Swarthmore College is a highly selective liberal arts college located in the suburbs of Philadelphia, whose mission combines academic rigor with social responsibility. Swarthmore has a strong institutional commitment to inclusive excellence and nondiscrimination in its educational program and employment practices and encourages candidates who will further advance the goal of fostering a diverse and inclusive community. As one of the nation’s finest institutions of higher learning, Swarthmore College is global in outlook and draws students from around the nation and world. The 425‐acre campus is a designated arboretum, complete with gardens, rolling lawns, a creek, wooded hills, and hiking trails in the Crum Woods.

Who We Are:

We are the Financial Aid Office at Swarthmore College - the office charged with providing need-based financial aid from various sources, and primarily from the College itself, to more than half of the student body at Swarthmore College. Aligning with the College’s newly released strategic plan, “Swarthmore Forward,” the Financial Aid Office, and financial aid as a concept, ensures that all students at Swarthmore, regardless of their family’s financial position, are able to afford a Swarthmore education and can take full advantage of the opportunities offered by the College. 

Utilizing a holistic financial need review process and methodologies rooted in horizontal and vertical equity, the Financial Aid Office team carefully steers the College’s financial resources toward students determined to have a need for financial assistance in covering the annual costs to attend Swarthmore College.  Additionally, the Financial Aid Office partners with the Admissions Office through four rounds each year of the admission application process, assisting thousands of prospective students and their families through the financial aid process. The Financial Aid Office team provides responsive and empathetic service to all prospective and admitted Swarthmore College students.

The opportunity:

The Financial Aid Administrative Coordinator provides counseling and assistance to students and families in areas of financing their Swarthmore education (student loans, financial aid, student accounts/tuition payments, student employment). The Financial Aid Administrative Coordinator serves as the first point of contact for office communications – email, phone, and visitation - and student/family engagement. Additionally, this position will be responsible for coordinating the office’s administrative needs. 

The position covers three areas, listed in order of frequency annually:  Financial Aid Office communications/family support; Financial Aid Office administration; and Student Employment Office assistance. Financial aid and student employment programmatically reside within the Financial Aid Office, and both areas report to the Director of Financial Aid.

The Director of Financial Aid is seeking an Administrative Coordinator who is curious and interested in developing a career in financial aid or student employment. The Administrative Coordinator is a key role on the Financial Aid team and will be exposed to all aspects of the Financial Aid process. This position provides the opportunity to grow knowledge and skills while working directly with students and families.

The Financial Aid Administrative Coordinator is the front face of the Financial Aid Office.  This position is the first impression and point of contact for the vast majority of students and families interacting with the Financial Aid Office.  This role also initiates and manages relationships with campus and community partners. A necessary skill for the position is the ability to multi-task administratively while engaging in various types of interactions. Professionals with experience in situations that require pragmatism, empathy, and emotional intelligence will be desirable and successful in this role. Professionals with experience in situations that require pragmatism, empathy, and emotional intelligence will be desirable and successful in this role.

Essential Responsibilities

• Maintain a high level of service for current and prospective families interacting with the Financial Aid Office and Student Employment Office.
• Develop knowledge of documents and systems that collect, organize, and track documents received by the Financial Aid Office.
• Manage office communication, triaging student and family questions received via phone, email or in-person. 
• Develop a knowledge of and interpret complex policies, procedures, and regulations.
• Exercise discretion to determine appropriate resources for prospective and current students, escalating concerns as needed to other team members.
• Assist current and prospective students/families with booking appointments with other members of the Financial Aid Office team.
• Ensure confidentiality and security of data storage processes.
• Manage vendors, office purchases, catering, memberships, and monthly purchase reconciliations through ChromeRiver.
• Reconcile monthly operating budget for the Director.
• Lead planning and execution for prospective student visitation days.
• Assist the Director of Student Employment with the campus-based student work program: hosting student appointments, approving student job creation, approving student hire requests, sending student reminder emails, and onboarding paperwork.
• Assist Financial Aid and Student Employment teams with data reconciliation.
• Collaborate on the planning and executing of events hosted by the Financial Aid Office or the Student Employment Office.

Who you are:

• Reliable attention to detail.
• Discretion and good judgment.
• Ability to learn proprietary systems and processes.
• Possess a genuine interest in assisting students who may be stressed and confused.
• Possessing an attitude of unflappability, assurance, assistance, and professionalism.
• Exceptional customer service and strong personal and professional ethical standards.
• Ability to adapt to changing needs and multitask accurately and efficiently.

What you bring:

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent with 3-5 years of job-related experience or an equivalent combination of education and/or experience.
• Proficiency with Google and/or Microsoft Office applications.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree.
• Familiarity with highly selective higher education settings.
• Experience working with Enterprise Resource Planning systems.
• Experience in financial aid.
• Experience in human resources.

What You Will Get:

You’ll work at one of the world's most renowned liberal arts Colleges, with incredible benefits, a stunning 420-acre campus, and a collaborative work environment. Join a team of passionate, creative people who work hard and have fun supporting the College students, faculty, and staff.

We want to hear from you if you are excited about this role! Submit applications with pay expectations, including a resume and cover letter for full consideration.

PA Criminal Required

Swarthmore College requires a PA Criminal background check for all staff positions prior to the start of employment.

Review the 2025 Swarthmore Benefits Guidebook. We offer benefit plans starting at zero cost! Upon benefit eligibility, the College contributes 10% of an employee’s salary to their retirement account. Employees are 100% vested in their accounts on the date participation begins.

Retirement Plans

Tuition Grant Program

Tuition Reimbursement Program

Paid Time Off (Staff)

Holiday Schedule

Swarthmore College actively seeks and welcomes applications from candidates with exceptional qualifications, particularly those with demonstrable commitments to a more inclusive society and world. Swarthmore College is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.