AI Product Manager - NDS

Nelnet is a diversified and innovative company committed to enriching lives through the power of service as a student loan servicer, professional services company, consumer loan originator and servicer, payments processor, renewable energy solutions, and K-12 and higher education expert. For over 40 years, Nelnet has been serving its customers, associates, and communities.

The perks of working at Nelnet go beyond our benefits package. When you join the Nelnet team, you're part of a community invested in the success of each individual. That support comes through in our work, as we are united by our mission of creating opportunities for people where they live, learn, and work.

The Product Manager will lead strategic initiatives to design, build, and deliver Agentic AI and automation solutions that transform IT delivery. The goal is to optimize efficiency and quality, enabling teams to deliver greater value. This role bridges emerging technologies with business outcomes, driving innovation and embedding intelligent automation across the software development lifecycle. Create a collaborative and transparent environment that helps deliver business value in a quick and interactive fashion. Collaboration, relationship-building, communication, and leadership are key aspects of the Product Manager role. The ultimate purpose of the Product Manager is to develop strategic vision and product roadmaps with internal and external stakeholders, prioritize needs based on business value, and work with stakeholders and development teams to deliver on individual initiatives within the product, working with others to coordinate timelines, budget, and resources to complete work within program guidelines.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Work with stakeholders to develop product strategies that support the company’s strategic 
goals. Ensure the strategy is visible and transparent to all parties. 
2. Facilitate collaboration with stakeholders to identify and plan the delivery key initiatives that 
align with the overall product strategy. Collaborate with the teams to develop budget and 
investment needs to support the delivery of these key initiatives. 
3. Work with all areas of the organization to understand customer opportunities, compliance, 
regulations, market trends and customer behaviors. 
4. Own prioritization, preparing and communicating product roadmaps. Ensure the roadmap is 
shared and understood by product owners, stakeholders and the teams.
5. Work with product owners to ensure a common understanding of projects goals and desired 
outcomes and work together to ensure the projects meet those goals. 
6. Acts as a stakeholder in all release planning meetings to ensure that release plans fit into the 
overall product vision and meet required deliverable dates. 
7. Responsible for maintaining a product level backlog including milestones, epics, user stories and 
acceptance criteria. Work with teams to ensure they understand the business needs outlined in 
the stories
8. Responsible for final signoff that solutions produce the desired outcomes.
9. Monitor delivery progress to ensure appropriate return on investments will be met. 
10. Understand the overall cost of the product and how it contributes to overall cost

Nelnet believes in a hybrid work environment that accommodates both in-office and remote work. This model promotes a positive work-life balance and culture, enabling in-person collaboration when possible while also providing benefits associated with remote work. The standard hybrid work schedule includes a 3/2 (in-office/work-from-home) split for associates that reside within 30 miles of an office. This is subject to change, based on manager discretion.

US Citizenship and the ability to obtain a 6C Federal security clearance are required for this role. Some travel may be required.

EDUCATION: 
Bachelor’s degree or related fields and/or commensurate experience.  Master’s degree beneficial.

EXPERIENCE: 
1.    4+ years’ agile experience
2.    2+ years’ experience as a Product Owner or Product Manager required.
3.    Proven experience working with Senior Executives required.
4.    2+ years’ student loan experience preferred.

5. Experience with AI tools preferred

COMPETENCIES – SKILLS/KNOWLEDGE/ABILITIES:
1.    Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
2.    Ability to conceptualize and analyze complex business processes.
3.    Strong motivation, negotiation, facilitation, and presentation skills
4.    Ability to define and achieve business goals and meet deadlines while working both independently & collaboratively.
5.    Proven leadership and employee development capabilities
6.    Strong