[Hiring] Private Student Lending Sales Associate @PHEAA

Role Description

This position is responsible for the promotion of PHEAA’s mission, products and services to educational institutions within an assigned area and has high visibility as the image of PHEAA to the general public promoting the Agency’s credit line of business. The emphasis of this position is to build business relationships to convince Financial Aid staff at postsecondary schools to recommend the PHEAA alternative loan program to students in need of gap student loan financing in an effort to garner loan volume to support the efforts of the PHEAA Balance Sheet strategy. This position requires travel and working outside of normal business hours.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Identify and manage a broad portfolio of business opportunities with frequent travel to potential and current clients to promote PHEAA products and services.
• Travel includes visiting assigned schools as well as attending industry conferences and trade association events.
• Establish relationships by using industry expertise, providing education on the PHEAA private loan products to post-secondary educational institutions, secondary institutions, and community/public service organizations, and directly with students and families in an assigned area.
• Develop, prepare, and deliver compelling sales presentations to key stakeholders with the coordination and delivery of the alternative loan program.
• Communicate with both external clients as well as internal staff to enhance customer service and strengthen the PHEAA brand.
• Escalate and resolve customer issues as necessary.
• Establish and maintain relationships with financial aid offices at postsecondary institutions to share industry knowledge and assist with training initiatives and problem resolution for the alternative loan program as well as State and Federal programs administered by PHEAA.
• Serve as a public role model and liaison through personal visits, industry meetings, regulatory updates, and intra-Agency communications.
• Lead the creation and development of marketing materials.
• Execute territory and strategic business plans including specific strategies promoting the PHEAA brand through identified market trends and customer needs to help drive sales growth.
• Collaborate with business units throughout the Agency, particularly the chosen Loan Origination vendor for the alternative loan program, State Grant and Special Programs, Legal and Compliance Services, Web Products Management, and other departments within Public Affairs.
• Engage with external partners supporting school partners with alternative loan origination services to ensure successful processing of the alternative loan program.
• Recommend changes to the type and frequency of outreach services, as necessary.
• Research and recommend changes to financial aid educational resources as it relates to the target audience.
• Keep abreast of competitor products and make recommendations on enhancements to our products.

Other Duties and Responsibilities

• Operate independently in terms of scheduling all visits, events, and activities to be conducted with customers throughout the service area.
• Document all completed activities in the SalesLogix database and through bi-weekly reports.
• Develop and analyze metrics to measure effectiveness of programs, products, and services and make recommendations for improvements.
• Create or contribute to the development of different media to enhance outreach services.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of state and federal regulations, products, and services that govern access and processing of financial aid; participate in internal and external conference calls, webinars, and training initiatives on a regular basis.
• Comply with the Agency’s enterprise security and privacy policies and departmental procedures.
• Other duties as assigned.

Company Description

PHEAA is a nonprofit student aid organization that holds a mission of providing affordable access to higher education.