The Scholarship Coordinator coordinates the scholarship activities, eligibility, awards, disbursement and compliance of externally and institutionally funded scholarships. The position analyzes scholarship criteria to identify guidelines that require adjustments to improve capacity to award funds. This position reports to the Office of Financial Aid with direction and guidance from Finance.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Enters scholarship information (eligibility requirements, renewal criteria, acceptance requirements, other parameters) into the Scholarship Award System (BlackBaud)
• Tracks and reports disbursements, reconciles awards made and scholarships dispersed; determines annual scholarship awards numbers based on spendable allocations and fund balances
• Coordinates with finance staff regarding fund updates, transfers, and closures for scholarships; reconciles end of year reports and validates account balance match
• Audits scholarship awards database and identifies scholarships that require adjustments in criteria to ensure the maximum disbursement of funds are awarded
• Reviews and assesses scholarship applications and serves as the scholarship liaison on committees that select scholarship recipients; coordinates the awarding and notifications to students
• Completes complex reports and analyzes data to monitor service and processing benchmarks, accuracy of eligibility and payments, and to reconciles accounts; prepares regular progress reports on fund dispersed versus funds available
• Researches and promotes external scholarship programs; retrieves and compiles information from numerous institutional and federal databases to determine student eligibility
• Retrieves and reviews student financial aid data via the US Department of Education's various systems
• Observes funding deadlines and collaborates with university departments to meet deadlines requirements to ensure the disbursement of funds awarded is optimized
• Imports and maintains comprehensive student records; documents transactions, conversations, and interactions affecting student eligibility that are used to support financial transactions, yearly audits, and other reviews
• Makes strategic outreach attempts on a regular basis to influence retention
• Presents information at recruitment events, workshops, meeting, or other events on financial aid, scholarships, or other related topics
• Takes a participative role in university events and office projects; participates in cross-training activities, seasonal or peak reassignments, and annual audits
• Interacts with students and parents through various means of communication (in person, email, telephone, chats, and virtual meetings)
• Performs other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university required.
• Experience with or a strong aptitude for financial analysis, data analysis, financial auditing, or compliance are highly encouraged to apply.
• One (1) year of experience in federal financial aid, customer financial accounts, finance, or similar experience
• Higher education experience and/or National Association of Student Financial Aid and Administrator (NASFAA) credentials a plus.
• Must clear and maintain a favorable background investigation and clearance
• Must have valid driver's license, motor vehicle liability insurance and personal injury insurance; or have a self-reliant source of transportation to conduct business on a daily basis
• Must have the ability to demonstrate intermediate skills in MS Office and Office 365 (Word, Excel, Teams, Outlook and PowerPoint) including experience with virtual platforms such as Zoom; Experience with Award Management Systems (Blackbaud or similar), Slate CRM and Banner software is preferred.
• Must be able to travel and work extended hours or weekends during peak times and for special programs, projects, and events.
• Must be able to be able to engage when needed evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• Must have excellent verbal and written communication skills. Strong public relations and customer service skills with an ability to implement diplomacy and discretion at all times; an ability to work effectively with communities across the university; Highly responsive to the needs of others.
• Must have a high ethical standard and a strong sense of confidentiality; ability to prioritize and manage multiple deadlines; thrive in a complex work environment; displays solid problem solving and interpersonal skills; works well independently and as part of a team.
• Must have ability to demonstrate strong analytical skills, attention to detail and be able to organize workflow, coordinate activities, balance simultaneous projects without loss of efficiency in a multi-tasked environment, and manage multiple priorities to meet deadlines
• Understanding of the St. Mary's culture and ability to represent and communicate the university mission to prospective students and families is preferred.
• Demonstrates a commitment to a campus culture that promotes and values inclusion, diversity, equity, and access; promotes a welcoming environment for all internal and external constituencies.
• Bilingual Preferred (English/Spanish with the ability to understand and to make one's self understood to Spanish speaking individuals).

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Working conditions are in an office environment and university campus setting. Must be able to move across the university campus to conduct day to day business.
• While performing this role, the employee will be regularly required to sit, walk, and stand; talk and hear, both in person and by telephone; and use hands repetitively to operate standard office equipment; and occasionally required to lift up to 25 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Frequently communicates with others using approved technological resources; must be able to exchange accurate information through designated systems within a timely manner.
• Constantly operates a computer and other office productivity machinery.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

St. Mary's University is a Hispanic-Serving Institution and an Equal Opportunity Employer. The University is committed to furthering diversity, equity, and inclusion and encourages all qualified candidates apply.