Job Description

 

SUMMARY: The Program Officer is responsible for supporting the implementation of CSF's scholarships, student support services, and financial aid education curriculum. This role assists the Director in designing and delivering programs that maximize the number of CSF scholars who complete college. The Program Officer needs to have an in-depth understanding of college affordability in order to support students on their path to and through postsecondary education.

The Program Officer will work with the Director to develop and implement policies, procedures, and programs required to promote integrity in the delivery of services and achieve identified benchmarks. The successful applicant will be someone who is excited about making a real impact on the lives of Washington state youth, strives to put learning into action, and thrives on new challenges.

• PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
  
  • Direct Service (20%)
• Provide college affordability advice to high school and college students through presentations, webinars, individual meetings, email, blogs, and text.
• Assist students in completing federal, state, and institutional financial aid forms.
• Serve as an advocate for students as they connect with college financial aid representatives to appeal financial aid awards or petition under special circumstances.
• Collaborate with Pre-College and College Services to implement identified direct-service strategies for students.
• Proactively reach out to students to ensure persistence through meetings, social media, texting, and other forms of communication.
• Stakeholder Management (10%).
• Develop and manage effective relationships with financial aid offices all throughout Washington state to share pertinent information and strategize about student progress.
• Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with partner agencies and nonprofit organizations doing financial aid work to amplify financial aid education efforts.
• Coordinate annual scholar/donor communication processes.
• Administrative Responsibilities (70%).
• Assist with all aspects of the scholarship application and award processes, including promotion, online application, tracking, reporting, communications, evaluation activities, awarding, and onboarding of new scholarships.
• Maintain detailed records in CSF's Education Edge, Excel, and Salesforce databases to track awards, disbursements, and refunds, as well as contact with students/families and their progress toward completing key affordability tasks.
• Use Salesforce advisor performance reports and dashboards to monitor student progress.
• Partner with Director to recommend policies and develop procedures and management strategies to facilitate the scholarship application and selection processes.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive knowledge of campus and community resources for students through various methods including professional development opportunities, reading professional publications, maintaining personal networks, and engaging in professional organizations.
• Collaborate with Accounting, IT, and Development teams to ensure processes are completed accurately, on time, and effectively.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Outstanding interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
• Experience working with and motivating diverse high school and college-aged populations from underrepresented communities.
• Demonstrate and embody a professional demeanor with students and families, community partners, and colleagues.
• Experience with program development, as it relates to post-secondary student support services.
• Skills in training/curriculum development.
• Respond to time-sensitive concerns and demonstrate quick, creative problem-solving under pressure.
• Advanced organizational and time management skills, with the ability to plan and implement projects independently or collaboratively and in a demanding, fast-paced environment.
• Energetic, enthusiastic, and interested in learning within a growing, entrepreneurial organization.
• Proficiency with professional software: SharePoint, Salesforce, Zoom, and Microsoft Office Suite required.
• Bilingualism is strongly desired.
• Availability to work occasional evenings and weekends.
• An established commitment to working collaboratively and harmoniously with CSF staff, colleagues and stakeholders.
• Ability to travel (in-state) up to 20% of the time. Must have reliable transportation and proof of insurance.
• A commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusive practices.

QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE POSITION:

• Bachelor's degree preferred or five years of relevant experience.
• Experience in higher education, college access and success best practices, college affordability, and financial aid.
• Connection with Washington State higher education landscape preferred.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to; place objects or operate office equipment such as a computer or other productivity machine and to communicate information and ideas so others will understand as well as exchange accurate information in these situations. The employee is frequently required to frequently move up to 10 pounds and occasionally move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include the ability to observe details at close range and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Employees must be able to use collaborative software in order to communicate with others and attend virtual meetings. A hybrid remote schedule is available for this position. Employees must reside in the state of Washington. Employees must be able to handle the stress that is involved in meeting strenuous and competing deadlines, working in high volume areas, and be flexible and able to interact with employees, students, and/or community partners of all levels. The work environment may remain remote, maybe hybrid, or may require working from the headquarters office. This work environment is moderately quiet.

CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT:

The position may change based upon the needs of the program and/or organizational needs and available funding. In compliance with federal and state regulations, College Success Foundation maintains a drug-free environment and all successful applicants must pass a drug screen prior to hire. Employees of the College Success Foundation and its subsidiaries must be able to successfully work in and promote a multicultural and diverse work environment.

The statements contained herein reflect general details as necessary to describe the principal functions of this job, the level of knowledge and skill typically required, and the scope of responsibility, but should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements. Individuals may perform other duties as assigned, including work in other functional areas to cover absences or relief, to equalize peak work periods, or otherwise to balance the workload.

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