Position Summary

This position helps advance the equity-centered missions of Green River College by delivering student financial aid advising to prospective and currently enrolled students and their families with a focus on advancing access to marginalized communities. Under general supervision of the Assistant Director of Financial Aid, this position will oversee day-to-day customer service operations, function as an office representative and resource, have extensive contact with program participants and outside entities, and resolve problems within a delegated area of authority. To promote equitable student access and success, the incumbent will work with students to make financial aid processes transparent and help navigate/dismantle barriers to accessing aid (particularly those impacting students of color and other marginalized groups), as well provide information/referral for other funding sources and perform other task related to the administration and implementation of the student financial aid programs.

 

ABOUT THE COLLEGE:

Green River College's student body is made up of approximately 41% Academic Transfer students, 34% Professional-Technical, 15% Adult Basic Education, 3% Applied Bachelor degrees. Green River College has four campuses, including the main campus in Auburn, with satellite campuses in Kent, downtown Auburn, and Enumclaw. Green River programs serve high school graduates, Running Start students (dual enrollment in local high schools and the college), those seeking retraining for the workforce, international students, students learning English, and Continuing Education students. Green River's service areas are increasingly ethnically diverse, comprising African Americans, African immigrants, Asian Americans, Asians, Latinx, Native Americans, Pacific Islanders, and Middle Eastern Americans, among other communities.

 

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION:

Green River College is committed to enhancing and supporting a diverse campus environment, incorporating principles of equity in order to promote inclusive practices. Diversity is understood in terms of intersectional identities defined by culture, race, ethnicity, sex, gender, sexual orientation, social class, disability, religion, veteran status, immigration status, and age. Given the diversity of our student population and service areas, we encourage applications from faculty, staff, and administrators with demonstrated experience and expertise in supporting, sustaining and serving people from a wide range of backgrounds and collaborating effectively with others.

Position Responsibilities

Student Support

• Provide direct customer service through various formats including virtual, email, phone, and in-person, with excellent customer service skills focused on bringing racial equity and social justice equity lens
• Exhibit cultural responsiveness and a commitment to equity in all interactions with students, faculty, staff and community members to who span a diverse range of languages, nationalities and ethnicities, socio-economic levels, identities, and educational experiences
• Independently advise students and parents regarding federal, state and institutional financial aid application process and program criteria, acknowledging and mitigating systemic barriers for first generation, undocumented, disabled, domestic violence- and formerly justice-involved students
• Counsel financial aid applicants on completion of complex application materials following federal and state guidelines, which may include interpretation and translation of unique, highly confidential and often complex circumstances. Understanding confidentiality can include immigration status, complex tax and income situations, and student and family barriers
• Provides advocacy for historically underrepresented students
• Assist other team members as needed
• Other duties as assigned to support the goals and objectives of the department and the college

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Responsibilities

• Participate in workshops, discussions, and learning opportunities regularly around diversity, equity, and inclusion (GDEC training opportunities, Diversity Educational Series, departmental trainings and discussions)
• Implement equity tools and strategies obtained through various training opportunities to daily work
• Actively support, engage in, and work to advance Green River College's goals for equity and inclusion in order to provide access and support for our diverse community of learners

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Associate degree or two years in customer service and/or higher education
• Intermediate knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite
• Analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills to evaluate aid applications
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively in a team environment
• Ability to learn and accurately utilize various financial aid platforms
• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbal and written, in English
• Ability to establish a student-centered environment providing excellent customer service
• Work effectively with colleagues and students of various cultural and socio-economic backgrounds
• Ability to work accurately with numbers and detail
• Ability to organize, prioritize, and schedule work to meet timelines

Preferred Qualifications:

• One year of experience working in financial aid
• Bilingual in one of the top 8 languages in Green River’s service area: Spanish, Dari, Somali, Ukrainian, Vietnamese, Marshallese, Punjabi, Arabic

Supplemental Information

Required Training:

• Non-discrimination
• Ethics
• Child Abuse and Neglect
• Safety Orientation
• Title IX
• FERPA

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Must have the ability to sit for prolonged period of time at a desk/computer workstation
• Frequent repetitive arm, hand, and finger motions
• Frequent use of computer and exposure to terminal screen in performing work assignments
• Work in an office setting with frequent interruptions
• Must be able to maintain “regular and predictable attendance”
• May need to carry, lift or move equipment/supplies up to 10 lbs
• Work schedule: M-F, regular business hours. Occasional weekend and evening hours for peak processing
• Term of Position: Temporary, through June 2025

To be considered for this position you must complete and submit the following along with your completed online application:

• Resume
• Supplemental questions from tab at top of page
• Detailed cover letter addressing minimum and preferred qualifications

This position is part of a bargaining unit subject to a collective bargaining agreement.

At this time, Green River College is not sponsoring for H1-B Visas.

All offers of employment are subject to background checks. (Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant’s suitability and competence to perform in the position.)

Green River College is a tobacco free campus. For more information on the tobacco policy, please visit the following link: https://www.greenriver.edu/campus/policies-and-procedures/general-administrative-policies/ga-2-tobacco-use-policy/

Jeanne Clery Statement: Notice of Availability of Annual Security and Fire Safety Report— Green River College’s Annual Safety and Fire Report is available online at www.greenriver.edu/CleryASFR, containing mandated information about current campus policies concerning safety and security issues, required statistics, and other related information for the past three calendar years. To obtain a paper copy of the report, please call 253-288-3350.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER: Green River College does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, gender, gender orientation, age, marital status, religion, disability, genetic information or on any other unlawful basis. The college is committed to preventing and stopping discrimination, including harassment of any kind and any associated retaliatory behavior.
The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Vice President of Human Resources, 12401 SE 320th Street, Auburn, WA 98092-3622, (253) 288-3320. To receive this information in an alternate format, please contact Disability Support Services at (253) 833-9111, ext. 2631; TTY (253) 288-3359.