Student Employment Assistant

Amherst College


Amherst has taken a leadership role among highly selective liberal arts colleges and universities in successfully diversifying the racial, socio-economic, and geographic profile of its student body. The College is similarly committed to enriching its educational experience and its culture through the diversity of its faculty, administration and staff.

Job Description:

Amherst College invites applications for the Student Employment Assistant position. The Student Employment Assistant is a full-time, year-round position, starting at $24.00/hour-commensurate with experience. Given Amherst's distinction as one of the most diverse liberal arts colleges in the country, the successful candidate will demonstrate the ways in which they bring value to and will work towards supporting a broadly diverse community.

The Student Employment Assistant is a key member of the two-person Student Employment team, supporting employers and students for both Federal Work-Study and a robust institutional program. The Student Employment Team serves in delivering on the vision for the College and Office of Financial Aid through a transparent and student-centered culture in access to employment opportunities for funding as well as professional, leadership and research development and growth of our highly diverse student body.

The Student Employment Assistant is a full-time, year-round position, job group and level AO-3 (starts at $24.00/hour, commensurate with experience). This position is eligible to participate in the College's hybrid work program and can be done either as a full-time on-campus role or as a hybrid role with mostly on campus work required and some work completed remotely in Massachusetts. Given Amherst's distinction as one of the most diverse liberal arts colleges in the country, the successful candidate will demonstrate ways in which they bring value to and will work towards supporting a broadly diverse community.

Amherst College has an open student employment system that employs more than 90% of students by the time they complete their degree. There are more jobs being worked by students (2,500+) than there are students at the College (~1900); in a typical semester, more than 60% of enrolled students are working. The College administers more than $2,000,000 each year in institutional and federal funds to students through student payroll. The federal allocation is $248,000 (12%) annually.

In a survey of recent alumni (classes of 2018-2020), 71% of respondents felt that campus jobs were somewhat to extremely important to their academic success at Amherst. In the same survey, 76% of alumni reported that academic internships and research opportunities (often jobs at Amherst) were similarly important to their academic success.

Working with the Amherst College Office of Financial Aid requires a desire to engage on issues of antiracism and equity in educational and co-curricular opportunities. All members of the Amherst Financial Aid team take appropriate actions to support a diverse workforce and participates in the College's efforts to create a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming work environment. In support of our institutional vision of expanded access and broad diversity across geographic, racial, ethnic and socioeconomic dimensions, Amherst is committed to need-blind admission and generous need-based, no-loan financial aid for all students, regardless of citizenship.

Summary of Duties and Responsibilities

Brings a lense of equity in student employment to all of the following duties and responsibilities:

Federal and Institutional Student Employment

• Review and approve Off-campus Work-Study applications. Create contracts; determine agency and position eligibility in compliance with federal regulations; calculate student eligibility
• Manage review and posting of student positions in Workday
• Manage and approve all individual student job hires, approval of job transfers, and related tasks
• Review and certify I-9 forms; process renewal of W-4 withholding forms
• Routine communication and follow up on incomplete onboarding (employment authorization documentation)
• Manage and approve compensation changes, one-time payments, and setting up activity pay (stipends)
• Coordinate and approve the process to end jobs at the end of each academic year
• Serve as liaison to departments and support supervisors during the hiring and management process, including in-person, online and email communication
• Maintain training tools, including Quick Resource Guides, on the Workday training site and staff drop-in help sessions for supervisors and students
• Maintain the Student Employment website
• Support the Student Employment Manager in delivering business process changes, administration of employment policy regulations and practices

Student Employment and Financial Aid Front-Line

• Works with student employment supervisors - including faculty, staff, and off-campus partners - to troubleshoot student employment issues, including in the Workday system
• Receive and respond to phone and email inquiries, and track associated documents that support financial aid applications
• Manage student employment inquiries in both the seo@amherst.edu email inbox and in the AskIT ticketing system
• Meet with students and families in-person to answer questions and advise on the financial aid application process, financing options and the appeal process
• Promotes exceptional customer service to students, and colleagues, including the timely, accurate, and professional response to all phone, email, and in-person inquiries.
• Educates both students and employers on the student employment process, including technical support of Workday
• Manage student appointments through staff calendars and on-line appointment requests

Qualifications

Required:

• Associate's Degree or, in lieu of a degree, 3 or more years of experience
• 1-3 years of related experience
• Excellent verbal and written communication, interpersonal, organizational and customer service skills
• Demonstrated time management and organizational skills
• Proficiency in the use of technology, such as Google Workspace or Microsoft Office
• Experience working with or demonstrated commitment to working with a diverse community

Preferred:

• Bachelor's Degree
• Experience working with an ERP such as Workday

Amherst College offers many opportunities for professional growth and development, continued learning, and career advancement.

Amherst College requires all employees to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 (medical and religious exemptions may apply).

Amherst College is pleased to provide a comprehensive, highly competitive benefits package that meets the needs of staff and faculty and their families. Benefits are an important part of our overall compensation, so it is critical that you review all of the options to ensure it meets your total compensation requirements. Click here for Benefits Information.

Interested candidates are asked to submit a resume and cover letter online at https://amherst.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/Amherst_Jobs . Please be sure to upload all requested documents prior to clicking Submit. Applications cannot be revised once submitted. (Current employees and students should apply by clicking on the Career icon from their Workday home screen) Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.

To find information about job group and level (JGL) follow this link.

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