Scholarship Advisor

Reports To Scholarship Manager 

Last Updated August, 2024

Job Summary 

The Scholarship Advisor is a crucial team member responsible for managing a $4 million scholarship portfolio for students. This role involves actively contributing to the development, implementation, and monitoring of the organization's scholarship advising services, ensuring the effective distribution of scholarships to constituents. You will also serve as a Volunteer Coordinator for CollegeBound, the Advisor plays a key role in coordinating volunteers and providing comprehensive training to both volunteers and staff on scholarships and financial aid. 

We are seeking an individual with expertise in all facets of financial aid, including scholarship disbursement, Federal aid (FAFSA), State aid (Maryland Higher Education Commission), and institutional aid. The successful candidate will bring in-depth knowledge and experience in navigating the intricacies of various financial aid programs, thereby enhancing the support and guidance provided to scholarship recipients. This role requires a dedicated professional committed to empowering students through comprehensive financial aid solutions. 

Responsibilities 

1. Scholarship Evaluation: Collaborating with the Scholarship Manager and Scholarship Advisor to evaluate students' competitive scholarship applications, scheduling interviews and being a part of the interview process and selecting recipients.  
2. Calculating students' financial eligibility to receive a Need Based Award to being a part of the College Completion Program. 
3. Informing Students and adults: Providing high school students and high school college advisors with information about various scholarship opportunities by conducting trainings and presentations to advisors, high school and Community Based Organization, email/texting initiatives and creating resource flyers. 
4. Promotion and Awareness: Spreading awareness about CollegeBound scholarships through events like college fairs and financial aid nights/weekends. 
5. Documentation and Maintenance: Creating and maintaining CollegeBound’s scholarship booklets, updating financial records for individual scholarship accounts, preparing check requests for competitive scholars and College Completion Scholars to send to colleges, as well as assisting with the maintenance of the online scholarship application. 
6. Training and Support: Assisting with Financial Aid Trainings, helping students and advisors understand and complete financial aid applications like FAFSA and MSFAA, and supporting them in understanding financial aid award letters. 
7. Data Management: Collecting and entering scholarship renewal materials into databases and handling related administrative tasks. 
8. Student Assistance: Providing support to students with college-related queries and guiding them to appropriate resources. 
9. Volunteer Coordination: Serving as the Volunteer Coordinator, overseeing volunteer training, and managing programs like the College Completion mentorship initiative. 
10. External Scholarship Administration: Administering an external scholarship list, likely involving coordination with external entities offering scholarships. 
11. Additional Duties: Performing any other tasks required for smooth scholarship administration and student support. 

Requirements 

Education and Experience: 

• Bachelor’s degree 
• 3-5 years of experience in student support 
• Experience in financial aid and scholarship management support 
• Valid driver’s license required and access to reliable vehicle  

Other: 

• Proof of COVID-19 vaccination is required for this position.  

Skills: 

• Excellent written and oral communication skills 
• Excellent interpersonal skills 
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail 
• Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously 
• Ability to work independently and manage time efficiently  
• Ability to work under high pressure  
• Sincere commitment to work collaboratively with all constituent groups, including staff, board members, volunteers, donors, program participants, and other supporters 
• General knowledge of scholarships, financial aid and how to complete the FAFSA preferred 
• Experience working with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and Access). Particularly in Excel.  
• Ability to handle a high volume of emails within Microsoft Outlook