Financial Aid Support Specialist

Duties:

VIU is seeking a talented, highly organized, and experienced professional to provide exceptional customer service for students interacting with the department.

Reporting to the Director, Student Services, the Financial Aid Support Specialist, plays a significant role as the first point of contact for the department providing service to students in person, by email, and by phone.

This role is part of a team that supports students who rely on student loans, scholarships, awards, grants, and bursaries to supplement their funding while at VIU. This Financial Aid Support Specialist must be a team player and be able to handle large volumes of information with multiple interruptions and changing priorities depending on students' needs.

The Financial Aid Support Specialist maintains regular contact with Registration, the Student Financial Services, the Advising Centre, VIU's regional campuses, and other departments across the institution.

Additional duties include:

• Provide in-person, email, and telephone-based service as the first point of contact for the office for current students, prospective students, general public, and staff,
• Respond to inquiries about VIU and government financial assistance programs with accurate and relevant information,
• Provide information regarding StudentAidBC (SABC), National Student Loans (NSLSC), provincial student loan/grant applications, Adult Upgrading Grants (AUG), Canada Study Grants (CSG), Provincial Tuition Waiver Program, emergency assistance programs, internal and external scholarships, awards and bursaries, fee deferrals and institutional grants,
• Refer specific inquiries to designated staff as appropriate including other departments on campus,
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of Ministry online systems such as SFAS, SAIL, SABC, NSLSC, and out of province systems,
• Track and maintain SABC part-time student loans and grants,
• Provide coverage as required for breaks, vacation and absences for the Financial Aid Specialist,
• Maintain the department web site,
• Provide general break coverage for other service areas located in the same reception area.

Required Qualifications:

Business Administration Diploma or equivalent related field plus a minimum of three years' experience in a college, university or government setting including administration and public relations/front line skills, intermediate level word processing, excel and related programs and business knowledge.

• Ability to follow department procedures.
• Experience working in a front-line capacity serving a diverse population with various financial aid enquiries.
• Ability to assist students under stressful conditions while maintaining a calm demeanor.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated knowledge of Student Record System and Student Ledger System.
• Experience supporting vulnerable students with access to educational resources.
• Knowledge of BC Colleges, institutes, university systems, programs, and services.

VIU is pleased to offer eligible employees a comprehensive benefit plan; ample paid holiday time; professional development opportunities and a desirable pension plan. As part of the VIU campus community, our employees work with supportive colleagues within an encouraging environment and are provided with the tools and training that promote learning and development. The perks of VIU employment are multiple, and include well-being initiatives and services, strategic discounts, and flexible work opportunities.

Note: 

• Short-listed candidates must provide original transcripts, or applicable original certifications at time of interview.
• All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.
• Vancouver Island University (VIU) is collectively committed to building and sustaining a diverse and inclusive working and learning environment for faculty, staff, and students.  In our journey towards greater diversity, we invite applications from members of equity-seeking communities including women, racialized and Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, persons of all gender identities and sexual orientations who bring value to the VIU community through their lived experiences.  We encourage members of all equity-seeking groups to self-identify within their application cover letter.  When a candidate voluntarily discloses this information in their cover letter, the information will be used only for the fulfillment of the career opportunity.  Disclosure and/or self-identification with an equity-seeking group will not lead to advantageous treatment of a candidate who is not qualified.