Affordability Officer
Overview
The Affordability Officer leads the delivery of specialized affordability programs, including matched savings, tech access, and fee waivers, while providing proactive, individualized financial literacy support to students at the Orillia and Barrie locations. It is expected to increase student persistence and retention by removing financial and technological barriers and empowering students with the sustainable habits and skills necessary to navigate their financial responsibilities throughout the academic lifecycle.
Responsibilities
- Lead the end-to-end delivery of the Matched Savings Program, establishing application cycles and "savings goal" contracts designed to build sustainable financial habits in at-risk student populations.
- Meet with participants one-on-one throughout the duration of the program to ensure students are on track and provide specific programming.
- Monitor participant milestones, ensuring students meet monthly savings targets and complete mandatory financial empowerment workshops required to trigger the bursary match.
- Identify successful participants for funding administration and distribution.
- Serve as the lead for the department's tech access initiative, identifying and addressing the "inequitable access to technology" that creates barriers for students in at-risk student populations.
- With the support of the Associate Registrar, oversee the procurement and distribution of laptops or other technological tools essential for student success in an increasingly virtual learning environment.
- Liaise with internal stakeholders to secure sustainable resources for technology, ensuring the initiative remains responsive to evolving community needs.
- Oversee the administrative requirements and tracking of the emergency gift card programming
- Deliver specialized programs targeted to support affordability for students that will translate into increased retention and persistence.
- Provide support to current students through one-on-one meetings to help build understanding of financial literacy topics such as government student loans, budgeting, savings, income taxes, long-term planning, etc.
- Informed by the student lifecycle and Incoming & Returning Student Assessment Surveys and other survey instruments, creates, plans and executes a series of events and activities for students to participate in throughout the academic school year to build awareness of financial options available and support financial literacy skill building.
- Organizes, hosts and collaborates with internal and external stakeholders to host an annual financial literacy month in November.
- Work with external stakeholders to deliver and provide content on financial literacy where and when appropriate.
- Provide presentations on student awards and financial aid related content when appropriate and necessary to internal and external stakeholders.
- Embed mechanisms for feedback from students and other stakeholders to support continuous process improvement.
- Proactive support in developing financial plans with prospective and new students to ensure they are prepared for post-secondary costs.
Qualifications
- College diploma or equivalent, degree in business, education or equivalent preferred;
- Experience working in an educational setting;
- Knowledge of pertinent audio/video devices and programming;
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite including Word, Excel and PowerPoint;
- Organizational skills;
- Excellent judgment and decision-making skills;
- Excellent customer service skills required;
- Demonstrated excellence in public speaking with the ability to create and deliver dynamic presentations;
- Demonstrated ability to foster, develop and maintain successful relationships with multiple audiences;
- A flexible work schedule;
- A valid, unrestricted Class G driver’s license.
Lakehead University is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and welcomes applications from all qualified individuals including women, racialized persons, Indigenous people, persons with disabilities, and other equity-seeking groups. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority. This is in accordance with Canadian immigration requirements.
Lakehead University has a goal to recruit and retain a diverse workforce as measured by increasing representation of underrepresented groups among applicants, candidates, and hires. Experience working with Indigenous or racialized communities, and/or members of other equity-deserving groups, is a strong asset. A lived experience or worked experience of any of these issues is preferred.
We appreciate your interest; Lakehead University is committed to supporting an accessible environment. Applicants requiring accommodation during the interview process should contact the Office of Human Resources at (807) 343-8010 ext. 8334 or human.resources@lakeheadu.ca to make appropriate arrangements.