Position Title: FAFSA Liaison
Reports To: Community Impact Director
About Us: United Way of Clallam County advances the common good by creating opportunities for a better life for all. Our focus is on Education, Financial Stability and Health – the building blocks of a quality of life. We recruit people and organizations who bring the passion, expertise and resources needed to get things done, and have worked for over 65 years to improve community conditions in Clallam County. Through a variety of efforts including an annual workplace fundraising campaign, fund distribution activities, community assessments and cross-sector collaborations United Way of Clallam County encourages others to give, advocate, volunteer and LIVE UNITED.
Our Mission/Goals;To strengthen our communities by enhancing the ability of people to live safe, healthy, and productive lives.
To remain the premier fundraising group in our community for human service needs. To collaborate with the community to provide leadership in meeting human service needs. To help people give to our community. To be a constructive voice for human service needs in Clallam County.
General Position Summary:
This position is responsible for increasing financial aid application completion by learners-from high school seniors to other adults pursuing postsecondary education, in the geographical areas served by the Peninsula College (PC) district. United Way of Clallam County is administrating this position in collaboration with PC and North Olympic Library System (NOLS). The goal of this position is to perform community-based outreach to high school seniors and their families, community members, and other organizations in the community that share the goal of creating and increasing college-going culture. Outreach can involve participation in events, hosting events, informational and promotional activities in various media and public settings, and related activities. The college will perform a consultative role, providing financial aid and college expertise and participating in events as needed. This position is fulltime hourly starting $46,000 per year and is grant funded through June 2023. Benefits include Employer paid health insurance, 10% Employer paid SEP IRA, telephone stipend, Wellness Incentive, paid holidays, and time off.
Major Responsibilities:
During summer and the beginning of fall quarter 2022 time will be given to assess existing competency of staff in providing financial aid support. Staff missing any key competency will complete short-term training in financial aid basics and financial aid application navigation, through the Aim Higher Washington training series offered by the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) or equivalent training. PC can provide training and or information to United Way of Clallam County regarding the resources available through Peninsula College.
- Conduct a minimum of 12 community-based financial aid workshops with a minimum of 4 in each academic quarter (fall, winter, and spring); events will be promoted locally in service area via multiple sources at least 15 days in advance; expected length for each workshop is approximately 1 hour; documentation of the event, including number of participants, will be provided back to PC and NOLS quarterly. The workshop schedule will align with the PC FAFSA deadlines as outlined at www.pencol.edu/financial/apply-for-aid.
- Provide weekly, online, or drop-in follow up session after each workshop to answer questions and troubleshoot issues for event participants; documentation of the session, including number of participants, will be provided back to PC and NOLS quarterly.
- Partner with the following organizations for potential workshop sites including, but not be limited to: The Six Tribes located on the Olympic Peninsula, High schools in the Peninsula College Service District, Peninsula College programs such as HS21+, Transitional Studies, Upward Bound and North Olympic Library System
- Collaborate regularly and share information about potential outreach opportunities and participating jointly in events, when possible, in the Service District, and on the campuses of Peninsula College (Port Angeles, Forks, Port Townsend).
- Create promotion of activities and publication materials. Ensure proper translation services are made available.
Experience, Skills, and Ability:
- Positive attitude, detail, and customer oriented with good multitasking and organizational ability
- Demonstrated leadership experience, strong professional communication skills; capacity to see the big picture (“systems thinking”) and attention to details; and excellent organizational ability.
- Knowledge of Clallam County and existing connections and relationships are highly desirable, but not required. Knowledge of K-12 education and post-secondary systems, including financial aid processes are highly desirable, but not required.
- Strong community organizing and collaboration skills; demonstrated capacity to coordinate and facilitate processes, people, and partnerships; and develop strong trusting relationships.
- Experience with facilitation and coordination of meetings, events, trainings.
- Ability to speak and write in a clear, concise, respectful, and thoughtful manner.
- Integrative thinker, listener, and communicator.
- Independent tech competence in document, spreadsheet and presentation software (e.g., MS Office Suite and/or Google Docs).
- Collaborate with colleagues and partners to effectively meet deadlines.
- Ability to create processes and systems, manage details and work independently.
- Ability to drive and provide own vehicle for visiting partners throughout Clallam County.
Physical Demands: Physical demands include sitting and/or standing for extended periods of time, bending, lifting approximately thirty pounds, regular use of the telephone, copier, and computer. Reliable transportation required.
United Way of Clallam County is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to building a diverse staff. People of color and those of all abilities are encouraged to apply. To see our solidarity statement, click here.
UNITED WAY CORE COMPETENCIES FOR ALL STAFF
● Mission-Focused: Catalyze others’ commitment to mission to create real social change that leads to better lives and healthier communities. This drives their performance and professional motivations.
● Relationship-Oriented: Understands that people come before process and is astute in cultivating and managing relationships toward a common goal.
● Collaborator: understands the roles and contributions of all sectors of the community and can mobilize resources (financial and human) through meaningful engagement.
● Results-Driven: Dedicated to shared and measurable goals for the common good; creating, resourcing, scaling, and leveraging strategies and innovations for broad investment and impact.
● Brand Steward: Steward of the brand and understands his/her role in growing and protecting the reputation and results of the greater network.