Assistant Director for Student Contact and Communications

FLSA Status: Nonexempt

Months Per Year: 12

Employment Status: Full-Time

Work Model: Hybrid Available

Seattle University will be one of the most innovative and progressive Jesuit and Catholic universities in the world, educating with excellence at the undergraduate, graduate, and professional levels. We embrace an intersectional framework for defining diversity in its broadest sense, including differences in gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, generational history, culture, socioeconomic class, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship status, political perspectives, geographic origin and physical ability. Seattle University strives to be a welcome, open and safe campus climate for all who learn, live and work at Seattle University.

Position Description

Reporting to Director of Student Financial Aid, this position oversees and supervises the work of the Student Contact counseling team. The Student Contact team is the primary connection for students, prospective students, and family members regarding both financial aid and student account related questions. This position requires a high level of financial aid and student account knowledge of complex federal, state, and institutional programs. In addition to managing the day-to-day activities of the Student Contact staff, this position is responsible to coordinate all internal and external office communications.

Essential Functions and Associated Tasks:

Supervisory Role:

• Supervise the daily tasks of the Student Contact staff to ensure students and their families are receiving the best possible information to help them make an informed decision about all aspects of their educational financing needs.
• Manage staff schedules to guarantee that adequate coverage is always available during office hours.
• Confirm that all counseling is conducted in strict compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and all other regulations, and that staff are prepared to meet the information needs of prospective and enrolled SU students.
• Support professional development of team members.

Communications:

• Serve as SFS communications lead coordinator. Coordinate all messaging from SFS to meet the highest standards of the University.
• Included in these responsibilities is the task of maintaining SFS webpages, review and edit email and print communications for both student and parent audiences.
• Coordinate SFS related communications and content with the other offices on campus (e.g., Admissions Office, Parent Engagement and New Student Programs, Slate for Student Success, others).
• Continue to create and maintain video communications related to SFS activities for students and parents to help them better understand the financial aid and billing processes unique to the University.

Financial Aid Advising:

• Assist students and families with questions regarding applying for financial aid.
• Explain the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), including eligibility and filing issues, and assist with its completion as necessary.
• Answer questions about financial aid packages and the timing of awards.
• Provide information about scholarships and grants for all student body populations, (i.e., undergraduate and graduate students) and program eligibility requirements. Provide information on all aid programs including federal and state aid, special circumstance reviews, verification, and satisfactory academic progress and work study.

Student Account Counseling and Processing:

• Provide information and assist with payment and financing options, payment plans, refunds, billing schedule, account balances, lost checks, waiver requests (e.g., health insurance and late fees), 1098-T, paid receipts and holds.
• Provide counseling to students, prospective students, and family members about educational finance options. Process payments made in person (check and debit card) or by mail for tuition and fees, admission and housing deposits, meal plans.
• Assist students, prospective students and families with various online services.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree plus a minimum of three years of experience working in a Financial Aid/ Student Account office, or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job.
• Demonstrated commitment to strong customer service and the ability to resolve wide-ranging complex problems through creative reasoning and logic to accurately determine the cause of and resolution to problems in an effective, innovative, and timely manner.
• Applicant must possess the skills to trouble shoot problems for individuals and families in financial aid and student accounts matters and work both independently and cooperatively with other staff members and other departments.
• Desktop PC, ERP system and Microsoft Office Suite experience are required.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, families, faculty, staff, and community groups.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret and present information and ideas clearly and accurately in writing, orally and by preparation of reports and other materials.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ellucian Colleague ERP.
• Supervisory experience of a customer service team.
• Superior communication and writing skills.
• Bilingual (Spanish preferred).

Application Instructions

Please attach a cover letter with your resume when applying. Job postings are open until filled, unless otherwise specified.

Compensation at a Glance:

Salary Range: $60,000 - $61,500

Seattle University has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, and not based on a candidate’s gender or any other protected status.

Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck. Seattle University provides generous leave, health plans, and retirement contributions that add to your total compensation package.

Benefits at a Glance:

Consistent with its fundamental Jesuit values, Seattle University offers a wide range of benefits designed to care for the whole person. Choose from three different medical plans, a dental, and vision insurance programs. Protect your income with life, short & long-term disability coverage. Plan for your future with up to a 10% employer contribution for retirement benefits, comprised of a 5% nonelective employer contribution and an additional dollar-for-dollar match of your voluntary contributions up to a maximum of 5%. You may also take advantage of 100% paid tuition benefits for the employee and dependents, a subsidized transportation benefit, a wellness program with free access to an onsite fitness facility, and a wide variety of campus events. Enjoy a generous holiday schedule, including a paid Holiday break closure in December, vacation and paid sick leave, and paid community service leave. For more information explore the Benefits website at: https://www.seattleu.edu/hr/benefits/