Position Summary:
The Financial Aid Systems Specialist serves as the primary functional and technical expert for the institution’s financial aid systems, with primary responsibility for PowerFAIDS and the integration with Workday as the Student Information System (SIS). This position plays a critical role in ensuring that financial aid systems, workflows, data, and reports support student success, regulatory compliance, and operational efficiency.Job Description:
Essential Functions and Responsibilities:
PowerFAIDS Administration & Support
Serve as the primary, hands‑on administrator of PowerFAIDS, ensuring system configuration, stability, and ongoing optimization.
Manage PowerFAIDS setup related to packaging, awarding, disbursement, verification, SAP, notifications, and workflows.
Troubleshoot functional and system issues, coordinating resolution with IT colleagues, vendors, and Financial Aid staff.
Support testing and implementation of PowerFAIDS upgrades, patches, and regulatory updates.
Monitor data accuracy, integrity, and security within PowerFAIDS and across system integrations.
Report Writing
Design, develop, and maintain standard and ad hoc reports within PowerFAIDS and related reporting tools to support:
Student Success
Operational processing
Compliance monitoring and audits
Leadership decision-making
Partner with Financial Aid leadership to define report requirements and ensure data outputs meet college and regulatory needs.
Analyze financial aid data to identify trends, anomalies, and process improvement opportunities.
Liaison & Cross-Functional Collaboration
Serve as the primary liaison between Financial Aid, Information Technology, and external system vendors.
Translate financial aid business requirements into technical specifications and collaborate with IT on solution design and implementation.
Participate in cross-departmental projects related to financial aid, student systems, data governance, and compliance.
Stay current on federal, state, and institutional financial aid regulations and advise stakeholders on system impacts.
Training, Documentation & Communication
Develop and maintain comprehensive system and process documentation, including user guides, workflow documentation, and standard operating procedures.
Provide training and ongoing support for Financial Aid staff on PowerFAIDS functionality, workflows, and report usage.
Communicate system changes, enhancements, and known issues clearly and effectively to stakeholders.
Support change management efforts related to new functionality, regulatory updates, or process changes.
Maintains knowledge and awareness of digital accessibility including the American with Disabilities Act and Section 508.
Produces and remediates digitally accessible materials in accordance with FLC standards.
Other duties as assigned.
Required Education, Specialized Skills and Experience:
Minimum of two years supporting enterprise systems, databases, workflow-driven applications, or related work experience.
Two or more years of experience with financial aid business processes and higher education administrative environments.
Experience with report writing, data extracts, or SQL-based reporting tools.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
Thrives in a team-oriented, service-focused environment.
Ability to interact effectively with a wide variety of people, including forming strong working relationships with both internal and external constituencies.
Excellent communication skills and attention to detail.
Proven Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines in a collaborative team environment.
Experience creating system documentation and delivering user training.
Preferred Education, Specialized Skills and Experience:
Experience working with PowerFAIDS.
Experience supporting Workday or other SaaS-based applications and integrations in a higher education setting.
Experience serving as a functional liaison between IT and a business office.
Familiarity with financial aid lifecycle processes, including ISIR processing, packaging, awarding, disbursement, verification, and SAP.
Proficiency with financial aid web systems including the Student Aid Internet Gateway (SAIG), the Common Origination and Disbursement website (COD), National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS), and Financial Aid Administrator Access (FAA Access).
Familiarity with object-oriented programming, system integrations, and API/web services.
Reports To / Supervisory Responsibility:
This position reports to the Manager, Administrative Information Systems
Work Environment:
The Information Technology department at Fort Lewis College is collaborative, student-centered, and forward-looking. Our teams work across departments to improve services, remove barriers, and support student success. To thrive in this role, you must be adaptable, curious, tech-savvy, and committed to continuous learning. To be successful in this position you:
Must be flexible, capable of managing a demanding work schedule and be able to work independently and within a team management structure.
Can sit at a computer terminal for an extended period.
Can work on multiple tasks with frequent interruptions.
Must be adaptable to changing policies, procedures and practices.
Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential function.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to, stand, sit; talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone keyboard reach, stoop kneel to install computer equipment.
Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision requirements due to computer work.
Ability to lift and transport light to moderate technical equipment.
Travel:
Less than 10% is expected for this position to travel to campus for training and/or attend conferences.
