Program Specialist - Financial Aid State Grants

Description

Columbia Basin College ("CBC" or the "College") seeks a Program Specialist to oversee and administer Washington State financial aid programs, athletic scholarships and private student loans and interpret and apply federal, state and institutional financial aid rules and regulations in determining student eligibility for financial aid funding. This position will provide customer service and complex student financial aid program information to students, staff and the public from various socio‑economic and cultural backgrounds.

The Program Specialist reports to the Assistant Director for Financial Aid.

• Independently oversee and perform all functions pertaining to Washington State financial aid programs (including but not limited to WA College Bound Scholarship, WA College Grant, Apprenticeships, Passport Scholarship, WA State Opportunity Scholarship and National Guard Grant), athletic scholarships and private student loans. This includes managing funding allocations, determining student eligibility, running necessary processes, generating and analyzing reports, and creating, modifying and reconciling awards.
• Ensure institutional compliance with federal and state financial aid awarding rules and regulations and advise the financial aid director and assistant director in recommendations updating office policies and procedures.
• Act as department and program liaison with Washington Student Achievement Council, Washington State Opportunity Scholarship staff, private lenders and other internal and external partners by providing consultation regarding student award information and process improvement.
• Coordinate regularly with other departments including Accounting Services, Counseling and Advising and Student Records to share student data required to determine eligibility for state financial aid programs and private student loans.
• Serve as backup to the staff member responsible for administering scholarship programs by back‑filling all required program functions and processes as needed.
• Analyze and evaluate student applicant data by applying extensive knowledge of regulations, policies and procedures to determine eligibility for federal, state and institutional financial aid programs including review of satisfactory academic progress for aid.
• Perform federal verification of student and parent information, including income/assets, as part of file review for a selection of student applicants.
• Construct student aid awards, adhering to internal awarding policies and maintaining compliance with federal and state regulations.
• Provide in-depth customer service to students, the public and other staff within the institution regarding all matters related to financial aid and deliver periodic on‑campus and community financial aid presentations.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree from an institutionally accredited college or university, or equivalent combination of education/training/experience.
• Two (2) years of full-time clerical experience.

• Bachelor’s degree from an institutionally accredited college or university.
• Experience working in higher education.

• Analytical Skills
  :
  Synthesize complex or diverse information; collect and research data; use intuition and experience to complement data; design workflows and procedures.
• Customer Service Skills
  :
  Manage difficult or emotional customer situations; respond promptly to customer needs; solicit customer feedback to improve service; respond to requests for service and assistance; meet commitments.
• Dependability
  :
  Follow instructions, respond to management direction; take responsibility for actions; keep commitments and complete tasks on time or notify appropriate person with an alternate plan.
• Oral Communication
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  Ability to speak clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; listen and get clarification; respond well to questions; demonstrate group presentation skills; participate in meetings.
• Problem Solving Skills
  :
  Identify and resolve problems in a timely manner; gather and analyze information skillfully; develop alternative solutions;…