Req #: 244524

Department: UW TACOMA

Appointing Department Web Address: https://www.tacoma.uw.edu/finaid

Posting Date: 03/21/2025

Closing Info: Closes On 03/28/2025

Salary: $5,139 - $5,416 per month

Limited Recruitment: Open to UW Tacoma employees only

Shift: First Shift

Notes: As a UW employee, you will enjoy generous benefits and work/life programs. For a complete description of our benefits for this position, please visit our website, click here. (https://hr.uw.edu/benefits/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2018/02/benefits-professional-staff-librarians-academic-contract-covered-exempt-20250130-a11y.pdf)

The University of Washington Tacoma is an anchor institution that is deeply invested in its local communities and in student success. As one of three campuses of a world-class university, UW Tacoma is dedicated to interdisciplinary and innovative teaching and scholarship and to engaging the community in mutually beneficial partnerships. UW Tacoma’s commitment to access and diversity is central to an environment where students, staff, faculty and South Sound residents find abundant opportunities for intellectual, personal and professional growth. More information about UW Tacoma and its strategic plan can be found here. (https://www.tacoma.uw.edu/strategic-planning) The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships has an outstanding opportunity for a Senior Counselor for Financial Aid and Scholarships to join their team.

The Senior Counselor for Financial Aid and Scholarships will have responsibilities in the administration of need-based scholarships and all financial aid programs in the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships at UW Tacoma. Specifically, this position will involve coordination of processes involving general scholarships, merit scholarships, departmental scholarships, campus grants that award scholarships, and partner community college scholarships. This position organizes the annual General Scholarship process, facilitated by strong relationships with Advancement staff, including reading scholarship applications, selection and awarding donor-designated scholarships. Once awarded, this position will coordinate and revise other aid programs. The Senior Counselor will also advise other counselors in the coordination of institutional and outside scholarships with student’s other financial aid. This position will also carry out duties as related to the review of financial aid, such as eligibility, verification documents, aid revisions and progress appeals. The Senior Counselor will counsel and advise students regarding financial aid and scholarships.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Administration of the Scholarship Program - 50%

• Serve as a campus point of contact for the administration of scholarship processes for UW Tacoma involving close relationships with the Office of Advancement, Academic schools, campus-based national grant coordinators, as well as students and families.

• Create fair and equitable processes for the award of donor-based scholarships and involvement throughout the process.

• Advise and counsel students on any requirements to maintain eligibility.

• Maintain excellent record keeping on all aspects of scholarship awards.

• Preparation of applications and established processes that involve the campus community in review and selection opportunities.

• Update student’s financial aid award with scholarship resources and revising other aid programs as required.

• Utilization of various UW, Financial Aid, and possibly scholarship platforms.

• Involved in strategic enrollment planning initiatives that leverage scholarship funds to support student enrollment.Counsel and Advise Students - 50%

• The Senior Counselor will be assigned a variety of projects associated with general counseling and advising students by email/in-person, document and file review, quality assurance file review, compliance activities related to department or external scholarship coordination, state aid programs, and other programmatic responsibilities as assigned. These tasks and responsibilities require independent judgement, decision and the ability to communicate changes to those involved. The Senior Counselor will exercise professional judgement if standard procedures are unable to address special circumstances. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• A Bachelor’s degree in education, business, social sciences, public policy or related fields and 3 years of financial aid or other student service-related experience Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Proficient in the use of the UW student database (SDB) or other higher education student system, specifically involving student and/or financial aid information

• Demonstrated ability to work well with people from diverse backgrounds and provide excellent student service

• Strong attention to detail - specifically to data entry and record keeping practices

• Proficient with computers and common office PC based software products – specifically Microsoft Excel

• Proficient in providing written and verbal information using various platforms DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience in awarding financial aid programs

• Advanced degree in student personnel services or related field

• Additional years of experience in financial aid counseling/administration that may include different college and university settings

• Specialized training in programs administered at the UW, such as WCG, WSOS, CB, Passport and Work Study

• Student service experience in a higher education setting, specifically in financial aid WORK SCHEDULE/LOCATION

• The Senior Counselor for Financial Aid and Scholarships will have standard office hours of 8am to 5pm with some flexibility of a hybrid schedule after training is complete. Regular assignment for shared customer service hours in our campus central service office, which is an open and often noisy environment. Application Process: The application process may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process. These assessments may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others. Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment, you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your “My Jobs” page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are access ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.

University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, among other things, race, religion, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.