Assistant Director of Financial Aid Outreach

Description
Assistant Director of Financial Aid Outreach

Department: Student Services

Reports To: Director of Outreach

Salary range: $73,512 - $81,126

Priority consideration to those who apply by June 2nd, 2025
Olympic College is seeking an Assistant Director of Financial Aid Outreach. This role will serve as a dynamic and proactive leader, responsible for enhancing and expanding financial aid awareness, access, and support for high school students and their families. The role will focus on building and fostering relationships with community organizations, high schools, and local agencies to promote financial aid opportunities and ensure that students from diverse backgrounds are equipped with the knowledge and resources necessary to navigate the financial aid process. The Assistant Director will collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to develop and implement effective outreach strategies, provide tailored support to underrepresented populations, and contribute to increasing financial aid applications in the region. This position actively supports the mission of Olympic College to enrich our diverse communities by aiding access to quality education and supporting students to achieve their educational goals at OC or any other institution they choose. This position supports the Director and the K12 Partnerships and Outreach team as part of a comprehensive strategic enrollment plan. This position requires a commitment to student success, excellent communication skills, and a deep understanding of financial aid programs and regulations.Essential Functions
•  Assigns, reviews, and adjusts the work of Financial Aid Outreach staff to maintain adequate staffing levels and respond to fluctuating caseloads.
•  Evaluates event support requests from high schools, community, and college partners and assigns relevant Financial Aid Outreach Specialist(s) based on alignment with program goals.
•  Meets individually with Financial Aid Outreach staff to support goal setting, self-reflection, and professional development.
•  Evaluates employee performance and prepares performance evaluations.
•  Reviews applicants' credentials, conducts interviews, and hires or effectively recommends hiring staff.
•  Creates, updates, and maintains materials to onboard staff
•  Independently advise students and families, consult with co-workers, K-12 and community partners, other OC departments, and other institutions of higher education about financial aid processes, policies, and procedures. Provide case management & individualized support services for students, families, and high schools.
•  Track and assess student progress toward FAFSA/WAFSA completion and milestone achievement, making appropriate referrals for additional student support as needed, focusing efforts on underserved students including unaccompanied homeless youth, youth at risk of homelessness, students in foster care, low income, first generation, students of color, and students whose primary language is not English.
•  Assist students in providing and completing additional documentation and forms to financial aid offices at selected college or university.
•  Convey clear, concise, and factual financial aid messaging to all stakeholders.
•  Interpret and communicate complex financial aid, waiver, and scholarship information in easy-to-understand language to high school students and their families.
•  Work with students and families to make sure they have the appropriate documents needed to complete their financial aid application.
•  Communicate step-by-step instructions, both verbally and in writing, to students and their families, providing support in the process of creating their FSA ID or WAFSA account and completing their FAFSA or WAFSA application.
•  Provide individual advising/counseling virtually, and in person, to high school students and their families, related to the financial aid application process.
•  Develop program priorities for the Financial Aid Outreach team as a member of the K-12 Partnerships Department, including but not limited to building, maintaining, supporting, and staffing programming that facilitates campus and community engagement between area high schools and Olympic College.
•  Facilitate strategic planning, goal setting, and workplan development for the Financial Aid Outreach team, in collaboration with Olympic College Outreach Department, K-12 Partnerships, Student Services & Student Affairs divisions through regular attendance at meetings in-person or online.
•  Serve as point of contact for questions from students, parents, high school staff, and college staff about the financial aid process, the Financial Aid Outreach HB1835 pilot program, and Olympic College entry points. Maintain expertise and up-to-date knowledge of federal and state regulations for federal and state financial aid.
•  Develop and expand partnerships with college staff, high school staff, and community-based organizations to ensure sustainability of Financial Aid Outreach programming.
•  Develop and maintain relationships with key staff at program sites to ensure alignment between Financial Aid Outreach program goals and the multiple priorities, policies, procedures, and organizational cultures of area high schools.
•  Manage multiple projects in partnership with internal and external stakeholders to develop and implement best practices related to financial aid completion in high school, college, and community settings, targeted at a diverse population of students.
•  Develop and implement a financial aid outreach plan to promote state and federal financial aid and private scholarships throughout Olympic Educational Service District 114, with special focus on outreach to underserved students including low income, first generation, students of color, and students whose primary language is not English in high schools in Kitsap and Mason counties.
•  Assign and review development of innovative and accessible financial aid messaging, materials, and communication methods to engage students and families, with special attention to reaching historically underserved communities including low income, first generation, students of color, and those whose primary language is not English.
•  Plan, Coordinate, Implement & Evaluate Financial Aid Campaigns employing various communication strategies.
•  Develop KPIs to measure progress toward Financial Aid Outreach program goals.
•  Develop case management tools and procedures for staff to track student progress toward FAFSA/WAFSA completion and milestone achievement.
•  Use a variety of database and data reporting tools, including WSAC's FAFSA Completion Portal, Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software, Excel, Power BI, and PeopleSoft to gather, manage, clean, analyze, and visualize data for reporting purposes.
•  Prepare reports for legislators and Olympic College stakeholders to provide information regarding the HB1835 pilot program at Olympic College. Qualifications Minimum Qualifications:
•  Bachelor's degree or equivalent (associate degree plus 2 years' relevant work experience OR 5 years relevant work experience).
•  Two (2) years of experience in outreach, admissions, or student services at a college or college access organization OR strong background in direct support for underrepresented populations.
•  Demonstrated ability navigating K12 education systems.
•  Demonstrated experience working effectively with communities of color or low-income communities.
•  Strong oral, written and interpersonal communication skills
•  Self-starter with high degree of motivation, energy, flexibility and integrity.
•  Demonstrated ability to manage and prioritize multiple tasks and deadlines while being attentive to details.
•  Demonstrated experience with working effectively with persons from diverse backgrounds, such a racial, ethnic, religious, linguistic, gender, age, sexual orientation, socio-economic, and with diverse physical and learning disabilities
•  Strong organizational and problem-solving skills
•  Familiarity and proficiency with various technologies, including but not limited to student database systems, customer relationship management software and student success technologies. Preferred Qualifications:
•  2-4 years of supervision and program management experience.
•  Knowledge of student development theories and practices.
•  Bilingual in English and Spanish or American Sign Language.
•  Familiarity with Kitsap and Mason counties. Additional Information Please note that we are unable to sponsor visas for this position. Only candidates who are currently authorized to work in the United States will be considered.
This is a full-time exempt position scheduled to work Monday through Friday. The salary for this position is $73,512 - $81,126 annually, which includes a generous benefits package that includes the following.
Medical/vision, dental, long-term disability, life insurance, and accidental dismemberment, Flexible Spending Arrangement, Dependent Care Assistance Program, Wellness Programs, SBRP retirement plan administered by TIAA, Deferred Compensation Program (DRS) retirement savings plan; TIAA supplemental retirement savings plan, 11 paid holidays, leave - vacation/sick/personal holiday, Aflac, auto/home insurance, space available tuition waiver, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), fitness center, reduced rate and priority consideration on-site child care on a space available.
For more information regarding benefits, please visit our website here.

Conditions of Employment
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