Compensation: $16.54 - $20.05

Position Summary:

Financial Assistance Services provides the means for students to pursue their post-secondary educational endeavors.

St. Petersburg College (SPC) takes pride in helping students finish what they start, therefore assisting students with the financial aid process is critical in getting the student started in the best possible position to succeed. SPC is seeking a dynamic and energetic Student Support Specialist for our fast-paced financial assistance services verification department. To be a strong candidate for consideration, we are looking for someone who:

• Possess 2 years of excellent customer service skills;
• Financial Aid experience preferred but not required
• Has graduated with an Associate's Degree or higher
• Is a self-starter, passionate about seeing students succeed
• Is willing to work in a team environment to solve problems;
• Reliable transportation and flexible enough to be used at different college locations
• Has a positive outlook and attitude;
• Able to de-escalate tense situations in person and on the phone;
• Innovative and creative enough to help remove barriers and help students succeed.

The Student Support Specialist typically assists students at the Epi-Tech campus, via Virtual Advising Sessions, with document intake, and answering questions about FAFSA. Assistance is also provided via phone and email with a full spectrum of financial aid related questions. The Student Support Specialist will provide more detailed advising for students and parents. A thorough understanding of the FAFSA, verification, and SAP are just a few items that the Student Support Specialist will need to be familiar with. Additionally, we are seeking a candidate who has strong critical thinking skills and who can learn new systems and processes fairly easily.

This class is the second of three levels in the Student Support series. Incumbents provide organizational information and services to students and prospective students in single areas or across a number of disciplines that may include admissions, financial aid, academic advising, career services, international students, and disability services. This level is differentiated from the previous level by the level of knowledge and responsibility within a single student support function or the breadth of responsibilities across student support functions. Responsibilities may include providing information on academic requirements and processes, financial aid, and registration processes; reviewing documentation for alignment with College requirements; determining eligibility for admittance; monitoring student progress; providing academic guidance; and performing the duties of the lower level.

Requirements:

Education:

Associate's degree.

Experience:

At least 2 years of strong customer service experience . Financial Aid experience preferred, but not required..

* Prior administrative experience; directly related to reporting, data entry, and data
organization.
* Direct Advisement or experience working with college students is a plus, but not required.
* Exceptional customer service, detail-oriented, and ability to be self-motivated.
* Strong organizational and time management skills.
* Excellent verbal and written communication.
* Program and/or project management experience.
* Knowledge and regular use of all Microsoft Office software; Excel, Word, PowerPoint, etc.

* An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job may be acceptable in lieu of those requirements listed above.

Knowledge:

• Applicable academic programs, financial aid, extracurricular programs, and/or related services;
• Applicable Federal, State, and local laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures;
• Academic counseling principles;
• Customer service principles;
• Academic program requirements;
• Recordkeeping principles;
• Computers and related software applications.

Skills:

• Advising students on academic issues;
• Providing program support;
• Interpreting and applying applicable laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures;
• Maintaining confidentiality;
• Preparing and maintaining records;
• Using a computer and related software applications;
• Communication, interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with subordinates, coworkers, supervisor, the general public, etc. sufficient to exchange or convey information and to give and receive work direction.

Physical:

• Positions in this class typically require: reaching, standing, walking, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing, seeing and repetitive motions.
• Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.

Responsibilities: