Nelnet Business Services (NBS), a division of Nelnet, Inc., provides payment technology and education services to more than 1,200 higher education institutions, nearly 12,000 K-12 schools, and millions of individual students, families, and supporters across the globe. Our culture of service enables us to form long-lasting and trusted partnerships, while our focus on creativity and innovative solutions empowers our customer communities to thrive.
The Product Owner coordinates product development, release planning, and manages the overall successful delivery of new and existing products. This position supports state reporting within a student information system, working closely with state education agencies to translate reporting requirements and data interoperability standards into product solutions. This position focuses on developing skills and abilities under the guidance of both management and more experienced Product Owner II positions.Job Responsibilities
1. Works very closely with agile development teams to create use cases, requirements, and estimates in support of company objectives.
2. Serves as a liaison between state education agencies and the development team — interpreting state reporting requirements, data collection specifications, and compliance deadlines, and translating them into actionable requirements and user stories.
3. Monitors changes to state reporting requirements, data standards, and submission schedules; assesses impact and prioritizes work accordingly.
4. Collaborates with development teams on data interoperability solutions, including data mapping, validation rules, and exchange between the student information system and external systems (state agencies, assessment vendors, and other education platforms).
5. Builds and maintains working relationships with state agency contacts, participating in state-hosted workgroups, technical calls, and specification reviews on behalf of the team.
6. Involved in documenting release notes and managing the analytics behind the customer's journey through products.
7. Spends a significant amount of time validating UX mocks and early-stage simulations with clients.
8. Works with development teams to ensure solutions meet market expectations.
9. Works with sales, technical sales, marketing and product manager to provide content for sales, user training and documentation tools.
10. Ensures client documentation is updated and effective including release notes and roadmaps.
11. Works with clients directly and manages a client feedback tool to ensure voice of the customer is heard and felt in each product.
## Education
1. Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
## Experience
1. 1+ years related experience or existing product knowledge.
2. Experience with K-12 education data, state reporting, or student information systems preferred.
3. Familiarity with education data interoperability standards and frameworks (e.g., Ed-Fi, SIF, OneRoster, CEDS) or comparable experience working with structured data exchange (APIs, file-based submissions, data schemas) preferred.
## Competencies — Skills/Knowledge/Abilities
1. Ability to prioritize and manage multiple concurrent projects.
2. Flexibility to adapt quickly to new requirements, situations, programs, and services.
3. Ability to read and interpret technical specifications (data layouts, schemas, business rules) and translate them into clear requirements for development teams.
4. Comfort working with data — understanding data elements, relationships, and quality/validation concepts — without needing to be a developer.
5. Ability to communicate effectively with both technical audiences (developers, data engineers) and non-technical audiences (state agency staff, school district users).
6. Strong attention to detail and comfort operating under externally imposed, non-negotiable deadlines (state submission windows).
7. Strong customer focus.
8. Ability to be a team player.
9. Good time management and organizational skills.
10. Strong written and oral communication skills.
11. Strong problem solving skills.
12. Demonstrated respect, collaboration, and pride in ownership.
13. Ability to adapt to change.
14. Focus on delivering value.
**Pay Range for this role is - $85,000 - $90,000
Our benefits package includes medical, dental, vision, HSA and FSA, generous earned time off, 401K/student loan repayment, life insurance & AD&D insurance, employee assistance program, employee stock purchase program, tuition reimbursement, performance-based incentive pay, short- and long-term disability, and a robust wellness program. Click here to learn more about our benefits: Benefits & Perks - Nelnet Inc
Nelnet is committed to providing a welcoming and respectful workplace where all associates have the opportunity to succeed. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we ensure that all qualified applicants are considered for employment. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion/creed, national origin, gender, sex, marital status, age, disability, use of a guide dog or service animal, sexual orientation, military/veteran status, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law. We value the unique contributions of every team member and believe that a positive work environment benefits everyone.
Qualified individuals with disabilities who require reasonable accommodations in order to apply or compete for positions at Nelnet may request such accommodations by contacting Corporate Recruiting at 402-486-5725 or [email protected].
Nelnet is a Drug Free and Tobacco Free Workplace.
Use of Artificial Intelligence in Hiring
We may use automated or artificial intelligence enabled tools to assist with the initial review of applications, such as identifying relevant skills or experience. These tools are used to support human review and do not make hiring decisions. A recruiter reviews applications and determines which candidates move forward in the hiring process. For more information, see our Privacy Policy and Pre-Use Notice: Automated Tools in Hiring
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience
- 1+ years of related experience or existing product knowledge
- Experience with K-12 education data, state reporting, or student information systems
- Familiarity with education data interoperability standards and frameworks such as Ed-Fi, SIF, OneRoster, or CEDS, or comparable structured data exchange experience
- Ability to prioritize and manage multiple concurrent projects
- Ability to interpret technical specifications and translate them into clear development requirements
- Comfort working with data elements, relationships, quality, and validation concepts
- Effective communication with technical and non-technical audiences
- Strong attention to detail and ability to meet externally imposed deadlines
- Strong written and oral communication, problem-solving, organizational, and time-management skills
What We Do
Nelnet is a leading student loan servicer – but we’re even more than that. We provide payment technology for over 1,300 higher education institutions and 11,500 K-12 schools. We deliver world-class fiber internet, TV, and phone services to residents of Nebraska and Colorado. We help borrowers achieve their educational goals with private student loan and refinance solutions. And we help businesses boost their performance with our cutting-edge technology and trusted expertise. Each day, over 6,500 Nelnet associates in more than 30 communities across the country work to serve our customers and make their dreams possible. And we’re on the lookout for new people to help us go even further.
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