, rigorous analysis of findings, and the final presentation of ideas. Staff and team management is a key component of the position. Senior Directors are responsible for the professional development and career guidance of a team of consultants and analysts.

In addition to research leadership, the Senior Director collaborates with senior colleagues in Research to set the strategic direction for the program. The Senior Director will be expected to develop deep expertise in the enrollment terrain, stay ahead of market trends, and anticipate and meet evolving client needs. The Senior Director collaborates with senior leaders across **MEMBERS ONLY**SIGN UP NOW***.’s commercial and Enrollment Services divisions to ensure our research, products, and services deliver outsized value to current and prospective member organizations.

Skills Core to the Senior Director role include:

Terrain Mastery and Intellectual Thought Leadership
Research Project, Process and Staff Management
Study Writing and Editorial Oversight
Presentation Development and Facilitation
Outstanding Interpersonal Relationship Building and Communication
Product and Process Innovation

The position requires occasional travel (approximately 15-25%) for presenting research findings to our members as well as facilitating strategy sessions.

Basic Qualifications:

Bachelor’s Degree
7+ years of experience
Experience with at least three of the following:
Management or strategy consulting
Conducting long-term research (at least 3 months in duration)
Writing in-depth reports in a professional setting
Conducting primary and secondary research
New product or business development

Proven ability to communicate effectively with senior executives in both oral and written formats
Demonstrated experience in managing projects and meeting deadlines

Ideal Qualifications:

Advanced degree in the liberal arts, sciences, or professions (MA, PhD, JD, MBA)
Experience working in a team environment, as well as independently and autonomously
Experience with solution-focused problem solving and thinking through problems creatively
Experience working with clients in a consultative role
Experience working with higher education enrollment leaders, cabinets, or boards, either at a college or university or serving/advising college or university clients

Benefits

Consistent with our belief that our employees are our most valuable resource, **MEMBERS ONLY**SIGN UP NOW***. offers a competitive benefits package:

Medical, dental, and vision insurance, dependents eligible
401(k) retirement plan with company match
Generous PTO
Daytime leave policy for community service or fitness activities (up to 10 hours a month each)
Wellness programs including gym discounts and incentives to promote healthy living
Dynamic growth opportunities with merit-based promotion philosophy
Benefits kick in day one, see the full details here.

At **MEMBERS ONLY**SIGN UP NOW***., we believe that to fulfill our mission to “make education smarter and our communities stronger” we need team members who bring a diversity of perspectives to the table and a workplace where each team member is valued, respected and heard.

To that end, **MEMBERS ONLY**SIGN UP NOW***. is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and we make employment decisions on the basis of qualifications, merit and business need. We don’t discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status or any other basis covered by appropriate law.

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