Project Assistant

New York State Higher Education Services Corporation; City of Albany (NY); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid schedule

Health insurance

Dental & Vision

ERS Pension

Deferred compensation

529/ABLE programs

PSLF

Job summary

New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) seeks an experienced program administrator to support the Healthcare Workers for Our Future Scholarship and other grant programs. You will be the daily contact for inquiries, draft responses, and coordinate with ITS and outreach teams to ensure accurate data in scholarship systems.

The role emphasizes collaboration with division leadership, reporting, and stakeholder communications, with a hybrid work arrangement and opportunities to

Qualifications

• Two years of experience administering student financial aid, working with students, parents, and/or post-secondary educational institutions, or interpreting and applying laws, rules, and regulations related to student financial aid programs.
• Bachelor’s degree counts toward 1 year of required experience listed above.

Responsibilities

• Support management of Healthcare Workers for Our Future Scholarship and other grant programs, serving as a daily HESC contact for inquiries.
• Draft well-crafted responses regarding awards and the program for constituents, partners, and interested parties.
• Liaise with agency program staff including digital team, outreach staff, call center and partners.
• Work with awardees to obtain signed contracts and monitor contract status.
• Update Scholarships database and manage reporting requirements with up-to-date metrics.
• Provide regular updates to management and create presentations for reports.

Skills

Financial aid knowledge

Post-secondary requirements

Student diversity experience

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Higher education advocacy

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

• Support management of Healthcare Workers for Our Future Scholarship, as well as other grant and scholarship programs and serve as a daily HESC contact for all inquiries pertaining to these programs, providing technical guidance and assistance with program operations. May handle other scholarship programs as assigned.
• Draft well-crafted responses and respond to inquiries regarding awards and the program, from constituents, partners, interested parties.
• Liaison with various agency program staff including HESC’s digital team, outreach staff, call center, other state and local partners.
• Work with awardees to obtain signed contracts and monitor the status of contracts returned.
• Update Scholarships database and manage reporting requirements and keep up to date metrics as they relate to programs.
• Provide regular updates to supervisors, Program Manager, Division Directors, Vice President of Grants and Scholarships, Executive VP and other staff and create presentations for report out to management and other stakeholders when needed.
• Participate in the formulation of recommendations regarding reporting, tracking, managing program and resolving issues and coordinate resolution of findings and implementation of modifications.
• Draft communication to awardees and colleges.
• Work with ITS and Grants and Scholarships team to ensure HESC databases have relevant information to collect data from schools on participant enrollment and issue payments.
• Compile data as requested for supervisors/division management.
• Work with Division management to implement any changes to workflow, programs, policies, procedures, etc.
• Supervise clerical employees by prioritizing work assignments, ensuring efficient and effective workflow, and training and evaluating staff.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualification

Two years* of experience administering student financial aid, working with students, parents, and/or post-secondary educational institutions, or the interpretation and application of laws, rules, and regulations related to student financial aid programs.

• Bachelor’s degree counts toward 1 year of required experience listed above.

Duties Include But Are Not Limited To

Duties Description

• Support management of Healthcare Workers for Our Future Scholarship, as well as other grant and scholarship programs and serve as a daily HESC contact for all inquiries pertaining to these programs, providing technical guidance and assistance with program operations. May handle other scholarship programs as assigned.
• Draft well-crafted responses and respond to inquiries regarding awards and the program, from constituents, partners, interested parties.
• Liaison with various agency program staff including HESC’s digital team, outreach staff, call center, other state and local partners.
• Work with awardees to obtain signed contracts and monitor the status of contracts returned.
• Update Scholarships database and manage reporting requirements and keep up to date metrics as they relate to programs.
• Provide regular updates to supervisors, Program Manager, Division Directors, Vice President of Grants and Scholarships, Executive VP and other staff and create presentations for report out to management and other stakeholders when needed.
• Participate in the formulation of recommendations regarding reporting, tracking, managing program and resolving issues and coordinate resolution of findings and implementation of modifications.
• Draft communication to awardees and colleges.
• Work with ITS and Grants and Scholarships team to ensure HESC databases have relevant information to collect data from schools on participant enrollment and issue payments.
• Compile data as requested for supervisors/division management.
• Work with Division management to implement any changes to workflow, programs, policies, procedures, etc.
• Supervise clerical employees by prioritizing work assignments, ensuring efficient and effective workflow, and training and evaluating staff.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualification

Two years* of experience administering student financial aid, working with students, parents, and/or post-secondary educational institutions, or the interpretation and application of laws, rules, and regulations related to student financial aid programs.

• Bachelor’s degree counts toward 1 year of required experience listed above.

Preffered Qualifications

• Extensive knowledge/experience working with financial aid programs for higher education
• Familiarity of post-secondary education requirements and options, application procedures and admission requirements
• Experience working with a diverse population of graduate/undergraduate students
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including public speaking skills and listening skill.
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Commitment to the value of higher education
• Strong interpersonal and human relations skills.

It is essential that candidates clearly and concisely indicate exactly how they meet the above minimum qualifications in their resume. Failure to show how you meet the minimum qualifications above may result in disqualification and removal from consideration.

Additional Comments

NYS is an equal opportunity employer.

Benefits of Working for NYS

Generous benefits package, worth 65% of salary, including:

Holiday & Paid Time Off

• Thirteen (13) paid holidays annually, plus two (2) floating holidays
• Up to Thirteen (13) days of paid vacation leave annually
• Up to Five (5) days of paid personal leave annually
• Up to Thirteen (13) days of paid sick leave annually for CSEA or PEF; up to eight (8) days of paid sick leave annually for M/C
• Up to three (3) days of professional leave annually to participate in professional development
• Initially positions will work full-time in the office and a hybrid telecommuting schedule of up to 50% remote work can be discussed with the hiring manager during the interview.

Health Care Benefits

• Eligible employees and dependents can pick from a variety of affordable health insurance programs
• Family dental and vision benefits at no additional cost

Additional Benefits

• New York State Employees’ Retirement System (ERS) Membership
• NYS Deferred Compensation
• Access to NY 529 and NY ABLE College Savings Programs, as well as U.S. Savings Bonds
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
• And many more.