Job Description

The University of Ottawa-A crossroads of cultures and ideas

The University of Ottawa is home to a dynamic community of over 50,000 students, faculty and staff, who live, work and study in both French and English. Our campus is a crossroad of cultures and ideas, where bold minds come together to inspire game-changing ideas. We believe in the power of representation, and that increasing the diversity of our faculty and staff supports this objective. Our goal is to provide students with the best possible learning experience, in an environment that reflects the diversity of its people, their ideas, and their identities.

We are one of Canada\'s top 10 research universities-our professors and researchers explore new approaches to today\'s challenges. One of a handful of Canadian universities ranked among the top 200 in the world, we attract exceptional thinkers and welcome diverse perspectives from across the globe. Our employees come together around the shared purpose of constant improvement, personal development, service excellence, teamwork and a passion for learning with a desire to make uOttawa and the world a better place. Everyone\'s contributions are valued, we all play a part in making uOttawa a world-class institution. Most importantly, we make it possible for you to achieve your full potential. Because at uOttawa, you belong!

Position purpose:
Reporting to the Supervisor, Financial Aid:

Greet, inform, and advise undergraduate and graduate students, and members of the public, on various sources of financial aid, including governmental, non-governmental and work-study programs. Review student eligibility for various loans in order to approve or reject loan applications.

In this role, you will:

• Welcome, inform and advise the clientele, in person, by telephone and in writing, on the various financial aid plans, the progress of financial aid files, the conditions of enrolment, obligations, ministerial procedures, the scholarships administered by the department and the work-study program.
• Analyze financial aid applications against all provincial awarding rules using multiple departmental databases to confirm academic program information and financial aid eligibility.
• Confirm students\' academic and financial information with the various departments to determine eligibility for financial aid.
• Regularly inquire about the requirements of all baccalaureate programs (grade point averages, prerequisites, and other specific requirements), the ministerial, departmental, and University of Ottawa regulations and administrative procedures in order to be able to approve or deny requests for academic program modifications within the specified time frame.
• Analyze student financial and academic situations in order to approve or deny student requests for emergency loans and/or food stamps.
• Participate in the facilitation of core training for students participating in the work-study program.

Essential qualifications:

• Postsecondary training in a relevant field or equivalent experience
• At least two (2) years\' experience in a customer service role acting as a resource person
• Relevant experience in data entry and verification
• At least two years\' experience in interpreting, explaining and applying regulations and procedures
• Experience in using various software, such as word processors, email and Internet search engines, as well as databases such as SIS, SFAMS, FSMS, Contact, MCUSSB, Talisma, VMWare, NSECEP, PEIECEP, SFAS(BC), ABECEP, and NSLSCP
• Tact, diplomacy and the ability to maintain empathetic and effective communications in person, by phone, by email and in writing, with University students, services and faculties, and with government officials
• Good ability to maintain focus and attention to detail
• Ability to learn and remember a host of very detailed regulations, procedures and information
• Ability to understand and interpret client needs
• Organizational skills and the ability to work quickly and under pressure
• Proven ability to solve problems and work well in a team
• Knowledge of University structures, regulations and faculty-specific exceptions to Program Change Requests is a significant asset

Bilingualism: French and English (spoken and written); to be considered for this position, candidates must be rated at the Low Advanced proficiency level or higher for both oral comprehension and reading comprehension in their second official language. The rating is determined by a proficiency test designed by the Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute.

Key Competencies at uOttawa:
Here are the required competencies for all or our employees at uOttawa:

Planning: Organize in time a series of actions or events in order to realise an objective or a project. Plan and organize own work and priorities in regular daily activities.
Initiative: Demonstrate creativity and initiative to suggest improvements and encourage positive results. Is proactive and self-starting. Show availability and willingness to go above and beyond whenever it is possible.
Client Service Orientation: Help or serve others to meet their needs. This implies anticipating and identifying the needs of internal and external clients and finding solutions on how to meet them.
Teamwork and Cooperation: Cooperate and work well with other members of the team to reach common goal(s). Accept and give constructive feedback. Able to adjust own behaviour to reach the goals of the team.

The University of Ottawa embraces diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We are passionate about our people and committed to employment equity. We are at our best when everyone has a seat at the table, and when we are made to feel like we belong. We foster a culture of respect, teamwork and inclusion, where collaboration, innovation, and creativity fuel our quest for research and teaching excellence. While all qualified persons are invited to apply, we welcome applications from Indigenous persons, racialized persons, persons with disabilities, women and LGBTQIA2S+ persons. The University is committed to creating and maintaining an accessible, barrier-free work environment. The University is also committed to working with applicants with disabilities requesting accommodation during the recruitment, assessment and selection processes. Applicants with disabilities may contact to communicate the accommodation need. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

Note: if this is a union position: The hiring process will be governed by the current collective agreement related to the union affiliation noted above; you can click to find out more.

University of Ottawa