Position Summary:

The Financial Aid and Admissions Officer is part of the dynamic Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships (OSFA) and Office of Undergraduate Admissions (OUA) teams within University Enrollment Affairs at Vanderbilt University. This individual is a key contributor responsible for assisting in the efforts to recruit and enroll new members of the undergraduate schools of the university. This position will interact with prospective students and applicants and may exercise independent judgment in contributing to decisions on behalf of the applicant. Additionally, this position will report directly to senior leadership team members in both OUA and OSFA. The individual serving in this capacity will primarily work in OUA from October – March and OSFA from April – September.

About the Office of Student Financial Aid:

The OSFA is responsible for providing financial assistance to students whose economic circumstances are such that they could not otherwise afford to attend. In addition, we provide limited merit-based assistance to select undergraduate students who demonstrate exceptional accomplishment and intellectual promise.

Vanderbilt welcomes students who can benefit from and contribute to the community, regardless of their financial situation. The University is committed to reviewing applicants for admission without regard to their financial need, then assistance is awarded to any student who establishes eligibility for such need-based assistance on the basis of family financial criteria.

The OUA at Vanderbilt University is a critical unit within University Enrollment Affairs that contributes greatly to the entire Vanderbilt community. Its mission is to recruit, select, and enroll a diverse cohort of degree-seeking first-year and transfer students who are intellectually curious, academically talented, and socially engaged. The Office communicates systematically with hundreds of thousands of prospective students through traditional printed publications, the web, and other social media channels, and serves as the first point of contact for members of the public interested in VU.

Vanderbilt fully supports the concepts of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and is committed to the belief that equity and social justice must be accorded to all. Vanderbilt also believes that a part of its responsibility is to contribute to a diverse university community where students, staff, and faculty of differing backgrounds, viewpoints, and life experiences learn about and from each other in classroom settings as well as throughout the entire campus.

Key Functions and Expected Performance:

• Review application materials in an accurate and timely manner.

• Travel for admissions and financial aid outreach purposes, including participation in workshops, forums, seminars, high school, district and/or state programs as assigned.

• Meet with or present information sessions to prospective students and applicants as assigned.

• Assist with developing recruitment plans for meeting enrollment goals.

• Produce and process applications for financial aid; determine eligibility for federal, state, university and other aid programs for entering first year students.

• Think independently and make sound professional judgement decisions in situations when consideration is being given to special circumstances that affect a family’s ability to contribute to the student’s cost of attending.

• Assist with programs designed to impact recruitment/yield efforts. May also include assisting the efforts of the following Office of Undergraduate Admissions teams: Evaluation & Selection, Recruitment & Outreach, Visitor Experience & Strategy, Marketing & Communications and Operations.

• Other duties as assigned.

• Resolve problems and respond to students and parent inquiries concerning the various admissions and financial aid program activities and processes, as well as provide counseling and guidance for families relative to the application process.

• Attend workshops and conferences, review relevant professional publications and take action as appropriate to remain informed of and be able to respond to legislative and other changes affecting admissions and financial aid.

• Achieve a broad knowledge and understanding of federal and institutional methodology as it relates to federal, state, university and other aid programs.

• Accomplish required verification of the accuracy of financial data and other detailed information submitted by students and families on financial aid application materials.

  Supervisory Relationships:

  This position does not have supervisory responsibility. This position reports directly to the Deputy Director of Financial Aid.

  Education and Certifications:

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education is necessary.

• A master’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education is preferred.

  Special Instructions:

• Please include a cover letter, along with your resume for the hiring manager to review.

  Experience and Skills:

• At least two years of related experience is preferred.

• As a salaried (exempt) position, ability to work weekends and nights is necessary, especially in key times of the recruitment cycle.

• Strong interpersonal and public speaking skills, with comfort in front of audiences of 150+, are necessary.

• The ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community is necessary.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook is necessary.

• Demonstrated ability working collaboratively in a team environment is necessary.

• Effective verbal and writing skills are necessary.

• Ability to make administrative/procedural decisions and judgments is necessary.

• Knowledge of financial aid policies, procedures, and eligibility requirements is preferred.

• Experience in administering federal financial aid programs is preferred.

• Please note that this position is a hybrid position, and there is an expectation that the successful candidate will be able to work on campus on appropriate days.

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion At Vanderbilt University, we are intentional about and assume accountability for fostering advancement and respect for equity, diversity, and inclusion for all students, faculty, and staff. Our commitment to diversity makes us who we are. We have created a community that celebrates differences and lets individuality thrive. As part of this commitment, we actively value diversity in our workplace and learning environments as we seek to take advantage of the rich backgrounds and abilities of everyone. The diverse voices of Vanderbilt represent an invaluable resource for the University in its efforts to fulfill its mission and strive to be an example of excellence in higher education. Vanderbilt University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. Women, minorities, people with disabilities, and protected veterans are encouraged to apply.