Position Title:Financial Aid Advisor II
Job Group:Professional & Scientific
Required Minimum Qualifications:Bachelor's degree and 2 years of related experience
Preferred Qualifications:Experience administering scholarships, including award decisions and applicant management.
Experience utilizing a scholarship management system (such as Blackbaud Award Management or NextGen Scholarship Manager)
Experience providing student services in a higher education setting.
Experience managing and maintaining databases.
Experience with analytics and data reporting.
Knowledge of and experience with financial aid processes.
Job Description:
Are you passionate about helping students access life-changing educational opportunities? The Office of Student Financial Aid is seeking a Financial Aid Advisor II to join our Scholarships team. This position plays a pivotal role in guiding students and families through the financial aid process, ensuring equitable access to resources, and stewarding scholarship programs that support student success.
This is not just a processing role- it's a chance to combine advising expertise, regulatory knowledge, and program administration to make a direct impact on the lives of students.
Key Responsibilities:
?Determine financial aid eligibility, make comprehensive adjustments to aid packages, and exercise professional judgment on complex cases and merit award appeals.
Administer strategic recruitment scholarships, including first-year merit, National Merit, transfer merit, and Phi Theta Kappa programs.
Review emergency aid applications, award emergency or completion assistance, and collaborate with college scholarship coordinators to maintain a cohesive campus-wide emergency aid strategy.
Process Veterinary Medicine summer grant aid in partnership with Enrollment Research and Analytics and the OSFA data team.
Oversee large, high-touch external scholarship programs
Provide support for university long-term loan programs, including Health Professions and Loans for Disadvantaged Students.
Update and utilize multiple financial aid systems, review daily reports, correct discrepancies, and reconcile aid and scholarship data.
Analyze data and compile reports to support scholarship processes, audits, and decision-making.
Provide guidance to students and families regarding financial aid eligibility, application steps, appeals, policies, and financial wellness in a variety of formats.
Represent the scholarship unit and respond to scholarship presentation requests from campus stakeholders.
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About the Office of Student Financial Aid:
The Office of Student Financial Aid at Iowa State University is committed to empowering over 85% of undergraduate students through the administration of more than $400 million in financial assistance annually. As a unit within the Division of Academic Affairs, our team helps students and their families understand, apply for, and manage financial aid throughout their academic journey. We are driven by values of student success, innovation, collaboration, and respect. Our supportive work environment emphasizes personal and professional growth, with opportunities for training, development, and meaningful contributions to the university's mission. Join us in making college more accessible and affordable for Iowa State students!
Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an ongoing basis without sponsorship. Immigration sponsorship is not available for this position.
Example of Duties
Assists students and families by making recommendations, interpreting regulations, and reviewing petitions.
Counsels students and families regarding financial aid, including eligibility, application procedures, aid programs, costs, indebtedness, money management, and financial planning.
Provides status updates regarding eligibility, scholarships, and applications.
Provides specialized support for a financial aid area.
Analyzes data, compiles reports, and applies judgement.
Evaluates individual circumstances and documentation and makes adjustments or exceptions based on judgment.
Prepares and gives presentations related to financial aid and related topics.
Level Guidelines
Intermediate-level position with solid professional and/or technical skills working under general supervision to achieve goals
Applies broad, working knowledge of the principles of the field to moderately complex, difficult, and varied problems and issues
Exercises judgment within defined procedures and practices to determine appropriate action and resolve problems
Responds to a broad range of inquiries and requests
May provide training and/or direction to lower-level staff
May lead projects of moderate scope and complexity
Provides guidance to students
Appointment Type:Regular
Number of Months Employed Per Year:12 Month Work Period
Time Type:Full time
Pay Grade:PS806
Application Instructions:To apply for this position, please click on "Apply" and complete the Employment Application. Please be prepared to enter or attach the following: 1) Resume/Curriculum Vitae 2) Letter of Application/Cover Letter If you have questions regarding this application process, please email employment@iastate.edu or call 515-294-4800 or Toll Free: 1-877-477-7485. Why Choose ISU? Iowa State Employees enjoy comprehensive health and work-life benefits, including medical and dental; as well as: - Retirement benefits including defined benefit and defined contribution plans - Generous vacation, holiday and sick time and leave plans - Onsite childcare (Ames, Iowa) - Life insurance and long-term disability - Flexible Spending Accounts - Various voluntary benefits and discounts - Employee Assistance Program - Wellbeing program - Iowa State offers WorkFlex options for some positions. WorkFlex offers flexibility on when, where, and how you do your work. For more information, please speak with the Hiring Manager.
Original Posting Date: December 9, 2025
Posting Close Date:December 28, 2025
Job Requisition Number:R18234
By focusing on the future and providing the best student experience possible, Iowa State University (http://www.iastate.edu/) attracts students and faculty who want to make a difference. With a comprehensive?land-grant?mission of education, research, extension and outreach, we produce scholars whose ideas change the world. And through Innovate at Iowa State, we provide innovative and entrepreneurial opportunities for students of all backgrounds. Located just 30 minutes north of Des Moines, the city of Ames was recently named one of the Top 10 cities in the U.S. for campus life and career opportunities.
Iowa State University is a welcoming community of students, faculty, and staff. Campus community members have a wide range of backgrounds and experiences and are committed to engaging with each other respectfully as outlined in the university's Principles of Community (https://www.iastate.edu/principles-community) . Iowa State recognizes that diverse intellectual and philosophical perspectives are vital to innovation, critical thinking skills, and a dynamic academic community that fosters the land-grant ideals of putting science, technology, and human creativity to work.
All offers of employment, oral and written, are contingent upon the university's verification of credentials and other information required by federal and state law, ISU policies/procedures, and may include the completion of a background check and/or a consumer credit check.
Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, ethnicity, religion, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, genetic information, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. Veteran. Inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies may be directed to Office of Equal Opportunity, 2680 Beardshear Hall, 515 Morrill Road, Ames, Iowa 50011, Tel. 515-294-7612, email eooffice@iastate.edu.
If you have questions about the application process please email employment@iastate.edu or call 515-294-4800 or Toll-Free at 1-877-477-7485. Iowa State University provides reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should email employment@iastate.edu or call (515) 294-4800 or Toll-Free: (877) 477-7485. TTY users are welcome to use the Iowa Relay Service number by dialing 7-1-1 or (800) 735-2942.
General ISU compensation information can be found on the University Human Resources (https://www.hr.iastate.edu/careers/compensation) website. Please note that this is only a list of ranges and individuals will be paid commensurate with qualifications.
