Financial Aid Operations Specialist

About the role

Position Overview The Financial Aid Operations Specialist coordinates a variety of interrelated operational, administrative, and customer service processes to support the timely and accurate delivery of financial aid. Reporting to the Director of Financial Aid, this position assists in maintaining compliance with federal, state, and institutional requirements while supporting the day-to-day administrative and operational functions of the Office of Financial Aid. The Financial Aid Operations Specialist serves as a primary point of contact for students and families and plays an important role in the overall management and coordination of office operations. The position works closely with Financial Aid staff, Student Accounts, and other campus partners to ensure effective service delivery, accurate processing, and a positive student experience.

Work Location This is an on-campus position as employees are essential in order to provide a fully on-campus, residential college experience for our students and the community. This position is subject to the successful completion of a criminal background check.

Statement on Our Mission Merrimack College is a Catholic Augustinian institution of higher education committed to building an accepting and respectful community. Our mission is to enlighten minds, engage hearts and empower lives and is inspired by our Catholic faith and the Augustinian tradition of seeking truth through inquiry and dialogue. Merrimack College seeks candidates who understand, respect, and can contribute to Merrimack’s Catholic and Augustinian mission. All candidates should describe in their application how they will foster a culture that supports our mission.

About Merrimack College The only Catholic, Augustinian institution of higher education in New England, Merrimack College is a private, independent, coeducational institution with more than 4,100 undergraduate, 2,500 graduate students and 50 doctoral students from 48 states and 63 countries. The College features more than 160 career-focused undergraduate, professional and graduate programs, all taught by exceptional faculty who are passionate about their subject and student success. The College has six schools: arts and sciences, engineering and computational sciences, nursing and health sciences, education and social policy, the Girard school of business and the graduate school of counseling and social work. The College’s suburban 220-acre campus is just north of Boston in North Andover, Massachusetts. Merrimack is a Master’s Colleges and Universities/Larger Programs (M1) institution in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Merrimack is one of the fastest growing educational institutions in the country and has steadily climbed up in the U.S. News & World Report’s ranking of Best Colleges, ranking 38th in the Regional Universities North category in 2026. Merrimack is a NCAA Division I athletic institution.

Application Materials Should Include Resume Cover letter stating motivation and interest in the position, citing experience relevant to the qualifications and including experience with, and commitment to, our Catholic Augustinian mission and our values.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a primary front-line resource for the Office of Financial Aid, responding to phone calls, emails, walk-in inquiries, and other requests from students and families.
• Provide information and guidance to students and families regarding financial aid programs, requirements, processes, deadlines, and available financing options.
• Perform quality assurance reviews of loans, awards, and other financial aid transactions to ensure accuracy and compliance with federal, state, and institutional regulations and procedures.
• Collaborate with Financial Aid Counselors to ensure student files are complete and external documentation requirements are satisfied, including entrance counseling, Master Promissory Notes (MPNs), verification requirements, and other required documentation.
• Process and maintain financial aid documents and records, ensuring information is accurately recorded, appropriately maintained, and routed for timely review and action.
• Manage alternative/private education loan processing, including certification and related administrative requirements.
• Perform loan certification and related loan-processing functions.
• Coordinate the processing and posting of outside scholarships in collaboration with Student Accounts, ensuring