Senior Advisor, Financial Aid

Ie University; Madrid; On-site; EUR 52,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

IE University is seeking a Senior Advisor – Financial Aid to lead workload coordination and team development within the Financial Aid unit at the Madrid campus. The role focuses on delivering high-quality candidate support, streamlining processes, and driving improvements in operations.

The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor’s degree, strong English and Spanish proficiency, and experience in student advising or financial services within an international education setting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree minimum.
• Advanced in English and Spanish (written and spoken).
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Strong organizational abilities in a fast-paced, international setting.
• Experience collaborating across departments and balancing objectives with student support.
• Proficiency with Excel, CRM and the Microsoft app ecosystem.
• Experience in student advising, financial services, or international education.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate day-to-day workload distribution within the Advisor team.
• Provide hands-on support while focusing on senior-level coordination.
• Onboard, recruit, and train Advisors and interns.
• Participate in first-stage Advisor interviews.
• Lead continuous improvement across processes and use of AI/automation.
• Collaborate with Admissions, Recruitment, Marketing and other teams to align Financial Aid with enrollment goals.
• Represent Financial Aid at events and information sessions.

Skills

Public speaking

English & Spanish

Organizational skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Excel

CRM

Student advising

International education

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

CRM software

Microsoft Office

Job description

Overview

Are you interested in joining a dynamic and international team of professionals to transform education? IE University's Financial Aid is looking for an Senior Advisor to join its team!

As global competition in higher education intensifies, Financial Aid has evolved into a strategic pillar of IE University’s mission — ensuring that exceptional talent from all backgrounds can access our programs. Beyond awarding scholarships and loans, our Financial Aid team drives recruitment, enhances the candidate journey, and strengthens IE’s global presence through strategic communication, data-driven insight, and meaningful outreach.

The Senior Advisor - Financial Aid combines direct candidate support with day-to-day operational coordination of the Advisor team. The role ensures consistent, high-quality service, coordinates workload and training, resolves complex cases, and drives continuous improvement across Financial Aid operations.

Why IE University?

Every story begins with a purpose, and ours has always been about people. Founded in 1973, IE University has continuously raised the bar to drive positive change through education. We believe education is more than a path to professional success; it is a catalyst for personal transformation and meaningful impact.

At IE University, we place people and their potential at the center of everything we do, empowering individuals to become extraordinary. We encourage bold thinking and foster a culture where innovation, curiosity, and courage lead to real-world impact. Together, we create an environment where talent thrives, and ideas shape the future.

Our mission

We support students in developing impact skills to live and lead with positive impact. This ignites a ripple effect: We transform people, who then transform others, systems, society, and, ultimately, our world.

Our Purpose

To foster positive change.

Values

• Cultivate the humanistic approach.
• Empower your entrepreneurial spirit
• Cherish the diversity of people, mind, and experience
• Drive innovation with a proactive mindset

We are looking for a person to join a full-time position in Madrid - IE Tower, Segovia Campus, María de Molina, Pinar 18, Velázquez, etc.

Responsibilities

Your role as a Senior Advisor will involve:

Team coordination and workload management:

• Coordinate day-to-day workload distribution across the Advisor team, including coverage during absences and peak periods. Monitor core activities such as inbox management, calls, case preparation, application follow-up, and front-office support.
• Provide hands‑on support with Advisor tasks when operationally necessary, while maintaining focus on senior‑level coordination.
• Maintain regular communication with Advisors to identify operational needs, remove blockers, and implement practical solutions.
• Manage complex and sensitive cases, including escalations, complaints, and review requests, coordinating with key stakeholders and determining when issues should be escalated to management.
• Hiring, onboarding and training
• Participate in first‑stage interviews for Advisor and related recruitment processes.
• Coordinate intern recruitment processes where applicable.
• Plan and coordinate onboarding, role training, refresher sessions, and ongoing knowledge development for Advisors.

Continuous improvement and cross‑team coordination:

• Identify and deliver continuous improvement opportunities across systems, internal workflows, training, and service delivery, including the adoption of AI and automation tools.
• Work proactively with Senior Advisors and relevant stakeholders in other key teams to resolve operational pain points.
• Coordinate training or information sessions for other teams when needed to strengthen shared understanding of Financial Aid processes.
• Contribute to process improvement initiatives that enhance efficiency, data quality, compliance, and the candidate experience

Projects, analysis and institutional contribution:

• Lead or support unit‑specific projects and funding initiatives.
• Partner with management and key stakeholders to administer processes for IE Foundation Scholarships.
• Track and interpret award/scholarship activity, conversion, and operating data to support decision‑making and service improvement.
• Represent Financial Aid in relevant events, information sessions, and cross‑functional initiatives.
• Collaborate with Admissions, Recruitment, Marketing, and other institutional teams to connect Financial Aid activity with enrollment and inclusion objectives.

Qualifications

To thrive in this role, you should possess the following qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree minimum.

• Advanced in English and Spanish (written and spoken).
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, comfortable speaking in public.
• Strong organizational skills, able to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast‑paced, international environment.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively across departments and balance commercial objectives with student support.
• Proficiency with Excel, CRM and the Microsoft app ecosystem.
• Previous experience in student advising, financial services, or international education.

Unleash your full potential and make an impact. The next move is yours!

At IE University, we actively promote equal opportunities in recruitment processes and access to employment, always ensuring the absence of gender, sexual orientation, religion, age, ethnic origin, or disability bias throughout the entire selection process.