Financial Aid Data Specialist

Job Description

Do you enjoy turning complex data into clear, reliable answers? Are you energized by systems, queries, and the behind-the-scenes work that keeps a mission‑critical office running smoothly? The University of Southern Maine (USM) is seeking a Financial Aid Data Specialist to join the Office of Student Financial Services and provide essential support for the programs, databases, reporting, and procedures that keep financial aid delivery running accurately and on time for USM students.

This is a data‑and‑systems‑focused role at its core. You’ll work closely with the Senior Associate Director of Financial Aid Systems and collaborate with colleagues across the office, Institutional Research, and University of Maine System partners to build and maintain the People Soft queries, reports, and processes that ensure students’ aid is awarded accurately and in compliance with federal and state requirements.

Success in this role looks like dependable, well‑documented systems and reports that staff across the office can trust.

The Office of Student Financial Services helps USM students and families navigate the financial aid process, administering more than $75 million in federal, state, and institutional aid annually. The office works to ensure students receive accurate, timely awarding of grants, scholarships, and loans, while maintaining compliance with complex and ever‑changing federal and state regulations — all in support of USM’s Service Promise of being Student Focused Every Day.

• Create and maintain People Soft queries for awarding financial aid funds accurately and monitoring compliance with federal, state, and institutional policies.
• Develop and maintain a strong working knowledge of the People Soft system and SQL to support data management, reporting, and system‑related functions.
• Run routine People Soft jobs, monitor output for anomalies and errors, and assist with annual process setup for each financial aid year.
• Collaborate with the Office of Institutional Research on annual federal reporting projects.
• Provide internal financial aid reports to staff who manage special populations and programs.
• Send and receive sensitive student data securely through federal systems.
• Serve as a resource to staff on software, database structure, downloading protocols, query languages, and reporting tools, including training as needed.
• Represent the office at campus and University of Maine System meetings.

The University of Southern Maine offers highly competitive benefits for full‑time and eligible part‑time employees that includes (but is not limited to):

• 13 paid holidays plus earned vacation time and sick time.
• Health, dental and vision insurance.
• Low‑cost short‑term disability insurance and employer‑paid long‑term disability insurance.
• Employer‑paid basic life insurance and supplemental life insurance.
• A tuition waiver program for employees and their spouse or dependent child(ren).
• A 403(b)‑retirement plan with employer contribution.
• Free access to the METRO system, including the Husky Line with service between our Portland and Gorham campuses.

• Associate’s degree and at least three (3) years of professional experience, or an equivalent combination of academic and directly related professional work experience.
• Solid knowledge of relational database design, with the ability to read and understand database structures and infer how tables relate to applications and processes.
• Demonstrated working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills, with strong attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and work both independently and as part of a team.
• Must be in, and maintain, good standing with all federal educational loans.

The University of Maine System (the System) is an equal opportunity institution committed to fostering a nondiscriminatory environment and complying with all applicable nondiscrimination laws. Consistent with State and Federal law, the System does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation,…