Mayor’s Office of Education - Student Loan Education Officer

Company Description

A best-in-class city that attracts best-in-class talent, Philadelphia is an incredible place to build a career. From our thriving arts scene and rich history to our culture of passion and grit, there are countless reasons to love living and working here. With a workforce of over 30,000 people, and more than 1,000 different job categories, the City of Philadelphia offers boundless opportunities to make an impact.

As an employer, the City of Philadelphia values inclusion, integrity, innovation, empowerment, and hard work above all else. We offer a vibrant work environment, comprehensive health care and benefits, and the experience you need to grow and excel. If you’re interested in working with a passionate team of people who care about the future of Philadelphia, start here.

What we offer

• Impact - The work you do here matters to millions. 
• Growth - Philadelphia is growing, why not grow with it? 
• Diversity & Inclusion - Find a career in a place where everyone belongs.
• Benefits - We care about your well-being.

Agency Description

The Mayor’s Office of Education brings a unified vision and organizing strategy to advance Mayor Parker’s vision of a world-class system of education for Philadelphians of all ages and socioeconomic backgrounds.

MOE develops policies and programs, implements mayoral initiatives, and facilitates collaboration across city departments and education institutions to support success for Philadelphia learners from kindergarten through adulthood. Focus areas include K-12 education, career readiness and workforce development, post-secondary and adult education. MOE advocates for policies that enhance learning opportunities and works to secure funding for educational programs.

Job Description

The Student Loan Education Officer will serve in support of the One Philly Education Debt Navigator Initiative (EDNAV). EDNAV addresses Mayor Parker’s goal to remove barriers to economic mobility for City of Philadelphia residents. The initiative’s objective is to provide student loan borrowers with free and trusted information, education, and

help to manage student loan debt. This initiative is a partnership between The Mayor’s Office of Education (MOE), The Chief Administrative Office (CAO), and The Office of Community Empowerment and Opportunity (CEO).

The Student Loan Education Officer will oversee student debt education services. This includes outreach to City residents navigating the student lending system, support for Philadelphia employers, and the development of programs focused on student debt along the education continuum. Primary duties include delivering one-on-one borrower education, assisting with enrollment in repayment plans, supporting borrowers to get out of default,

help with applying for student loan cancellation/forgiveness/discharge programs, maintaining case records, and conducting outreach and education. This role requires collaboration with

EDNAV staff, CCME Fellows, community partners, internal and external stakeholders to ensure high-quality borrower support and program improvement. The

Student Loan Education Officer will report to the Director of Student Loan Programs.

The Student Loan Education Officer will perform these essential functions:

• Student Debt Education
  • Provide tailored information and resources to student loan borrowers based on individual circumstances.
  • Assist borrowers with applications for relief through cancellation, forgiveness, discharge, and repayment plan enrollment.
  • Help borrowers navigate default, rehabilitation and delinquent options.
  • Maintain thorough case records documenting services provided, resources shared, and referrals.
  • Recognize and contribute to reporting program trends and statistics.
  • Track and report on borrower outcomes and outreach activities

• Student Loan Hub Oversight and
  • Oversee website resources and curating, factual, up to date, and relevant content
  • Work closely with leadership and industry partners
  • Monitor and integrate national student loan policy and legislative changes

• Outreach and Education
  • Conduct outreach to diverse audiences in-person and virtually.
  • Prepare and deliver presentations and/or training sessions related to student loans to City employees, City residents, Employers, and Community organizations
  • Prepare training materials, fact sheets, and educational content for borrowers and partners
  • Design and deliver workshops and presentations for community groups and partner organizations.
  • Engage in targeted outreach across social media channels to reach underserved borrowers and increase program visibility

• Quality Assurance and Program Improvement
• • Lead peer case reviews and recommend process improvements to strengthen service quality and consistency.
  • Track and report program trends and metrics to inform program decisions and reporting
  • Oversee the work responsibilities of CCME Fellows.
  • Assign duties, help staff navigate competing deadlines, and support shifting priorities.
  • Provide actionable feedback, coaching, and support for skill progression.
  • Model and coach high-quality, culturally responsive customer service.

• Other Duties
  • Perform other responsibilities as identified by the Supervisor.

Required Competencies, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Professional judgment to prioritize cases, outreach, and program objectives effectively.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple cases, projects, and deadlines independently.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for educating, presentations, and documentation.
• Advanced -level proficiency using Microsoft Office Professional Suit (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Teams, Outlook, and Forms).
• Ability to provide information fairly and impartially in a culturally and linguistically appropriate manner.
• Proven customer service skills with experience de-escalating and resolving borrower concerns.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in team settings and with external partners, and stakeholders

Preferred:

• Knowledge of personal finance and familiarity with or strong interest in student loan programs preferred.
• Presentation and training skills for virtual and in-person formats.
• Social media savvy

Qualifications

Education:

Bachelor’s degree or relevant advanced degree in a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Experience:

• Two to four years of experience in counseling, outreach, community education, customer service, or a related professional setting
• Experience with student loans or personal finance preferred
• Experience conducting in-person and virtual outreach, training, and presentations
• Experience supervising or mentoring preferred

We value diverse experiences and are open to flexible qualifications. If you are passionate about this role and meet some of the key criteria, we encourage you to apply.

Additional Information

TO APPLY: Interested candidates must submit a cover letter, resume, and references.

Salary Range: $55,00 -$65,00

Discover the Perks of Being a City of Philadelphia Employee:

• Transportation: City employees get unlimited FREE public transportation all year long through SEPTA’s Key Advantage program. Employees can ride on SEPTA buses, subways, trolleys, and regional rail for their daily commute and more.
• Parental Benefits: The City offers its employees 8 weeks of paid parental leave.
• We offer Comprehensive health coverage for employees and their eligible dependents.
• Our wellness program offers eligibility into the discounted medical plan
• Employees receive paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays
• Generous retirement savings options are available
• Pay off your student loans faster - As a qualifying employer, City of Philadelphia employees are eligible to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Join the ranks of hundreds of employees who have already benefited from this program and achieved student loan forgiveness.
• Unlock Tuition Discounts and Scholarships - The City of Philadelphia has forged partnerships with over a dozen esteemed colleges and universities in the area, ensuring that our employees have access to a wide range of tuition discounts and scholarships. Experience savings of 10% to 40% on your educational expenses, extending not only to City employees but in some cases, spouse and dependents too!

Join the City of Philadelphia team today and seize these incredible benefits designed to enhance your financial well-being and personal growth!

*The successful candidate must be a city of Philadelphia resident within six months of hire

Effective May 22, 2023, vaccinations are no longer required for new employees that work in non-medical, non-emergency or patient facing positions with the City of Philadelphia. As a result, only employees in positions providing services that are patient-facing medical care (ex: Nurses, doctors, emergency medical personnel), must be fully vaccinated.

The City of Philadelphia is an Equal Opportunity employer and does not permit discrimination based on race, ethnicity, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, source of income, familial status, genetic information or domestic or sexual violence victim status. If you believe you were discriminated against, call the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations at 215-686-4670 or send an email to faqpchr@phila.gov.

For more information, go to: Human Relations Website: http://www.phila.gov/humanrelations/Pages/default.aspx