Financial Aid Staff Assistant, Divinity School

Duke University; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 26,064 - 38,696; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive medical and dental care

Generous retirement benefits

Family-friendly cultural programs

Job summary

A prestigious university located in Durham, NC, is seeking a Financial Aid Staff Assistant to support students in navigating the financial aid process. The role entails counseling students on aid options, reviewing applications, and managing communications regarding financial aid. Ideal candidates will have clerical experience and a strong understanding of financial aid processes. This is a full-time, onsite position with a competitive salary range of $18.92 to $28.09 per hour, plus benefits to enhance work-life balance.

Qualifications

• Broad knowledge of clerical and accounting principles typically acquired through two years of post-secondary education in administrative support.
• Three years of related clerical, administrative, or office support experience.
• Ability to manage confidential information with discretion and professionalism.

Responsibilities

• Counsel prospective and current students on federal financial aid processes.
• Review financial aid applications, determine eligibility and financial need.
• Manage student communications through phone, email, and walk-in inquiries.

Skills

Clerical knowledge

Accounting principles

Discretion

Communication

Technical proficiency (Word, Zoom, PowerPoint)

Education

Two years post-secondary education in administrative support

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

PeopleSoft

Slate

Job description

Financial Aid Staff Assistant

Duke Divinity School is looking for a Financial Aid Staff Assistant to join our student-focused, mission-driven Financial Aid team. In this role, you will play a pivotal part in helping prospective and current students understand and navigate the financial aid process so they can fully engage in their theological education and vocational formation.

You will work closely with students from inquiry through enrollment and beyond—answering questions, reviewing applications, packaging aid, and helping remove financial barriers to ministry preparation. If you thrive in a service-oriented environment, enjoy building relationships, and value precision and compliance within a complex regulatory landscape, this role offers meaningful work with lasting impact.

Minimum Requirements

• Broad knowledge of clerical and accounting principles typically acquired through two years of post-secondary education in administrative support, business, or a related field
• Three years of related clerical, administrative, or office support experience, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience
• Ability to manage confidential information with discretion and professionalism

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree
• 1–2 years of experience in financial aid administration, admissions, student services, or a related function in higher education
• Familiarity with financial aid policies, funding sources, and regulatory compliance
• Experience using higher education systems such as PeopleSoft, Slate, or similar databases

Other Requirements

• Proficiency with word processing, databases, Zoom, and PowerPoint
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including occasional evenings and weekends during recruitment or key processing periods
• This position is onsite, with work performed at Duke Divinity School in Durham, North Carolina

In This Role, You Will

• Counsel prospective and current students on federal financial aid processes, institutional aid, and external funding opportunities
• Review financial aid applications and documentation, determine eligibility and financial need, and package aid according to federal, University, and Divinity School policies and deadlines
• Manage student communications by responding to phone, email, and walk‑in inquiries promptly and professionally
• Ensure accuracy and timeliness of financial aid awards posted to students’ bursar accounts
• Administer key programs, including federal work‑study job postings, external scholarship processing, and Divinity School institutional scholarships
• Maintain and enhance online resources, including the Divinity School’s external scholarship webpage
• Coordinate with Divinity School HR, hiring departments, and Duke University Student Employment on student hiring processes
• Prepare reports and data related to financial aid programs as requested by Duke University and Duke Divinity School
• Represent the Office of Financial Aid at recruitment, yield, and admitted‑student events

Job Code: 00000148 STAFF ASST

Job Level: 08

Anticipated Pay Range: Duke University provides an annual base salary range for this position as USD $18.92 to USD $28.09.

Benefits: Your total compensation goes beyond the dollars on your paycheck. Duke provides comprehensive and competitive medical and dental care programs, generous retirement benefits, and a wide array of family-friendly and cultural programs to eligible team members.

Equal Opportunity Employer: Duke is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, (including pregnancy and pregnancy related conditions), sexual orientation, or military status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourish. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Essential Physical Job Functions

Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and reasonable accommodation(s) can be requested with Duke Access and Accommodations Services (email: [e-mail]; phone: [phone]).