Grays Harbor College is accepting applications for a Financial Aid Program Specialist 2. The Financial Aid Program Specialist 2 performs a wide variety of tasks in support of the Financial Aid Department, including but not limited to: coordinating one or more Financial Aid and/or scholarship programs; providing direct customer service to students, staff, and/or faculty; communicating detailed Financial Aid or program information to internal and external customers; reviewing applications; and awarding Financial Aid, all in compliance with federal, State and institutional policies and regulations. This position reports to the Director of Financial Aid.

Grays Harbor College has an excellent benefits package to include medical, dental, vision, basic life insurance, primary and supplemental retirement programs and long-term disability insurance. Full-time employees will also receive 11.33 hours of vacation leave per month to start, 8 hours of sick leave per month, and 4 personal leave days a year. Washington state also observes 11 paid holidays per year.

Classified positions at Grays Harbor College have been designated as bargaining unit positions represented by the Washington Public Employees Association, Local 365. The union and the college have a collective bargaining agreement (referred to as the contract) that is posted on the GHC website. https://www.ghc.edu/hr/labor-relations

About the College .
Grays Harbor College serves the communities of Grays Harbor and Pacific counties on the Pacific coast of Washington. Located in Aberdeen, Washington at the base of the beautiful Olympic Peninsula, the College is less than an hour away from scenic Pacific Ocean beaches and close to both the Olympic and Mount Rainier National Parks. Grays Harbor provides the perfect landscape to enjoy the abundance of excellent outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, biking, fishing, clam digging, surfing, boating, and various kayak/canoe paddling opportunities. Grays Harbor College is located on the ancestral lands of the Chehalis, Chinook, Quinault and Shoalwater Bay Peoples. For more information about working for the college and living in Grays Harbor visit https://www.ghc.edu/hr

Grays Harbor is committed to providing excellent educational opportunities. We prioritize student learning, promote student and faculty success, foster an inclusive environment, manage our resources, and connect with the community. We strive to create a culturally relevant environment on campus and in the community by learning and practicing equity-mindedness and promoting faculty, staff, and student diversity.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Customer Service & Office Management

• Provide excellent customer service by demonstrating empathy, listening attentively to questions and concerns, responding professionally to difficult and sometime argumentative customers, and exercising professionalism and discretion in all communications and actions.
• Contribute as a member of the team with shared office duties including, but not limited to; filing, answering phones, emails, web-based conferencing software, and questions from walk-in students and general public in an accurate manner, providing clear expectations of complex and technical information.
• Maintain confidentiality of student files and records in accordance with FERPA guidelines; utilize a variety of computerized applications to ensure successful packaging, awarding and monitoring of student eligibility.

• Process financial aid files and make and revise student financial aid awards for federal, state and institutional Financial Aid, including Pell grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, federal Direct, Private Loans, Washington College Grant, College Bound Scholarship, Passport to College, Scholarships and other need and non need-based aid programs. Prevent over awards of financial aid by ensuring accurate review of all aid types prior to awarding need-based or other financial resources.
• Coordinate all aspects of one or more federal, state, or institutional Financial Aid or scholarship programs on campus in compliance with applicable laws, regulations and policies. This may include, but is not limited to, Direct Loan Program, Federal and State Work Study, and aid application processing and management. Coordination includes, but is not limited to, in-depth knowledge of the program, assisting to establish, document and implement office procedures regarding the program and reconciliation of accounts;
• Compile data from a variety of sources and prepare summary reports as directed; use specialized computer systems to effectively obtain and calculate data as well as create and develop reports; calculate and tabulate data in line with established formulas; post and balance accounts as required.
• Read and interpret federal and state regulations as they relate to financial aid application processes, and use independent judgement to advise students appropriately based on individual needs and circumstances related to the financial aid application process.
• Support higher level staff by completing tasks associated with management of the financial aid programs.

• Understand and independently articulate general program eligibility requirements (how "need" is determined, criteria for various grants, Federal Student Loans, and work-study), the application process, status and timelines to students (and their families).
• Assist with reviewing and processing various types of appeals submitted by students, such as Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), Cost of Attendance Revisions, Professional Judgement, etc. Regular processing of funding, over awards, R2T4, and disbursement reports; coordinate with applicable internal and external stakeholders as needed for cancelation, reconciliation, and return of funds.
• Use a variety of options to resolve problems and issues based on individual student needs and circumstances related to the financial aid application process.
• Determine eligibility for federal and state funding by applying extensive knowledge of regulations governing aid programs. Analyze and evaluate files for eligibility and need based on application data, federal database matches, academic progress requirements, etc.

• Assist with classroom visits and outreach events to educate students and the community about Financial Aid and scholarship programs.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and abilities required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Associates degree from an accredited college or university – or - combination of relevant education and/or work experience
• One (1) year experience working in a professional setting
• Strong computer skills, with the ability to navigate multiple systems and web applications
• Demonstrated experience in resolving customer service issues
• Strong organizational, written and oral communication skills
• Outstanding cultural competency and proven ability to work effectively with diverse populations.
• Demonstrated ability to perform intermediate skills with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint Outlook, and other web-based conferencing and business-related software.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree
• One (1) year experience working with financial assistance programs or other funding sources in a public setting
• Experience working in a Financial Aid Office awarding aid and coordinating one or more specialized financial aid components, in a higher education setting
• Experience and demonstrated ability to work in accordance of policies, procedures and federal and state regulations
• Experience with PeopleSoft.
• Experience assisting students with financial aid or other funding sources in a professional capacity
• Experience with reconciliation of accounts
• Bi-lingual in Spanish and English.

Supplemental Information

In addition to the GHC online Application you will need to submit the following materials. Incomplete applications will not be accepted or considered.

• Letter of application addressing your qualifications for the position.
• Resume
• Contact information for 3 professional references.

Background checks - Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant’s suitability and competence to perform in the position. Applicants considered for this position will be required to disclose if they are the subject of any substantiated findings or current investigations related to sexual misconduct at their current employment and past employment. Disclosure is required under Washington State Law.

Grays Harbor College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, creed, religion, marital status, veteran status, genetics, or age in its programs, activities, and employment. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:

• Title II/Section 504 – Erin Tofte, Associate Vice President of Human Resources
• Title IX Coordinator – Ashley Bowie-Gallegos, Dean of Student Services and Enrollment Management

For further information on notice of non-discrimination, visit https://ocrcas.ed.gov/contact-ocrfor the address and phone number of the office that serves your area, or call 1-800-421-3481.