Customer Service Specialist

University of the Cumberlands; Williamsburg (KY); On-site; USD 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

University of the Cumberlands in Kentucky is seeking a Customer Service Specialist to serve as the second tier of student support. You will handle escalated calls, manage student emails, and provide overflow coverage for the CSR queue.

You will also resolve financial aid and student account questions directly and document all interactions in the university system. With training in financial aid and student accounts, you will aim to resolve issues on first or second contact, reducing repeated

Qualifications

• Associate degree or equivalent experience required; B.A. or B.S. preferred.
• One year of experience as a Customer Service Representative at the University, or in a comparable contact center or student services role, preferred.
• Strong computer skills including proficiency in Microsoft Office, with a willingness to learn University software products.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including occasional weekend work.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the front line for calls escalated by Customer Service Representatives.
• Provide overflow coverage for the initial Customer Service Representative queue during peak periods.
• Respond to student emails and CSR teams chats in a timely, professional, and tactful manner.
• Resolve financial aid and student account questions directly, including award status, missing documents and requirements, FAFSA and verification status, account balances, charges, payments, and refunds.
• Identify the underlying cause of a student's contact and take action to resolve it, rather than taking a message or forwarding the issue.
• Route complex cases to a Financial Aid Specialist with complete and accurate case notes so the student does not need to repeat information.
• Document all student interactions accurately in University systems.
• Serve as a resource to Customer Service Representatives and assist with training and knowledge sharing.
• Stay informed about changes in financial aid and student accounts policies and procedures.
• Ensure compliance with FERPA and all University policies governing student information.

Skills

Financial aid knowledge

Telephone skills

Communication with students

Problem-solving

Attention to detail

FERPA compliance

Education

Associate degree or equivalent experience

B.A. or B.S. preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Get Set for Cumberlands! Join our team of student-focused individuals working together in order to encourage intellectual and spiritual growth, leadership and service. CURRENT STUDENT or EMPLOYEE? Please log into Workday and use the Career Tile to find and apply to jobs from our internal career sites.

Under the general direction of the [SAH Manager], the Customer Service Specialist serves as the second tier of student support in SAH. The Customer Service Specialist handles tier 2 and escalated calls, works student email, and provides overflow coverage for the Customer Service Representative queue. With additional training in financial aid and student accounts, the Customer Service Specialist is expected to resolve student issues on the first or second contact rather than relaying them, reducing repeat calls and emails.

Essential Job Functions:

• Serve as the front line for calls escalated by Customer Service Representatives.
• Provide overflow coverage for the initial Customer Service Representative queue during peak periods.
• Respond to student emails and CSR teams chats in a timely, professional, and tactful manner.
• Resolve financial aid and student account questions directly, including award status, missing documents and requirements, FAFSA and verification status, account balances, charges, payments, and refunds.
• Identify the underlying cause of a student's contact and take action to resolve it, rather than taking a message or forwarding the issue.
• Route complex cases to a Financial Aid Specialist with complete and accurate case notes so the student does not need to repeat information.
• Document all student interactions accurately in University systems.
• Serve as a resource to Customer Service Representatives and assist with training and knowledge sharing.
• Stay informed about changes in financial aid and student accounts policies and procedures.
• Ensure compliance with FERPA and all University policies governing student information.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Working knowledge of financial aid processes and student account functions, with a willingness to complete additional training in both areas.
• Outstanding telephone skills; polite, friendly manner working with students.
• Ability to communicate honestly and with tact, including when delivering difficult news.
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to resolve issues independently and know when to elevate.
• Ability to handle a high volume of phone, email, and chat inquiries while maintaining accuracy.
• Exceptional follow-up, follow-through, and attention to detail.
• Ability to manage confidential information and exercise sound judgment (FERPA).
• Initiative, adaptability, resourcefulness, and dependability.

Minimum Education and Experience:

• Associate degree or equivalent experience required; B.A. or B.S. preferred.
• One year of experience as a Customer Service Representative at the University, or in a comparable contact center or student services role, preferred.
• Strong computer skills including proficiency in Microsoft Office, with a willingness to learn University software products.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including occasional weekend work.

Office hours and work times are based on student needs, including availability for students worldwide.

Cumberlands is different by design. Our employees exemplify our motto in the pursuit of a “life-more-abundant.” Located in the heart of Appalachia, University of the Cumberlands (UC) is an institution of regional distinction that offers undergraduate degrees in more than 40 major fields of study, along with several pre-professional, graduate and doctoral programs.

With a total enrollment of more than 20,000 students, UC is one of the largest and fastest growing private universities in Kentucky and is devoted to preparing students for the future through hands-on, experiential learning and research.

The University of the Cumberlands does not illegally discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, disability, age, religion, genetic information, veteran status, because a person is a smoker or nonsmoker, or any other basis on which the University is prohibited from discrimination under local, state, or federal law, in its employment or in the provision of its services, including but not limited to its programs and activities, admissions, educational policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other University -administered programs.

In order to fulfill its purpose, the University may legally discriminate on the basis of religion in employment, and the University has sought and been granted exemption from certain regulations promulgated under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 which conflict with the University's religious tenets.