Financial Aid Technical Lead

Position Title:

Financial Aid Technical Lead

Job Group:

Professional & Scientific

Required Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree and 5 years of related experience

Job Description:

Power the systems that help students move forward.

Iowa State University is seeking a Financial Aid Technical Lead (Business Systems Analyst III) to guide the technology behind a critical part of the student experience: financing a college education. Your work will strengthen the systems that support financial aid and scholarships, helping our Cyclones in the Making—and current students—pursue their Iowa State education.

We’re a “creative yes” organization. We approach challenges with curiosity, explore what’s possible, and work together to find a path forward. If you enjoy solving complex problems and building technology solutions with a clear human purpose, you’ll find meaningful work here.

Your impact

You’ll serve as the functional and technical owner of Student Financial Aid systems, connecting financial aid needs with reliable, effective technology. Working with Financial Aid leadership, Enrollment Solutions, campus technology teams, and vendors, you will:

Own and improve essential systems. Guide the configuration, administration, and integration of financial aid and scholarship platforms, collaborating with campus partners on Workday Student.

Turn needs into solutions. Translate business requirements into technical plans, build automated processes, and develop queries, reports, and dashboards that support financial aid operations.

Keep services dependable. Troubleshoot complex issues, monitor system performance, and address process gaps before they disrupt work.

Lead change with confidence. Coordinate upgrades, regulatory updates, testing, and releases while supporting compliance, security, and data governance requirements.

Move projects forward. Lead financial aid technology initiatives from planning through implementation, coordinating resources, dependencies, and stakeholder communication.

Help people succeed. Serve as a trusted technical resource, create clear documentation, and train staff to make effective use of new tools and functionality.

What will help you thrive

You combine technical judgment with an understanding of financial aid processes and the people who depend on them. You’re comfortable investigating a system issue, translating a complex requirement, and helping colleagues understand what comes next. You build strong partnerships, anticipate challenges, and balance opportunities for improvement with the precision that financial aid work demands.

Why Iowa State

Behind every financial aid process is a student making decisions about their future. Your expertise will help keep those processes reliable and responsive while giving staff better tools to support students.

You’ll have opportunities to shape essential technology, guide projects across teams, and see your solutions become part of everyday university operations. Conferences, training, and a national peer network will support your continued professional growth.

Bring your technical expertise and instinct for solving problems. Help us make the path forward clearer for students.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience translating business requirements into technical solutions
• Previous experience in a higher education setting
• Enrollment management experience
• Experience with Workday, Docfinity, and/or NextGen
• For more information about what Enrollment Solutions does, please visit: https://www.iastate.edu/admission-and-aid
• Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an ongoing basis without sponsorship. Immigration sponsorship is not available for this position.
• Application Instructions: To apply for this position, please click on “Apply” and complete the Employment Application. Please be prepared to enter or attach the following:
• Resume/Curriculum Vitae
• Letter of Application/Cover Letter
• Why Choose Iowa State University?
• Iowa State Employees enjoy comprehensive health and work-life benefits, including medical and dental, as well as:
• Retirement benefits including defined benefit and defined contribution plans
• Generous vacation, holiday, and sick time and leave plans
• Onsite childcare (Ames, Iowa)
• Life insurance and long-term disability
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Various voluntary benefits and discounts
• Employee Assistance Program
• Wellbeing program
• If you have questions regarding this application process, please email employment@iastate.edu, or call 515-294-4800 or Toll Free: 1-877-477-7485.
• Appointment Type: Regular
• Number of Months Employed Per Year: 12 Month Work Period
• Time Type: Full time
• Pay Grade: PS811
• Original Posting Date: October 8, 2026
• Posting Close Date: October 25, 2026
• Job Requisition Number: R20051
• Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, ethnicity, religion, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, genetic information, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. Veteran. Inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies may be directed to Office of Equal Opportunity, 2680 Beardshear Hall, 515 Morrill Road, Ames, Iowa 50011, Tel. 515-294-7612, email eooffice@iastate.edu .
• General ISU compensation information can be found on the University Human Resources website. Please note that this is only a list of ranges and individuals will be paid commensurate with qualifications.