Temporary Financial Aid Specialist

Dickinson College; West (TX); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Dickinson College in Carlisle seeks a Financial Aid Specialist for a one-year temporary, full-time position. You will review applications, determine eligibility, and create financial aid offers using PowerFAIDS, supporting loan certification and ensuring compliance with federal/state policies.

The role requires an Associate degree (Bachelor's preferred) and 3–5 years of FA experience, with strong communication and organizational skills.

Qualifications

• Associate's degree required.
• Bachelor's degree preferred.
• Experience with financial aid packaging in PowerFAIDS.
• Familiarity with CSS Profile and institutional methodology.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Strong written and verbal communication, organization and time-management.
• 3–5 years of work experience in financial aid.

Responsibilities

• Review financial aid applications and determine eligibility.
• Package institutional, federal, and state aid to meet enrollment goals.
• Verify student eligibility by reconciling FAFSA and CSS Profile data.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and institutional policies.
• Assist in loan processing and related certification tasks.
• Meet with students virtually to address financial aid questions.
• Contribute to reports and data cleanup as needed.

Education

Associate degree

Bachelor's degree preferred

Strong written and verbal communication

Organization and time-management

Independent work with initiative

Tools

PowerFAIDS

Job description

About DickinsonDickinson College is a premier four-year residential liberal arts institution chartered in 1783 and widely recognized as a leader in global and sustainability education. Dickinson College is located in Carlisle, named a “most livable city” by Forbes and is minutes from the state capital of Harrisburg. The campus is connected to a vibrant downtown that offers eclectic dining, shopping and entertainment options. Within a two-hour drive are Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, D.C.; New York City is three hours away.Dickinson College offers full-time employees a broad range of benefits, including a comprehensive medical insurance plan, life insurance, flexible spending accounts, generous time off, parental leave, homebuyer assistance, and tuition benefits for eligible employees and dependent children under the age of 24. Upon eligibility, the College contributes 8% of an employee’s base salary to a retirement account with an additional .5% matching contribution; all money paid by the college into the employee’s retirement plan is immediately and fully vested in the employee.Below you will find the details for the position, including any supplementary documentation and questions you should review before applying for the opening. To apply for the position, please click the \"Apply\" for this job link button above.Position DepartmentFinancial AidPosition DetailsThis is a temporary, full-time position for a one-year term, with a possibility of extension.SummaryThe Financial Aid Specialist will be responsible for reviewing institutional and federal financial aid applications, determining financial aid eligibility, and creating financial aid offers, using Dickinson’s financial aid system, PowerFAIDS. This person will be responsible for Senior Associate and Director level work. Serves as a professional resource for staff/system given knowledge and expertise in PowerFAIDS. May conduct Q/A sessions as learn new system. Based on past experience, may contribute insights to practices and new system. This role also entails supporting the Loan Specialist with Federal Direct Loan and private/alternative loan certification. This individual will ensure compliance with federal, state, and institutional financial aid policies.Essential FunctionsReview financial aid applications, resolve conflicting information, and package prospective and returning student financial aid to ensure affordability while meeting the college's enrollment, retention, and financial goals.Verify student eligibility for institutional, federal, and state financial aid by reconciliation of differences between the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and CSS profile and confirming eligibility after thorough verification of documents including parent and student tax return, W-2 forms and other required verification worksheets.Ensure compliance with federal, state, and institutional policies, and participation in training opportunities and webinars to stay current on regulation changes.Review and process Federal Direct Loan and private/alternative loan application as needed.Other Duties and ResponsibilitiesResolve over awards.Meet virtually with students regarding financial aid questions.Assist in clean up reports.Other duties as determined or assigned.Supervisory ResponsibilitiesNot responsible for supervising others.RequirementsAssociate's degree, required.Bachelor's degree, preferredPrior experience with financial aid packaging in PowerFAIDSDemonstrated knowledge of financial aid application processPrior experience with College's Board CSS Profile and institutional methodologyAbility to comply with all federal, state, and institutional policiesAbility to work independently, take initiative, and follow through on tasks with minimal supervisionStrong written and verbal communication skills, organization and time-management skillsAbility to manage multiple tasks and deadlines, professional judgement, discretion, and a collaborative approach to working across departments, strong partnerships, with a service orientation and genuine interest in institutional missionWork Experience3-5 yearsIndependence of ActionResults are defined and existing practices are used as guidelines to determine specific work methods and carries out work activities independently; supervisor/manager is available to resolve problems.Equipment UsedStandard office equipmentPhysical/Environmental DemandsOffice environmentNo specific or unusual physical demandsEEO/Diversity StatementThe College is committed to building a representative and diverse faculty, staff, and student body. We encourage applications from all qualified persons.