Organization Vision
uAspire imagines a day when all young people have the opportunity to reach their full potential by graduating from college, regardless of their families’ financial resources or college experiences.
Organization Summary
uAspire helps students and families overcome the financial barriers to a college education through free financial aid advice and advocacy. Through strategic partnerships with high schools, community organizations, and local universities, uAspire helps students find an affordable path to – and through – a postsecondary education. Founded in Boston in 1985, uAspire has provided expert financial aid advising to more than 50,000 students across four cities in Massachusetts, Miami, and the San Francisco Bay Area.
uAspire supports students through three key program elements:
- Prepare: uAspire engages 7th through 11th graders in classroom-based early college affordability workshops.
- Afford: uAspire helps 12th graders navigate the financial aid process and select an affordable college option through workshops and one-on-one sessions tailored to their postsecondary goals and personal circumstances.
- Succeed: uAspire provides ongoing affordability support and outreach to college students on their path to degree attainment.
In our first full year of programming in 2014-2015, uAspire Bay Area served over 1,700 high school seniors. This summer, we will add Succeed services. We are currently looking to add to our team an additional Financial Aid Advisor to work primarily with 12th graders during the school year and with high school graduates over the following summer. The position will be located in San Francisco and/or the East Bay. (uAspire Bay Area works in school and non-profit sites across San Francisco, Oakland, and Hayward.)
Position Summary
uAspire Bay Area Financial Aid Advisors are full-time, nonexempt employees who work one-on-one with Bay Area youth to help them navigate the financial aid and college affordability process. Advisors receive in-depth financial aid training in order to successfully support students on their path to and through a postsecondary education. Each Advisor is typically staffed at two or three school sites, each for one to three days per week. Some Advisors also staff after-school programs.
This position requires a highly organized individual who is able to manage and prioritize multiple tasks, pays close attention to detail, maintains a positive attitude in stressful situations, and possesses the ability to handle confidential matters with the utmost discretion. The successful applicant will be someone who is excited about making a real impact on the lives of Bay Area youth, strives to put learning into action, and thrives on new challenges.
Principal Responsibilities
- Based on eight weeks of in-depth training, provide financial aid advice and expertise – as well as general financial information – to high school students in San Francisco and Oakland through classroom presentations, small group sessions, individual meetings, and college fairs or assemblies.
- Conduct financial aid presentations to families in school and community settings.
- Assist students in completing state, federal, and institutional financial aid forms, as well as outside scholarship applications.
- Proactively reach out to students to ensure adequate completion of the financial aid process; include parents/guardians when possible.
- Maintain all records pertaining to contact with students (using Salesforce platform) and families.
- Participate in the implementation of a large-scale research study to measure the impact of our Afford advising. This research, funded by the federal Social Innovation Fund, requires students and families at some partner schools to consent to participate in our program. Added Advisor activities include rigorous outreach to parents and students, consent form collection and tracking, distinguishing between uAspire cohort students and a comparison group, and additional training requirements.
- Work collaboratively with staff from partnering schools and CBOs to share pertinent information and strategize about student progress; comply with all partner school or CBO expectations for staff behavior and site culture.
- Serve as an advocate for students as they connect with college financial aid representatives and to appeal financial aid awards or explain special circumstances.
- Represent uAspire at community events, college fairs, and open houses.
- As the Bay Area site develops, implement additional programming, including elements of our Prepare and Succeed programs.
- Perform administrative duties, including a high level of data entry.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree required
- Embodiment of uAspire’s core values: being student-centered, collaborative, excellent, dedicated, and systems-focused
- Experience working with and motivating diverse high school and/or college-aged populations
- Knowledge of local communities is highly desired
- Strong oral and written communications skills
- Advanced organizational and time management skills, with ability to plan and implement projects independently and in a demanding, fast-paced environment
- Energetic, enthusiastic, and interested in learning within a growing, entrepreneurial organization
- Ability to work flexible hours that will include occasional evenings and weekends
- Strong group facilitation skills when working with youth and adults
- High proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite – Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint – and Google Mail/Docs
- Bilingualism in Spanish or Cantonese strongly desired
Compensation
Salary commensurate with individual’s experience and education. All full-time employees receive a competitive benefits package.
How to Apply
Applicants should submit a resume and a cover letter detailing their relevant experience for this position. We will not accept applications without a cover letter. Please send to jobs@uaspire.org, with the subject line: uAspire Bay Area Advisor.
Hiring Timeline
Our intention is for the new Financial Aid Advisor to begin in mid-July. The interview process will include three rounds for successful candidates and will take place in June. Applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.
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