Financial Aid Specialist

Financial Aid Specialist

Pineland Campus - New Gloucester, ME 04260

Overview

Position Type Enterprise - Staff

Description

JOB OVERVIEW The Financial Aid Specialist (FAS) supports the Director of Student Financial Solutions through the administration and dissemination of Financial Aid policies and procedures for Unity Environmental University constituents. This position is responsible for working directly with Unity Environmental University staff to support students in managing financial needs and requirements. The FAS will manage and use student financial aid programs and financial aid information systems, as well as report and retrieve information for program management and reports. Work will involve using Financial Aid Management Systems, Student Billing Software, and an Information System. POSITION SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES AND EXPECTATIONS

Monitor program compliance with federal, state, and institutional policies using system and quality controls. Conduct student aid reviews including needs analysis, budgeting, packaging, verification, loan processing, certification, and tracking. Counsel student-facing staff on financial aid and student account matters such as application procedures, borrowing, employment, outside aid, other funding, and alternative funding. Provide support and clarification to the decentralized Recruitment and Student Success teams on relaying Financial Aid updates to admitted and current students. Assist in adjusting financial aid awards. Answer in-coming phone calls, emails, and cases. Coordinate the mailing of lender notifications-entrance and exit counseling, and award letters. Assist in the creation, revision, and updating of publications, standardized letters, manuals, and forms used in student aid. Contribute to the development and maintenance of business procedures related to financial aid administration. Review and maintain student files. Perform outreach activities as assigned by the Director of Student Financial Solutions. Attend required trainings to learn and maintain required skills to perform all duties for Financial Aid. Pro-actively communicate challenges, successes, and failures with leadership. Other duties as assigned.

UNITY ENVIRONMENTAL UNIVERSITY INSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES: Stay open to counterintuitive ideas and direct feedback. Unity employees are expected to think creatively and remain open to approaches that challenge initial instincts or traditional methods. Taking direction, seeking clarity, and executing with precision are critical to moving innovative work forward. Work confidently with AI, digital tools, and emerging systems. As a technology-enabled institution, Unity expects all employees to adopt a growth mindset around digital tools. This includes using AI systems to enhance productivity and decision-making, as well as learning new platforms and processes with curiosity and accountability. Deliver results in a fast-paced, evolving environment. Agility, resilience, and follow-through are essential. Employees must remain focused on outcomes even as priorities shift, iterating quickly and adjusting to change without losing momentum. Communicate with clarity and consistency. Strong written and verbal communication, including the ability and willingness to engage professionally by phone, video, and digital channels is essential. Employees must document decisions, convey key information clearly, and support alignment across teams. Model integrity and professionalism in all aspects of work. Every employee is responsible for upholding high ethical standards, demonstrating sound judgment, and maintaining an ownership mindset when it comes to their role and results. Own the accuracy of your work. While Unity equips employees with advanced systems and AI-enhanced tools, the responsibility for quality, precision, and correctness rests with the individual. Attention to detail and proactive error-checking are non-negotiable. Demonstrate a commitment to sustainability in all aspects of work. This includes responsible stewardship of resources, strategic decision-making, and ensuring long-term institutional impact. At Unity, we encourage input, feedback, and collaboration from all employees, your perspective matters. However, once a decision has been made, employees are expected to act as an extension of their supervisor's bandwidth, carrying out directives with clarity, consistency, and precision. We do not operate in independent silos; instead, we emphasize cross-functional collaboration and shared accountability. Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

To be successful in this position you must be able to execute each of the position specific responsibilities while meeting the position expectations.

Additionally, the position specific education, skills and competencies listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability needed. Reasonable accommodations may be made upon approval by the supervisor and Human Resources, to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

POSITION SPECIFIC EDUCATION, SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES:

• Associate degree and a minimum of 1-2 years of experience with finances, bookkeeping, etc., or an equivalent combination of education and/or experience.
• Willingness to learn basic knowledge of federal and state financial aid programs and to provide a demonstrated commitment to student aid.
• Basic knowledge of accounting and billing services.
• Must be capable of independent judgement, highly motivated with strong organizational skills.
• Must be flexible with good interpersonal skills.
• Able to read, analyze and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.
• Able to write reports, business correspondence, and procedures manuals.
• Able to effectively present information and respond to questions from students, parents, staff, managers, and the public.
• Able to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference. Able to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.
• Knowledge of computerized database systems, word processing and spreadsheets.
• Able to define problems, collect data establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Able to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
• Ability to function effectively within a matrix organizational structure, maintaining open lines of communication while being discreet, courteous and well poised.

WORK SCHEDULE / AVAILABILITY REQUIREMENTS

Work hours are specific to the requirements of this position and can include days, evenings, and weekends as scheduled by their supervisor to best support students. Working extended hours required as needed. Must be flexible and cooperative in fulfilling responsibilities and meeting the Institution's needs. Although Unity Environmental University employees are generally scheduled to work at their specifically assigned locations, there are times when travel is necessary, and employees are required from time to time to attend events, meetings, or work temporary assignments at any Unity Environmental University location.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

While performing the duties of this job, it is regularly required to sit and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand or walk. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 lbs. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. The use of either hand for repetitive movements such as grasping, grasping and turning, and fine manipulation is required as is the ability to use the telephone for internal and external communications.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

Work is performed mostly in an office setting. The noise level in the work environment is normally moderate. Exposure to changes of temperature or humidity 1-33% of the time.

POSITIONS AT UNITY ENVIRONMENTAL UNIVERSITY ARE DEPENDENT ON THEIR VIABILITY AND AN ESTABLISHED VIABILITY MATRIX. THE VIABILITY MATRIX FOR THIS POSITION IS:

• Enthusiastic support and ability to work within the Enterprise Model
• Unity Environmental University has a minimum annual $150M operating budget with a net positive revenue margin between 20-30%.
• Supports 5,000 – 10,000 full time students
• Unity Environmental University operates in an Enterprise model and there are at least 2 credit bearing SEBUs.
• The institution meets accreditation requirements to award Title IV funding.