How to Apply

A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and must be attached as the first page of your resume.  The letter should address your specific interest in and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position.  Applicants who do not meet these requirements will not be considered.

Summary

The Rackham Finance and Fellowships team strives to be a consistent partner within the Rackham Graduate School community by delivering timely, accurate, and effective financial and fellowship support. We seek a highly responsible, detail-oriented, and proactive Financial Aid Administrator Senior to provide exceptional service as an essential team member. You will report directly to the Fellowships Program Manager and provide excellent customer service while administering fellowship awards and solving financial aid issues.

Because we are committed to diversity, we aspire to develop and nurture the individual and collective skills to recognize, celebrate, and deploy difference as a path to engagement, innovation, and the generation of new ideas and knowledge.

PLEASE NOTE: Rackham is currently offering hybrid work schedules to staff, requiring 2-3 days per week on-site with the remaining time being remote.

To learn more about the Rackham Graduate School visit https://rackham.umich.edu/

Why Work at Michigan?

Being part of something greater, of serving a larger mission of discovery and care,  that's the heart of what drives people to work at Michigan. In some way, great or small, every person here helps to advance this world-class institution. It's adding a purpose to your profession. Work at Michigan and become a victor for the greater good.

In addition to a career filled with purpose and opportunity, The University of Michigan offers a comprehensive benefits package to help you stay well, protect yourself and your family and plan for a secure future. Benefits include:

• Generous time off
• A retirement plan that provides two-for-one matching contributions with immediate vesting
• Many choices for comprehensive health insurance
• Life insurance
• Long-term disability coverage
• Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses

Responsibilities*

Job responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Fellowship Program Management: Manage assigned Rackham fellowship programs, including, but not limited to, Rackham Merit Fellowship (RMF), NSF Graduate Research Fellowships Program (GRFP), Rackham Predoctoral Fellowship (PreDoc), Travel Grant, Research Grant, Non-Traditional Student Fellowship, and International Student Fellowship programs. Closely manage the disbursement of approximately $30 million dollars of funding annually, including uploading, reconciling, and tracking awards; and ensuring accuracy. Independently answer questions, resolve complex problems (escalating only the most complex cases to the manager), and make recommendations regarding complex graduate student fellowship matters. Review fellowship applications (e.g. Emergency Fund Requests) as necessary to determine eligibility and compliance with Rackham policies and procedures, and award Rackham funding using independent professional judgment. Project spending and manage budget for assigned donor funds, ensuring funds are utilized in alignment with donor intent. Assist in management of all program aspects from planning to continuous improvement. Assist with the maintenance of tracking databases and systems within Rackham Finance and Fellowship, including RMF utilization and nomination systems, MPathways Student Administration, Rackham Unified Fellowships (UFS). Ensure compliance with University and Rackham policies.

Leadership Support: Provide complex and responsible support to and collaborate with senior leadership (assistant and associate deans, and the Graduate School dean) to edit, finalize, and redesign reports;  organize selection processes, and propose program changes. Assist Fellowships Program Manager, responding to graduate program requests and providing resources. Provide coverage for Program Manager during their time away from office.

Communication and Coordination: Serve as a liaison to and ensure consistent communication with University partners including academic programs, Registrar's Office, Office of Financial Aid, Student Financial Services, Shared Services, others as needed, and within Rackham. Coordinate materials for new faculty committee members and review fellowship website for accuracy. Provide direction, guidance, and functional supervision to junior team members and any student and non-student temporary employees, as appropriate.

Required Qualifications*

• Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and work experience is required

• Minimum of 2 years of increasing responsibility in a University financial aid role, graduate program coordinator, or student services administrative capacity

• Demonstrated customer service attitude and experience, and excellent interpersonal skills are essential, including the capacity to build relationships and the ability to work with a wide range of people who represent our diverse and multicultural society

• Demonstrated increasingly responsible experience as a successful member of a high-level collaborative work team in a university setting

• Demonstrated ability to work independently, exercising good decision-making skills, as well as the ability to function as a team player

• Demonstrated organizational skills to plan, organize, manage and follow through on a large and diverse workload with excellent attention to detail and the ability to meet deadlines

• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively and appropriately with faculty, staff, and graduate students

• Strong problem-solving skills, including demonstrated ability to synthesize ideas, anticipate next steps and prioritize important decisions.

• Understanding and value of diversity and the importance of inclusion as demonstrated through a commitment to apply and incorporate the differences, complexities, and opportunities that diversity brings to an organization.

Desired Qualifications*

• Knowledge of University business policies and procedures

• Knowledge of University student aid policies, student aid resources, and administrative systems, including M-Pathways Financial and Student Administration systems, M-Reports, and Business Objects as related to financial aid.

• Experience liaising with external agencies, academic departments, and faculty

• Formal or informal team leadership experience

Application Deadline

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days.  This job may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended.

U-M EEO/AA Statement

The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.