Financial Aid Systems & Experience Specialist
Overview
The Financial Aid Systems & Experience Specialist acts as the technical lead and subject matter expert for the office's primary data platforms to deliver enhanced financial aid services. This role is dedicated to proactively removing financial barriers for students by performing systematic data auditing to identify missing funding opportunities, optimizing administrative processes for a smoother student experience, and collaborating on targeted outreach and financial literacy initiatives.
The FASE Specialist maintains the accuracy of student financial aid application data for all provincial and federal government student aid programs. This position is also responsible for developing and coordinating timely communications and outreach initiatives to targeted student populations in addition to ensuring online content is updated to reflect accurate details pertaining to financial aid support.
Responsibilities
- Routinely audit student data within Blackbaud Award Management and the OSAP Administrative Portal to identify underserved student groups (e.g., first generation, Indigenous, youth-in-care) or students who are not harnessing all available financial opportunities;
- Identify students who have missed specific entitlements and provide proactive outreach on their next steps to secure funding;
- Evaluate eligibility and award various bursaries based on application and established criteria, student budget, academic records, etc;
- Accountable for all government funded scholarship and bursary programs (e.g., Indigenous Student Bursary, First Generation Bursary, First Nations Resource Development Scholarship, etc);
- Serve as functional lead for Blackbaud Award Management, ensuring the software is utilized to its fullest potential to automate award cycles, streamline student applications, and enhance reporting capabilities;
- Act as the systems expert for the OSAP Administrative Portal and SIS Colleague;
- Systematically review internal and system-wide administrative processes to identify inefficiencies and barriers that hinder the student financial aid experience;
- Provide expert advice and implement technological solutions to reduce administrative lag, minimize application errors, and simplify the navigation of complex aid systems for students
- Develop technical procedures and guides to ensure the team delivers consistent and efficient service during peak processing windows.
Qualifications
- An undergraduate degree in a related field (such as Business, Finance, or Information Technology) combined with three to five years of progressive experience in a post-secondary financial aid environment;
- Effective communication skills - oral, written, listening, advising, public speaking;
- Excellent analytical and time management skills;
- Well-developed organizational, decision-making and problem-solving skills;
- Demonstrated attention to detail;
- Ability to meet strict deadlines and work effectively under pressure of high volumes and changing priorities;
- Ability to exercise tact, integrity, discretion and sound judgement;
- Ability to maintain confidentiality is essential;
- Experience in specialized systems & equipment knowledge, including proficiency in the OSAP administrative portal, Blackbaud Award Management, Colleague (Ellucian), and managing online file-share systems effective information architecture and data security;
- Financial empowerment training is considered an asset;
- Data mining and auditing.
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.