Financial Aid Specialist Student Support Services, Passport, Outreach & Unusual Circumstances (Program Specialist 3)

Location:Spokane Falls Main Campus Spokane

Department:SFCC Financial Aid

Salary Range: $4882 - $6576

Starting salary for this position is: $4882 (Monthly)

Employees hired at the entry step of this range receive salary step advancement after six months and every 12 months thereafter. An employee hired at anything higher than the entry step of the range will have salary step advancement after 12 months and every 12 months thereafter until they reach the top of the salary range. Each salary step advancement will be approximately a 5% increase.

About Us

Spokane Falls Community College part of Spokane Colleges serves 6000 students with liberal arts/transfer and professional technical programs across a 12302 square mile region in Eastern Washington.

Applications will be accepted until 4:00 p.m. PST on 02/02/2026. The application process will not be available after this time. To ensure consideration make sure your application is completed and submitted as soon as possible. Applications will only be accepted prior to 4:00 p.m. on the closing date.

About theFinancial Aid Specialist Student Support Services Passport Outreach & Unusual Circumstances (Program Specialist 3)

JOB SUMMARY

The Financial Aid Specialist works in the Financial Aid Office under the general direction of the Director of Financial Aid. Each financial aid program has policies procedures regulations and specific government reporting requirements. The rules of these programs are highly complex and require coordination to ensure that students receive the correct information and are offered aid in accordance with established regulations.

The Financial Aid Specialist works independently interprets and works in accordance with federal state and college policies procedures and regulations and coordinates with other financial aid programs and the Spokane Colleges Business Office to ensure college administrative capability is maintained. The specialist reviews applications for financial aid eligibility advises students and makes decisions regarding special circumstances.

This position is responsible for all aspects of the Student Support Services grant awarding state Passport to College program Financial Aid Outreach and federal Unusual Circumstance programming.

This position serves as a subject matter expert (SME) and interacts with the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) Department of Education (ED) and Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) and various state and community stakeholders.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Student Support Services Awarding

• In partnership with the Student Support Services Department package alternative funding in a timely and accurate way to ensure funds are applied to student accounts in accordance with respective funding regulations. *
• Utilize reports and analyze accounts within ctcLink to ensure proper disbursement and reconciliation of funds in coordination with Student Support Services staff the Financial Aid Disbursement Specialist and district Business Office. *

Passport to College Program

• Manage Passport to College funding including reconciling funds between financial aid awards Student Financials/District Business Office and the WSAC Portal. *
• Monitors and tracks participant eligibility and participation in program activities. For eligible awarded students communicates Passport Welcome and Conditions of Awards notices. Coordinates student eligibility and student support services with the Student Support Services department. *
• Serve as SME and liaison regarding Passport to College program including establishing student Passport eligibility with WSAC. Address complex situations and questions using subject matter expertise. As the SME responsible for creating and providing Passport training to staff. *
• Assist State Aid specialist in resolving all edits for Passport funded students within the WSAC portal for state reporting purposes. *

Financial Aid Outreach

• Manage all financial aid outreach presentations for potential financial aid (FA) applicants. Make presentations lead workshops and disseminate information regarding college/financial aid in high schools and other community agencies; conduct recruitment efforts among targeted groups to promote financial aid availability and to encourage students to apply and educational advance. *
• Collaborate with SFCC/SCC campus Outreach and Spokane Colleges District Outreach departments to provide financial aid information and services to the Spokane Colleges service area. *

Unusual Circumstances

• Manages unusual circumstances processing to ensure timely and compliant notifications processing and determinations for unusual circumstance eligibility. Responsible for tracking student applications for initial and continued eligibility submission of documents and ensuring determinations are made within federal regulatory timelines. *
• Reviews received documents advises students and makes professional judgment decisions regarding unusual circumstances in accordance with federal and state regulations. *
• Acts as liaison for community partners communicating policy and processes related to unusual circumstances. *

General

• Analyze and evaluate documentation to determine financial aid file completion review and determine aid student eligibility and award federal state and local Financial Aid. This includes using data obtained from federal and state software programs and systems. Analyze and evaluate documentation submitted by students including completing the federal Verification process for selected students using submitted documents that include but are not limited to federal tax returns and other legal documents. *
• Provide complex counseling assistance and problem solve by providing a variety of options to students based on individual needs and circumstances regarding financial aid payment and refunds credit reviews and enrollment issues. *
• Maintain expertise and up-to-date knowledge of federal and state regulations for financial aid programs enabling the department to plan and react positively to constantly changing federal state and institutional regulations and guidance. *
• Exercise professional judgment in interpreting rules and regulations and evaluating unusual circumstances for special conditions using Federal and State Student Financial Aid rules and regulations. *
• Responsible for maintaining knowledge of the federal and state financial aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) regulations ensuringstudents maintain a proper grade point average (GPA) andnumber of quarters in attendance. *
• Assists in developing and establishing procedures and policies to implement new programs and/or activities and in formulating new program policies procedures and standards. *
• Assists higher-level staff in the preparation of complex comprehensive plans summaries recommendations progress or special reports. *
• Maintain knowledge of policies of other departments (Admissions Registration Onboarding Student Success Curriculum etc.) and understand the impact of them on a students financial aid eligibility. *
• Anticipates potential conflict and attempts resolution before problems occur; plans evaluates and consults with staff and outside entities to identify problems explores solutions and alternatives and recommends resolutions designed to meet the goals and objectives of the program. *
• Work on special projects for the Director/Associate Director and serve as an intercampus contact for the Financial Aid Office. *
• Works with program participants staff representatives of outside organizations or members of the public in defining the needs and planning designing and developing specialized program activities. *
• Collaborate with SBCTC to make sure software updates and developed processes meet state and federal requirements. This may include testing new processes reporting issues proposing solutions and feedback to make sure students are funded correctly and in a timely manner. *
• Serve as back-up and provide assistance to other Financial Aid Specialists and their programs. *
• Model professional decorum and mutual respect in all personal interactions. *
• Comply with district policies procedures and directives state and federal regulations orders and statutes and collective bargaining agreements. *
• Support and advance the Spokane Colleges strategic plan and perform other duties as assigned. *

