Salary: $89,053.00 - $110,180.00 Annually
Location : 1601 39th Ave SE, Puyallup, WA
Job Type: Administrative-Exempt
Job Number: A2606
Division: Learning & Student Success
Opening Date: 07/10/2026
Closing Date: 7/31/2026 5:00 PM Pacific

Position Summary
Please Note: The salary range for this position is $89,053.00 - $110,180.00 annually. The salary will be determined based on the candidate's qualifications and related experience. Typically, new hires start no higher than $92,764.00/year, based on Pierce College's Administrative/Exempt Compensation Plan.
The Associate Director of Financial Aid plays a key leadership role in supporting the Director of Financial Aid with the overall management of the Financial Aid Office and ensuring efficient, effective departmental operations. The Associate Director oversees daily operations and staff supervision, which includes managing and monitoring schedules, providing training and professional development, and fostering an environment that prioritizes excellent customer service.
The Associate Director will assist in developing departmental policies and procedures, ensuring compliance with federal and state regulations, performing internal audits, reconciliation of funds, and assisting in Federal Fiscal Operations Report and Application to Participate (FISAP) and the Washington State Achievement Council Unit Record Report (URR) preparation.
As a member of the Financial Aid Leadership Team, the Associate Director collaborates closely with the Director of Financial Aid and the Financial Aid Manager to set strategic vision for the department, establish goals, and drive initiatives to improve the financial aid experience for students and families.
This position reports directly to the Director of Financial Aid. This position requires regular and consistent attendance.
Essential Functions
The Associate Director of Financial Aid will be responsible for the following, but not limited to:
Department Leadership & Supervision

• Assist with the administration, funding and reconciliation of financial aid including but not limited to, Pell Grant, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Loans, Work Study, Washington College Grant, Scholarships, and Pierce College Grant.
• Provide direct supervision to financial aid staff, including assigning responsibilities, evaluating performance, and ensuring staff are trained in accordance with state and federal regulations and guidelines.
• Serve as the Director of Financial Aid as needed in the absence of the Director.
• Assist with developing policies, guidelines, and procedures that ensure regulatory compliance are consistent with institutional goals and are responsive to student needs.
• Serve as a resource to assist staff with complex situations and questions by troubleshooting issues and directing staff to helpful resources and guides.
• Ensure confidentiality of student financial aid data and compliance with FERPA and financial aid regulations to uphold privacy and security standards.
• Develop training materials and implement training opportunities for staff to ensure professional development and thorough understanding of financial aid practices.

Funds Management

• Serve as a liaison between financial aid, enrollment services, student financials and fiscal services, collaborating on account management, billings, disbursement, reconciliation, reports, fraud, and related matters.
• Review, process, and determine eligibility and fund amounts among federal, state, and institutional funds by applying extensive knowledge of regulations governing aid programs.
• Analyze and evaluate files for eligibility based on application data, federal database matches, and academic progress requirements.
• Review for over-awards or discrepant file information.
• Process withdrawal and repayment calculations.
• Collaborate with the workforce education staff to enter funds for students funded with worker retraining, Opportunity Grant, Basic Food, Education, and Training (BFET) programs.
• Collaborate with basic needs staff to enter funds for students funded with SSEH and SEAG emergency grants.
• Exercise professional judgment in making financial aid decisions with supporting documentation.
• Assist in monitoring student enrollment levels and financial aid distribution to make data-driven decisions.
• Develop quarterly priority timelines to ensure students have funding plans to support their financial needs.
• Work collaboratively to evaluate academic progress and maximum timeframe appeals in line with institutional and office policies for Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).
• Provide quality assurance checks of files processed by other staff members within the department to ensure regulations are being appropriately applied and students are being awarded equitably.
• Assist the director in reconciling expenditures of financial aid and scholarship accounts.
• Assist in resolving discrepancies including daily error reports.
• Review and update financial aid consumer information, student forms and work study job descriptions on a yearly basis and work with other team members to ensure forms and the web pages are current.
• Work collaboratively with Finance on drawdown processes in G5 and WSAC to ensure funds are appropriately collected and reconciled for all expenditures.

