Financial Aid/Scholarship and Study Abroad Initiatives Counselor – Office of Financial Aid
Philander Smith College
Philander Smith College is currently accepting applications for the position of Financial Aid/Scholarship
and Study Abroad Initiatives Counselor – Office of Financial Aid.
Position Summary:
The Counselor will be responsible for the coordination and successful operation of the Scholarship and
Study Abroad units, as well as some areas of the Financial Aid Office. This position will report to the
Director of Financial Aid and be housed under the Division of Students Affairs and Enrollment
Management.
This position requires someone who is customer service oriented, culturally sensitive, flexible, detailoriented, independent, innovative and reliable. Travel and working some weekends and holidays is
required.
Position includes, but is not limited to the following:
 Assisting the Financial Aid Staff with Financial Aid verification
 Processing work-study
 Answering phones
 International Student relations
 Development of exchange agreements and study abroad programs
 Implementation and evaluation
 Budget development
 Scholarship advisement
 Recruitment
 Study abroad orientation programming
 Scholarship searches and application completion
 Crisis management
 Supervision of student assistants
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
 Coordinate all aspects of the college’s institutional and state scholarship programs
 Seeks student scholarship opportunities to help defray educational costs
Financial Aid/Scholarship and Study Abroad Initiatives Counselor – Office of Financial Aid
Philander Smith College
Essential Duties and Responsibilities (continued):
 Maintain a functional scholarship database and serves as the primary responsible party to assist
students in completing scholarship applications
 Liaison with overseas sites participating in the negotiation and implementation of agreements, as
well as in the development of new overseas programs
 Interact with diverse clientele (e.g., students, faculty, parents, staff, administrators, independent
agencies, domestic and overseas institutions, and counterparts abroad)
 Recruit and advise students on study abroad opportunities and the processes involved to study
abroad
 Recruit and advise students on scholarship opportunities and the processes involved in effective
scholarship searches
 Assist students with the administrative processes for scholarship and study abroad opportunities.
 Provide information about financial aid options and admissions process
 Conduct scholarship and study abroad informational sessions including orientation and re-entry
sessions
 Work with faculty and staff to promote study abroad programs
 Serve as liaison with units/faculty that has students going on study abroad programs
 Process returning students grade reports in cooperation with Philander Smith College’s
Registrar’s Office
 Prepare promotional materials adequately and appropriately for both
 Share functional supervision of part-time work-study students
 Support all aspects of the internal and external scholarship program as well as the study abroad
program and international awareness
 Assist in the admission and registration of incoming international students
 Process all financial transactions and travel arrangements necessary for the successful
implementation of study abroad programs
 Develop, manage, and maintain scholarship policies, procedures, and operations to ensure
appropriate disbursement and fiscal accountability
 Promote the scholarship program in order to increase the number of scholarships and scholarship
applications. Develop marketing literature to promote awareness of scholarship opportunities for
students, and scholarships for specific majors
 Process consortium and contractual agreements
Financial Aid/Scholarship and Study Abroad Initiatives Counselor – Office of Financial Aid
Philander Smith College
Essential Duties and Responsibilities (continued):
 Implement policies and procedures while continuing to improve delivery systems, maximize
office efficiency and improve overall scholarship unit effectiveness
 Plan, evaluate, and set yearly goals for the scholarship area
 Collaborate with faculty and staff in order to promote scholarships, as well as collaborate with IT
staff to automate the scholarship application process
 Participate actively in enrollment management and student retention activities
 Develop and maintain strong community relations with donors and potential donors and students
 Provide projections, allocations and comprehensive reports as needed
 Assist with all financial aid processes
 Assist in Admissions and Registration of International students
 Other duties as assigned
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
 Ability to maintain a high level of composure during emergencies or other stressful situations
 Ability to be available to respond quickly to various travel-related emergencies from a misplaced
passport to a serious accident or illness
 Ability to manage details accurately
 Ability to work effectively and with sensitivity as a team with faculty, staff and students from
diverse cultural and educational backgrounds
 Ability to make professional and effective large and small group presentations
 Ability to plan and coordinate activities/events for large and small groups
 Ability to plan and coordinate activities/events for multiple programs at the same time
 Possess cultural sensitivity, and the ability to work and correspond with people from a variety of
different cultural backgrounds and languages
 Have experience in marketing within a college or university setting
 Have excellent computer skills including Adobe design suite, MS Office suite
 Possess excellent communications and organizational skills as well as excellent analytical and
problem solving skills
Financial Aid/Scholarship and Study Abroad Initiatives Counselor – Office of Financial Aid
Philander Smith College
Required Education and/or Experience:
 Bachelor’s degree
 Two years of related work experience in Higher Education
 Able to travel and work some weekends and holidays
 Understanding of student financial aid programs and general knowledge of undergraduate
education requirements
 Strong written and spoken communication skills in English
Preferred Education and/or Experience:
 Experience studying/living abroad or participation in study abroad as an undergraduate for at
least one semester
 Experience with web design, Photoshop, Pagemaker or In Design, Word and Excel
How to Apply:
Review of applications will begin immediately and the position will remain open until filled. Interested
applicants should submit a letter of application, resume, copies of transcripts and three letters of
professional recommendations to: humanresources@philander.edu. Email subject line should include the
full name of the position for which you are applying and documents should be in Word format. You may
also mail your information to:
Philander Smith College
Attn: Office of Human Resources
900 Daisy Bates Drive
Little Rock, AR 72202
Philander Smith College is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against applicants or
employees based on age, race, sex, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status or religion. Philander Smith
College is a smoke-free and drug-free work environment. Philander Smith College participates in EVerify.