Financial Aid Advisor

Springfield Empowerment Zone Partnership; Springfield (MA); On-site; USD 44,000 - 58,000; Full time

Job summary

Springfield Public Schools in Massachusetts is seeking a Financial Aid Advisor to provide district-wide financial aid services to students. You will assist students and families with FAFSA, scholarships, and aid award explanations, coordinating with partner organizations as needed.

The role requires evenings and weekends, with a 7.5-hour day schedule and 52 weeks per year, including paid vacation. Strong communication and confidentiality skills are essential.

Qualifications

• Associates degree required; Bachelor's preferred.
• Experience in financial aid; proficient in Microsoft Office.
• Experience in a youth development model and with diverse populations.
• Knowledge of Springfield community is highly desired.
• Strong group facilitation skills.
• Initiative, judgment and ability to handle confidential matters; strong problem solving skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work with collaborative teams.
• Excellent interpersonal skills to work effectively with students, parents, administrators and staff.
• Ability to work flexible hours including 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 to travel from school to school in a timely fashion.

Responsibilities

• Ensure all students complete FAFSA and related surveys and receive counseling on aid packages.
• Research and help students apply for scholarships.
• Conducts verification of student/parent data per federal criteria.
• Provide financial aid counseling and refer to partner organizations as needed.
• Support students facing financial crises affecting school performance.
• Interact with outside entities to facilitate eligibility processes.
• Maintain database systems and generate reports.
• Participate in annual training and professional development.
• Provide summer support for fall matriculation.

Skills

Financial aid experience

MS Office

Youth development

Diversity outreach

Facilitation

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Interpersonal skills

Evenings/weekends

Driver's license

Travel between schools

Education

Associates degree required

Bachelor's degree preferred

Job description

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, Honors 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.
• Conducts verification of student and parent application data in compliance with federal criteria.
• Provides 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.
• Provides 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.
• Interacts with appropriate outside entities in order to facilitate the student eligibility process or to conduct the duties associated with an assigned area of specialization.
• Maintains appropriate database systems and generates reports.
• Participates 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.
• Performs 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.

"If you BELIEVE, we have a place for YOU on our team! Come work for us!"

About Our District

Springfield Public Schools is a cultural gem in Western Massachusetts that is committed to providing a learning environment that opens the doors of infinite possibilities to our amazing students and staff. We strive to equip each of our approximately 24,000 students with learning experiences that enhance their knowledge and critical thinking skills. We are the 3rd largest district in Massachusetts. Our district has over 44 languages spoken and over 60 countries represented by both students and staff. We foster a positive and professional environment in our schools and worksites where people feel valued, respected, supported, seen and heard. Our students and staff share their ideas and perspectives, learning from and appreciating each other. We are a district that is committed to equity and excellence.

Join a team that Empowers Educators

In addition to offering competitive salaries and benefits, we provide numerous cutting-edge professional development opportunities for all staff. We let our data shape the professional development of the district, therefore, it is relevant and actionable. We support our teaching staff with mentors such as instructional leadership specialists and effective educator coaches to work with them throughout the year in lesson planning, data analysis and management. Our district offers career advancement opportunities and is invested in “Grow our Own” and educational pipeline programs. These programs help our staff achieve a college degree or lead to certification pathways.

If there is something that you would like to know specifically about the position that you are applying for or assistance with matching your skills to a position, Carmen Molina-Figueroa will be happy to assist you at [e-mail].

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, [e-mail], 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 in Legal Services, 1550 Main Street, Springfield, MA 01103, 413-787-7100 ext. 55325, [e-mail].

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 [e-mail]