* Indicates this is an essential duty.

COMPETENCIES

• Manages Complexity
• Decision Quality
• Action Oriented
• Plans & Aligns
• Ensures Accountability
• Drives Results
• Collaborates
• Instills Trust
• Demonstrates Self-Awareness
• Self-Development
• Nimble Learning
• Situational Adaptability

Learn more about our competencies.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Associate degree AND three (3) years of experience in Financial Aid. Or an equivalent mix of education and experience that demonstrates the candidate meets all competency requirements for this position.
• Possess comprehensive working knowledge of financial aid policies procedures rules and regulations.
• Knowledge of Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
• Knowledge of Washington State Ethics Law and Residency Law.
• Knowledge of Title IX Education Act.
• Knowledge of institutional funding/waiver processes and financial literacy and loan disclosures.
• Knowledge of funding programs under WSAC Title IV SBCTC/Student Support Services institutional scholarships agency-based funding institutional grants/waivers.
• Expertise in Internal Revenue Code as it applies to verifications filing thresholds and allowable filing status.
• Experience and subject matter expertise in one or more of the following relevant systems and technologies: student management system (e.g. PeopleSoft Banner Workday) FAFSA Common Origination and Disbursement (COD) EdConnect FAFSA Partner Portal NSLDS customer relationship management software (e.g. TargetX) WSAC VA Enrollment Manager National Association of Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) tools/library Microsoft Office products.
• Experience working with student records.
• The ability to gain and maintain security access to all federal and state web-based systems.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Excellent customer service skills.
• Ability to maintain electronic and manual files.
• Ability to use computers and spreadsheets database and word processing software.
• Ability to maintain high level of confidentiality.
• Ability to work collaboratively and cooperatively in a team environment.
• Must be task oriented and able to streamline processes after evaluating areas.
• Ability to independently interpret and apply regulations policies and procedures received from multiple sources.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with multiple deadlines.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelors degree.
• Knowledge of Spokane Colleges Administrative Procedures that affect financial aid such as: Student Records Tuition and Fees Refunds Degrees and Certificates etc.
• Experience with ctcLink (PeopleSoft).

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Work is performed in a semi-open office setting with frequent interruptions and background noise.
• Work is sedentary.
• Frequent use of computers.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• Full-time schedule (12 months 40 hours per week).
• This position is overtime eligible.
• 6-month probationary period.
• Criminal background check is required.
• This position is covered under a collective bargaining agreement. Membership is optional.

Person hired must be able to provide acceptable documentation of U.S. Citizenship or lawful authorization to work in the United States. This is an absolute condition of employment. An offer of employment will not carry with it any responsibility or obligation on the part of the district to sponsor an H1-B addition the Spokane Colleges maintain a drug-free work environment and prohibits all smoking in the college buildings and state-owned vehicles. Must be able to successfully work in and promote a multicultural work and education environment.

Prior to a new hire a background check including criminal record history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicants suitability and competence to perform in the an applicant is chosen for a position they are required to complete and submit a declaration regarding sexual misconduct and investigation per state law.

Benefits Information

Medical dental life and long term disability insurance benefits are provided as currently administered under Public Employees Benefits Board; WA State Retirement Plan; vacation and sick leave begin to accrue at the rate of one (1) day per month upon employment. (For positions that are less than full time leave accruals will be prorated to the percentage of the position.) This position is designated a bargaining unit position and union membership is not a condition of employment. Leave accruals and usage are governed by the WFSE collective bargaining agreement.

Public Employees Benefits Board

Additional benefits information

Required Application Materials

To qualify for consideration applicants must meet required competencies and submit a complete application packet which includes the following:

• Cover letter - addressing your qualifications relevant to the responsibilities of this position.
  
• Resume.
  
• References the names addresses and phone numbers of three professional references.

For questions regarding a job application or the hiring process or if you require an accommodation during the application or interview process please contact HR at

Equal Opportunity Institution

Spokane Colleges provides equal opportunity in education and employment and does not discriminate on the basis of race color national origin citizenship or immigration status age perceived or actual physical or mental disability pregnancy genetic information sex sexual orientation gender identity marital status creed religion veteran or military status or use of a trained guide dog or service animal. This policy is in accordance with state and federal laws including Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

Direct all inquiries or grievances regarding access Title IX ADA equal opportunity compliance and/or grievances to:
Frederick Davis MA
Chief Human Resources Officer
Spokane Colleges
P.O. Box 6000 MS1004
Spokane WA. 99217-6000
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