Financial Aid Specialist

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 RESPONSIBLITIES:

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.