Financial Aid Advisor

DEPARTMENT OR SCHOOL : Office for Student Services/Serving the following Schools: Alternative Campuses, Aspire Academy, Central, Conservatory of the Arts, Career Academy at Rise, Commerce, Discovery, Duggan, Emergence academy, Putnam, Renaissance, Sci-Tech, Springfield Honors, Baystate Acacemy, Librertas Academy, Springfield International, Veritas Prep, and Phoenix Charter. School assignment(s) will be determined. SALARY: $43,650- $57,737 WORK SCHEDULE: Effective Immediately; 7.5 hours per day – 52 weeks per year including paid vacation time (2 weeks). Evenings and weekends are required and determined by the Springfield Promise Program Calendar of Events. Summary Of Position The Financial Aid Advisor (FAA), under the direction of the Office for Student Services provides financial aid services to students on a district-wide basis. The FAA supports students and parents in the financial aid and scholarship process. The FAA will help students and parents understand student needs analysis and facilitate problem solving with students and parents. Duties Ensure that all students complete the FAFSA, Post Secondary Plan surveys, CSS/Financial Aid Profile, verification, and school specific/institutional financial aid applications, and receive counseling to evaluate their financial aid award letters and appeals. Research and help students apply for scholarships. Conduct verification of student and parent application data in compliance with federal criteria. Provide financial aid counseling to students and parents regarding all aspects of the financial aid process. Make necessary referrals to other work with high-quality partner organizations to support the FAFSA process where necessary. Provide support to students experiencing financial crises which may impact school performance and college attainment. Specific focus on working with special needs populations to identify unique needs and coordinate appropriate services i.e. questions regarding citizenship. Interact with appropriate outside entities in order to facilitate the student eligibility process or to conduct the duties associated with an assigned area of specialization. Maintain appropriate database systems and generates reports. Participate in annual training and professional organizations to keep abreast of new information and program changes to be implemented. Provide support to students and parents over the summer to improve fall matriculation. Perform other related duties as assigned. Qualifications Associates degree required, Bachelor's degree preferred. Experience in financial aid, Proficient in computer/technical skills with Microsoft Office. Experience in a youth development model and experience working with diverse populations. Knowledge of Springfield community is highly desired. Possess strong group facilitation skills. Initiative, judgment and ability to deal with confidential matters; strong problem solving skills. Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Ability to work with collaborative teams. Excellent interpersonal skills needed to work effectively with students, parents, administrators and staff. Ability to work flexible hours that will include evenings and some weekends. Ability to communicate goals and financial aid philosophy to a wide variety of individuals. Positive attitude and desire to help students and the college obtain their goals. Must possess a valid driver’s license. Must have reliable transportation other than public transportation to travel from school to school in a timely fashion. NONDISCRIMINATION EMPLOYMENT STATEMENT The Springfield Public Schools does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, genetic information, pregnancy or pregnancy related conditions, ancestry, age, disability, veteran status, or marital status. NOTICE OF SEX NONDISCRIMINATION Springfield Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of sex and prohibits sex discrimination, including sexual harassment, in any education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and its regulations, including in admission and employment. Inquiries about Title IX may be referred to the Springfield Public Schools’ Title IX Coordinator, titleix@springfieldpublicschools.com, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights at https://ocrcas.ed.gov/contact-ocr, or both. The Springfield Public Schools Title IX Coordinator is Jeremy Saint Laurent, Chief Legal Counsel of Legal Services, 1550 Main Street, Springfield, MA 01103, 413-787-7100 ext. 55325, titleix@springfieldpublicschools.com. Springfield Public School’s sex nondiscrimination policy and grievance procedures can be located on the Springfield Public Schools website, www.springfieldpublicschools.com/non-discrimination. To report information about conduct that may constitute sex discrimination or make a complaint of sex discrimination under Title IX, please refer to titleix@springfieldpublicschools.com #J-18808-Ljbffr