Financial Wellness Program Coordinator (4526U), Financial Aid Office - #74298

At the University of California, Berkeley, we are committed to creating a community that fosters equity of experience and opportunity, and ensures that students, faculty, and staff of all backgrounds feel safe, welcome and included. Our culture of openness, freedom and belonging make it a special place for students, faculty and staff.

The University of California, Berkeley, is one of the world's leading institutions of higher education, distinguished by its combination of internationally recognized academic and research excellence; the transformative opportunity it provides to a large and diverse student body; its public mission and commitment to equity and social justice; and its roots in the California experience, animated by such values as innovation, questioning the status quo, and respect for the environment and nature. Since its founding in 1868, Berkeley has fueled a perpetual renaissance, generating unparalleled intellectual, economic and social value in California, the United States and the world.

We are looking for equity-minded applicants who represent the full diversity of California and who demonstrate a sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds present in our community. When you join the team at Berkeley, you can expect to be part of an inclusive, innovative and equity-focused community that approaches higher education as a matter of social justice that requires broad collaboration among faculty, staff, students and community partners. In deciding whether to apply for a position at Berkeley, you are strongly encouraged to consider whether your values align with our Guiding Values and Principles, our Principles of Community, and our Strategic Plan.

At UC Berkeley, we believe that learning is a fundamental part of working, and our goal is for everyone on the Berkeley campus to feel supported and equipped to realize their full potential. We actively support this by providing all of our staff employees with at least 80 hours (10 days) of paid time per year to engage in professional development activities. To find out more about how you can grow your career at UC Berkeley, visit grow.berkeley.edu.

Departmental Overview

The Financial Aid and Scholarships Office (FASO) directly awards or coordinates the awarding of over $850 million from over 700 funding sources to over 25,000 undergraduate and graduate students.

The mission of the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office is to provide students access to an excellent education. Through strategic partnerships and rigorous planning, FASO offers innovative aid programs to make higher education affordable, helps students and parents navigate financial aid processes, counsels students so they understand their options and feel empowered to make the best choices to manage their financial lives,advocates on behalf of students, teaches students about financial literacy, collaborates to help build upon a comprehensive, holistic culture of care that transforms the student experience and helps us recruit, retain, and graduate students and prepare them for success in life, and fosters a sense of community by encouraging alumni and donors to connect with the university and give the gift of access to the next generation of students.

Position Summary

The Center for Financial Wellness is a peer-to-peer financial wellness program within the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office, dedicated to teaching students basic money management skills. The program coordinator will oversee the day-to-day operations of the program and support the expansion of services. Key responsibilities include serving as the primary point of contact for the program, assisting with the hiring and training of new peer financial wellness coaches, and monitoring peer coaches' schedules to ensure coverage for all direct service modalities, including one-on-one appointments, presentations, workshops, campus outreach events, and more.

Application Review Date

The First Review Date for this job is: 12/03/2024. This position is open until filled.

Responsibilities

Program Operations and Management

• Oversee daily operations of the program.
• Monitor peer coaches' schedules and ensure coverage for all direct service modalities.
• Serve as a resource for peer coaches during appointments and address any questions related to their projects and job responsibilities.
• Shadow peer coaches' appointments, presentations and workshops when needed. Be available to take appointments during the summer and provide services that are typically provided by peer coaches during the regular academic year.
• Attend campus events (in person or virtually) to promote financial literacy when peer coaches are not available.
• Provide guidance to teams on content development, outreach and social media strategies.
• Oversee the program in the absence of the program manager.
• Assist with hiring and training of new peer coaches.
• Provide advice and information to students and parents on financial aid policies, procedures, and regulations.

Program Management and Event Coordination

• Support the Dollars for Scholars program and other potential programs to meet student needs.
• Track program progress and help manage the coordination of large events, such as Caltopia, GBO, and Financial Wellness Conference, including planning, staffing, and day-of coordination.

Marketing and Outreach

• Develop and expand campus outreach services to students, staff, departments, and the general public.
• Maintain the monthly newsletter, review program communications, and manage the public site and social media accounts, ensuring information for students, staff, partners and the public are accurate and accessible.
• Participates in outreach services to prospective students, parents, and the general public.

Content Review and Development

• Regularly review current content including presentation modules and training manuals, and make recommendations for updates or new content.
• Performs needs analysis to identify areas for new content development.

Data tracking and analysis

• Track service and identify gaps between current offerings and student needs.
• Assist with collecting, reviewing, and analyzing data from workshops, appointments, and all services.

Expanding Financial Aid and Financial Literacy Knowledge

• Determine the level of baseline Financial Aid and Scholarship knowledge that will enable peer coaches to be more effective in their roles and support other aspects of the office during peak periods.
• Develop basic training materials to support these efforts.
• Provide basic financial aid, registration, and billing advice to students and parents.
• Analyze student inquiries, identify issues, and recommend solutions.

Professional Development

• Own and develop a professional development (PD) plan to enhance job expertise.
• PD may include attending training, system-wide or campus-specific workshops, project assignments, or participation in departmental or campus-wide committees.
• Supervisor approval is required for any PD activities that occur during work hours or require university paid expenses.

Required Qualifications

• Basic knowledge of policies, regulations, and practices for awarding financial aid.
• Basic knowledge of and/or can quickly learn University policies, processes, and procedures.
• Basic knowledge of advising and counseling techniques.
• Ability to apply knowledge of policies to individual situations.
• Problem identification and critical thinking skills.
• Ability to calculate financial aid with attention to detail and accuracy.
• Organizational skills and ability to prioritize work and meet deadlines.
• Demonstrates written and verbal communication skills including presentation and public speaking abilities.
• Exhibits active listening skills and possesses customer service orientation mindset.
• Ability to assess processes and recommend improvements.
• Good interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency with standard office software, internet, and email applications.
• Basic knowledge of and/or can quickly learn common University-specific computer application programs.
• Bachelor's degree in related area and/or equivalent experience/training.

Salary & Benefits

This is a 12-month, full-time (40 hours/week), contract appointment, eligible for UC benefits with the possibility of extension. This is a non-exempt, hourly paid position.

For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University, please visit the University of California's Compensation & Benefits website.

Under California law, the University of California, Berkeley is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary outside of the range posted in this job announcement. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, analysis of internal equity, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience.

The budgeted hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $29.31 - $38.50.

How to Apply

• To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter.

Other Information

• This is not a visa opportunity.

Conviction History Background

This is a designated position requiring fingerprinting and a background check due to the nature of the job responsibilities. Berkeley does hire people with conviction histories and reviews information received in the context of the job responsibilities. The University reserves the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of the background check.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status. For more information about your rights as an applicant, please see the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission poster.

The University of California's Affirmative action policy.

The University of California's Anti-Discrimination policy.

This job is part of the Employee Referral Program. If a UC Berkeley employee is referring you, please ensure you select the Referral Source of "UCB Employee". Then enter the employee's Name and Berkeley email address in the Specific Referral Source field. Please enter only one name and email.