FLSA Status/ Position Type/Expected Hours of Work
Exempt | Full-Time | Permanent | Year-Round
Remote or Hybrid – within the state of Colorado is possible
Typical Work hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (mountain time). Some flexibility in scheduling is available.
Compensation
The salary range is $60,000 to $62,500, plus a comprehensive benefits package.
Application Process
A complete application packet includes:
Cover letter addressing interest and qualifications for the position
Resume
Names and contact information for three current, professional references
Application materials received by 11:59 PM on May 17, 2026, will receive full consideration.
The successful candidate will be required to submit official transcripts
and pass a background check.
About Fort Lewis College:
On a sage-brushed mesa overlooking downtown Durango and the La Plata Mountains, Fort Lewis College is Southwest Colorado’s premier public undergraduate research institution. With more than half of the 3,300 students identifying as people of color, FLC’s academic programming and campus life thrive on nurturing safe, diverse spaces for intellectual exploration and helping people achieve their career goals. A Native American-serving, Non-Tribal Institution, FLC is committed to promoting economic development in neighboring tribal communities and connecting students with the education they need to be the change in the world they want to see. Degree programs span the arts, business, education, health sciences, humanities, and social and natural sciences. Coursework builds on the natural, cultural, and historical resources found around the Four Corners region. Students work closely with faculty on research projects with real-world implications. Like the mountain town it resides in, FLC promotes a culture of work-life balance for students, faculty, and staff. Skyhawks enjoy unparalleled access to a healthy outdoor lifestyle thanks to 300 days of sunshine a year and more than 300 miles of hiking and biking trails in and around Durango
Notice to Prospective Employees:
The Fort Lewis College is required by the Clery Act of 1990 to notify prospective employees, current employees, students and applicants where to access our Campus Security Report. The report is updated and published annually in accordance with the Higher Education Amendments of 1998, Federal Student Right-to-Know, the Federal Drug-free Schools and Campuses Act of 1989. This report contains information about:
Fort Lewis College's alcohol and other drug policy
Sexual assault policy
Campus security policies
Campus/community resources
The Colorado Riot Offense Statute restriction on enrollment
Where to find registered sex offender information
Crime statistics for the previous three calendar years
Reporting crimes
The Campus Security Report can be accessed in two ways:
By going to the internet website at: www.fortlewis.edu/AnnualSecurityReport Fort Lewis College Student Affairs Office will also provide a paper copy of the annual security report upon request. You can reach them at (970) 247-7331.
Equal Opportunity
Fort Lewis College does not discriminate on the basis of race, age, color, religion, national origin, sex*, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, family or domestic status, political beliefs, veteran status, pregnancy, or genetic information. Accordingly, equal opportunity for employment shall be extended to all persons. The College shall promote equal opportunity, equal treatment, and affirmative action efforts to increase the diversity of students, faculty, and staff. The College is dedicated to building a culturally diverse and pluralistic faculty and staff committed to teaching and working in a multicultural environment. To file a report, get resources, read policies, or make an appointment, See www.fortlewis.edu/CARE.
Discrimination Questions?
Office of Compliance and Community Standards
David Pirrone, Director of Compliance
210 Berndt Hall
1000 Rim Drive
Durango, Colorado 81301
(970) 247-7182 djpirrone@fortlewis.edu
Questions about Title IX sex discrimination?
Office of the Title IX Coordinator
Madeleine Gillman, Assistant Director of Compliance and Title IX Coordinator
210 Berndt Hall
1000 Rim Drive
Durango, Colorado 81301
(970) 247-7049 mgillman@fortlewis.edu
Information about Fort Lewis College’s alcohol and drug policy, sexual assault policy, campus security policies, campus crime statistics, fire safety procedures and fire statistics, and campus/community resources can be found in the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report. Hard copies are available upon request.
* Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and Part 106 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex, including in admission and employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and CFR 106 to Fort Lewis College may be directed to FLC's Title IX Coordinator and/or to the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights of the Department of Education.
ADAA Accommodations
Any person with a disability as defined by the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA) may be provided a reasonable accommodation upon request to enable the person to complete an employment assessment. To request an accommodation, please contact Kristin Polens by phone 970-247-7459 or email kpolens@fortlewis.edu at least five business days before the assessment date to allow us to evaluate your request and prepare for the accommodation. You may be asked to provide additional information, including medical documentation, regarding functional limitations and type of accommodation needed. Please ensure that you have this information available well in advance of the assessment date.