Financial Aid Outreach Specialist
Olympic College
- Bremerton, WA
- $52,743-56,699 per year
- Permanent
- Full-time
- Independently advise students and families, consult with co-workers, K-12, and community partners, other OC departments, and other institutions of higher education about financial aid processes, policies, and procedures.
- Assist high school students and their families, and recent high school graduates with FAFSA/WAFSA completion.
- Convey clear, concise, and factual financial aid messaging to all stakeholders.
- Interpret and communicate complex financial aid, waiver, and scholarship information in easy-to-understand language to high school students and their families.
- Lead financial aid outreach and college affordability programming in collaboration with staff at Olympic College, Kitsap Strong, other community-based organizations, and assigned high schools.
- Partner with college staff, high school staff, and community-based organizations on outreach efforts targeting high school seniors, including working at multiple sites with multiple policies, procedures, and organizational cultures.
- Partner with high school staff and use the WSAC FAFSA Portal to identify students who need additional support to complete their financial aid application and/or transition to postsecondary education.
- Coordinate and/or support virtual and in-person financial aid-related events hosted by high school and community-based partners.
- Contribute to the development and implementation of a financial aid outreach plan to promote state and federal financial aid and private scholarships throughout Olympic Educational Service District 114, with special focus on outreach in high schools in Kitsap and Mason counties.
- Use various communication strategies including text, email, social media, school announcements, family bulletins, phone, and newsletters to reach students and their guardians needing to complete the FAFSA or WASFA application.
- Track student progress, collect, analyze, and report on data related to student outreach, financial aid progress, and Financial Aid completion.
- Participate in the development of program priorities as a member of the K-12 Partnerships Department, including but not limited to developing and maintaining programming to build campus and community involvement between the high schools and Olympic College.
- Contribute to program development, strategic planning, goal setting, and workplans in collaboration with the Financial Aid Outreach team, Outreach Department, K-12 Partnerships, Student Services & Student Affairs divisions through regular attendance at weekly and monthly meetings in-person or online.
- Track student progress toward FAFSA/WAFSA completion and milestone achievement.
- Enter, clean, and maintain case management data regarding interactions with students and families related to the completion of a FAFSA or WASFA.
- Knowledge, Skills and Abilities required to perform the duties and task of this position:
- Engage in self-reflection and professional development toward career progression.
- Demonstrate excellent, proactive customer service skills including active listening, interpersonal skills, emotional intelligence, and personal management of stress.
- Understand the needs of the community college and high school students.
- Perform other related duties as required.
- 2 years relevant work experience
- Demonstrated ability navigating K-12 education systems
- Strong oral, written and interpersonal communication skills
- Demonstrated ability to manage and prioritize multiple tasks and deadlines while being attentive to details
- Demonstrated experience with working effectively with persons from diverse backgrounds, such a racial, ethnic, religious, linguistic, gender, age, sexual orientation, socio-economic, and with diverse physical and learning disabilities
- Proven highly motivated, self-starter, flexible and adaptable
- Strong organizational and problem-solving skills
- Familiarity and proficiency with various technologies, including but not limited to student database systems, customer relationship management software and student success technologies
- Bachelor's Degree
- Experience using databases and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software
- Proficiency with MS Office 365 applications
- Experience with FAFSA and WASFA filing assistance
- Two years' experience or equivalent in secondary education, a college access organization, or related experience supporting students' transition from high school to postsecondary education
- Demonstrated knowledge of college access strategies for underserved students including low-income, first-generation, students of color, and students whose primary language is not English
- Understand the needs of the community college and high school students.
- Understand complex oral and written instructions.
- Display strong organizational and analytical skills.
- Independently prioritize and organize assigned work.
- Function as a team player.
- Contribute to a positive and effective work environment.
- Demonstrate the ability to work independently, read, understand and interpret policies and procedures.
- Meet deadlines.
- Demonstrate excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Foster a climate of understanding and appreciation for diversity. Ability to interact successfully with individuals and groups representing a wide range of diverse cultural, geographic and socioeconomic backgrounds.
- Demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to the Olympic College mission, vision and values.