Financial Aid Advisor

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

TITLE: Financial Aid Advisor

LOCATION: Hybrid (on-site + remote)

REPORTS TO: Director of Financial Aid Impact

STATUS: Full-time, Non-exempt

OUR MISSION

10,000 Degrees is unlocking student success at scale by giving more students equitable opportunities for a quality college education and career success. The most efficient and effective college success non-profit in the U.S., 10,000 Degrees’ mission is to achieve educational equity and to support students from low-income backgrounds to and through college to realize their full potential and positively impact their communities and the world. We envision a world where all students, regardless of race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic background, will have the full range of educational opportunities, support, and resources to realize their potential. Accepting a role at 10,000 Degrees implies a personal commitment to this mission. 

OPPORTUNITY

The Financial Aid Advisor provides essential day-to-day support in executing the organization’s financial aid and literacy initiatives. Reporting to the Director of Financial Aid Impact, the Advisor serves as a direct resource for regional program teams and students, assisting with loan navigation, financial aid reviews, and complex application questions. This role is responsible for the hands-on management of financial aid “spaces” (drop-in centers or virtual spaces) and co-leading workshops and trainings to ensure staff and students have the tools to succeed. Working closely with frontline staff, the Advisor helps implement the foundational frameworks and curricula designed by leadership to ensure flawless, direct student financial aid support across our regions.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

• Excellent healthcare benefits including medical, dental, vision and life insurance; check out our full benefit options HERE
• 15 days paid vacation + holidays and paid sick leave
• 401(k) with employer matching
• Professional development including conferences, seminars, webinars, and directed career advice

PHYSICAL/ENVIRONMENTAL

To perform the essential functions of this position, employees may be required to: 

• Sit, stand, talk, hear, reach, stoop, kneel and use hands and fingers to operate a computer, telephone, and keyboard.
• Have close-vision ability due to computer work.
• Engage in moderate, occasional lifting.
• Have a reliable means of transportation to attend regular work as well as other off-site business functions. 

Note: Due to the nature and conditions of our work, applicants must submit to fingerprinting and provide a clear tuberculosis (TB) test as part of the background check.

EEO

10,000 Degrees is an equal opportunity employer offering a welcoming and inclusive environment in service to one another as well as the students, families, and communities we support. We recruit, hire, employ, train, promote, and compensate individuals based on job-related qualifications and abilities. 

TO APPLY

For immediate consideration, please submit your cover letter and resume.

Requirements:

CORE ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Technical Expertise & Support: Serve as the first point of contact for regional program staff regarding FAFSA, CADAA, and general financial aid inquiries. 
• Instructional Empowerment: Co-lead professional development programming to equip College Access and Success teams with up-to-date worksheets, guides, and tools.
• Student Engagement: Manage and staff dedicated in-person or virtual financial aid spaces, providing a consistent environment for 1:1 student assistance. 
• Data Fidelity & Impact: Maintain highly accurate student interaction records and streamline financial aid milestone tracking within Salesforce to support organizational compliance.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Direct Student Support

• Manage and staff dedicated financial aid spaces, providing a welcoming and consistent environment for students to drop in for 1:1 assistance. 
• Conduct detailed, hands-on reviews of student financial aid packages to ensure accuracy and help students identify critical funding gaps. 
• Proactively engage students on-campus and virtually to ensure they meet critical financial aid deadlines and loan acceptance windows.
• Manage the scheduling, materials, and onsite coordination for financial literacy workshops, evening sessions, and financial aid weekend events.

Logistical Field Support

• Ensure College Access and Success teams have the most up-to-date worksheets, guides, and tools required to support students with their financial aid planning. 
• Track common student pain points (e.g., loan confusion, verification issues) to provide data-informed feedback to the Director to help refine general and regional curricula. 
• Support the Director in attending community events, schools sites, and fundraising initiatives to build awareness and represent the organization’s financial aid efforts. 
• Partner with internal teams to continuously enter and maintain pristine financial aid milestone tracking within Salesforce.

General Responsibilities

• Travel regularly within assigned region(s) to partner school campuses, 10,000 Degrees offices, and special event locations. 
• Participate in staff meetings, professional development activities, and supervisor check-ins. 
• Support and represent 10,000 Degrees at fundraising and appreciation events as needed.
• Execute other duties as assigned to support the organization’s evolving needs.
• This position requires some in-person presence, travel within the regions served, and occasional evening and/or weekend hours.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree required
• 3+ years of general experience in financial aid, student services, or a related higher education field
• Strong working knowledge of FAFSA and CADAA processes
• Familiarity with student loan types (subsidized vs. unsubsidized), federal/state grants, and financial aid award letters
• Confident public speaker comfortable presenting in front of small or large groups
• Ability to translate complex financial terms into simple, relatable language
• Strong interpersonal skills with a customer service mindset geared toward supporting internal team members and geographically dispersed regional staff
• Proficiency in Microsoft and Google Suite applications
• Demonstrated enthusiasm and initiative, including the ability to work both independently and collaboratively 
• Willingness to learn and be self-reflective
• Unwavering, deeply-rooted passion for working alongside first-generation, low-income and DACA/undocumented student populations
• Bilingual Spanish/English proficiency is strongly preferred 
• Geographic proximity to the region(s) being served and a reliable means of transportation to accommodate required regional travel