Technology & Compliance Reporting

• Assist with preparing and providing documentation to support reporting requirements to the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, the Washington Student Achievement Council, and other agencies as required for participation in federal and state financial aid programs. Reports include, but are not limited to, Fiscal Operations/Application to Participate report, the Unit Record Report, Washington College Grant, College Bound Scholarship, and State Work Study monthly cash requests.
• Ensure technology platforms used to manage financial aid applications, awards, and disbursements are functional, effective, and maintain compliance with state and federal regulations.
• Improve technology processes by evaluating, automating, and streamlining procedures to improve efficiency and provide timely distribution of funds and customer service to students.

Campus Involvement & Service to Community

• Conduct workshops and other informational activities for prospective and current students on campus and within the community when information on financial aid is requested.
• Collaborate with community agencies to ensure that students have the support needed to successfully apply for financial aid by completing the FAFSA and WASFA.
• Participate in professional organizations at the local, state, and regional levels.
• Maintain positive and collaborative working relationships with departments and divisions within the college.
• Serve on designated college committees, task forces and teams.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications
Education Required

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Education, or closely related field, from an accredited college or university.

Experience Required

• Three (3) or more years of experience administering financial aid in a higher education setting.
• Extensive knowledge of federal and state financial aid regulations and financial aid software systems.
• Supervisory experiencing including training others.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively to serve a diverse community of learners.
• Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills.

Special Requirements and/or Conditions of Employment

• After a conditional offer of employment, the successful candidate must consent to and pass a criminal records background check. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability to perform in this position.
• Must not be in default on student loans.

Required Competencies

• Demonstrated organizational skills, with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks simultaneously while ensuring deadlines are met and priorities receive appropriate attention.
• Proficiency in using computer software to run reports, create spreadsheets, and track, organize, and interpret data to support informed decision-making and monitor progress.
• Demonstrated ability to think critically about how to serve minoritized and underserved students and implement targeted strategies to do so.
• Ability to manage multiple competing priorities while maintaining high performance in stressful environments, including staying organized, focused, and adapting to changing circumstances to achieve desired outcomes.
• Ability to assess complex situations, identify problems, and develop effective solutions.
• Strong critical thinking skills and experience in consensus building and problem solving.
• Ability to effectively manage customer interactions by addressing concerns and complaints with empathy and resolving conflicts calmly.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in a team environment, both in person and virtually, across multiple locations and sites, including sharing ideas and supporting team members to achieve common goals.

Application Process

Application Requirements
To be considered for this position, applicants must:

• Meet the required qualifications as outlined in this announcement.
• Complete the online application profile at and apply for the specific job opening.
• Cover Letter: Upload (attach) a cover letter that addresses how you meet the required qualifications as outlined in this announcement.
• Resume: Upload (attach) detailed résumé of all educational and professional experience.
• Transcripts: Transcripts are not required in order to apply for this position; however, if you are selected for an interview, you will be asked to bring copies of unofficial transcripts showing completion of the required level of education and/or coursework. International transcript must include a foreign transcript evaluation. For a list of approved credential evaluation services, visit:
  • Please note: Certain positions require specific levels of educational attainment such as a post-secondary degree, licensures or certifications. In order to evaluate applicant materials to determine if the minimum qualifications are met, information regarding your education and experience should be included in your application materials.
  • Applications without transcripts attached, may receive notification that their application materials are incomplete. If you receive a notice and information has been provided elsewhere in your applications materials, please disregard. (Unofficial transcripts acceptable for application process; official transcripts required upon hire).
• References: Upload (attach) a list of at least three (3) professional references with names, telephone numbers, and e-mail addresses. One of which must be your current or most recent supervisor. Letters of recommendation will not be accepted.
• Supplemental Question: Provide a response to the following question.

Briefly describe how you have worked in your previous or current positions to advance equity, diversity, and inclusion in your organizations and how you would do that in this position. Please limit your response to a maximum of 500 words.

To learn more about our Equity, En