Position Type: Staff Full-time

Hours per week: 37.5   

Weeks per year: 52

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm 

Department Summary & Job Purpose:

The Student Financial Services Counselor serves the Student Financial Services office (SFS) in the important role of providing direct counseling support to students/families requesting information about how best to afford a Mount Holyoke College education. Reporting to the Senior Associate Director of Student Financial Services, this person joins a dynamic SFS team responsible for managing financial aid, billing, educational financing information, and other related services to prospective and enrolled Mount Holyoke College students. The SFS team puts a high emphasis on quality student service.

 

Core Job Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Manage a financial aid caseload, including need analysis, packaging, and verification, appeals, and aid changes for early decision, regular decision, transfer, readmitted, returning, and/or graduate students.
• Advise prospective and returning students and families, as well as graduate students, regarding financial aid options, application processing, and other issues related to education finance.
• Serve as “on-call” advisor when necessary.
• Responsibilities in this area include but are not limited to phone, walk-in, scheduled counseling, and front desk coverage when necessary.
• Participate in continued growth and development in the field of financial aid by engaging in professional associations through appropriate activities at meetings or conferences at the regional, state, or federal level and incorporating this knowledge into practice.
• Evening/weekend work and business travel may be required
• Other duties as assigned. 

Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree or years of experience
• Experience in a customer support role
• Demonstrated ability to support a community of diverse perspectives and cultures in an inclusive environment.
• Ability to handle deadline and programmatic pressures in a fast-paced student-centric environment
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail
• Commitment to quality customer service for all students and their families
• Ability to work independently
• Proven team player
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to handle confidential information and/or issues using discretion and good judgment
• Ability to clearly and compassionately communicate with a diverse population of students and families
• Solid computer proficiency using word processing, spreadsheet, electronic calendar, and e-mail software applications

Preferred Qualifications:

• PowerFAIDS experience
• In-depth understanding of Institutional Methodology and institutional financial aid and packaging policies
• Familiarity with the federal financial aid programs

License/Certifications:

Compliance Requirements: 

Physical Demands: Physical Demands/Work Type

• Sedentary work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. A job is considered sedentary if traversing is only required occasionally and all other criteria for sedentary work are met.
• Talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word. Those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.
• Sufficient clarity of speech required includes those which permit the employee to discern verbal instructions and communicate effectively in person and by telephone.
• Employee speaks with students and other faculty daily by telephone, e-mail, or in person on a daily basis.
• Hearing: Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make the discriminations in sound.
• Employee operates office equipment and computers to perform essential duties and responsibilities.

Working Conditions: 

• Participation supporting divisional or institutional events or programs that may include occasional evening or weekend work required.
• Infrequent business travel may be required.  

Background Checks:

Mount Holyoke College is committed to providing a safe and secure environment, supported by qualified employees that will allow all of its students, faculty, staff and those associated with them to successfully carry out the mission of the college. As a condition of employment, the College will conduct appropriate background checks for all new hires. Mount Holyoke has designated the Office of Human Resources as the office responsible for ensuring that background checks (CORI, SORI, Credit History, & Driver Credential) are completed and utilized in the hiring process and Five College Office of Compliance and Risk Management as the office responsible for facilitating background checks as articulated in this policy.

Special Instructions for Applicants:    Apply online by application deadline. Application materials must include: 1. A cover letter summarizing interests and qualifications 2. A complete resume or curriculum vitae 3. Contact information for 3 professional references  

Mount Holyoke College is a women’s college that is gender diverse. The College is committed to providing equal access and opportunity in employment and education to all employees and students. In compliance with state and federal law, Mount Holyoke College does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, genetic information, sex, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, physical or mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, ancestry, veteran or military status, or any other legally protected status under federal, state or local law. The College does not discriminate on the basis of gender in the recruitment and admission of students to its graduate program.

Mount Holyoke College is an Equal Opportunity Employer.