Director, Business Operations & Strategy

Nelnet, Inc.; Lincoln (NE); Hybrid; USD 200,000 - 225,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

HSA and FSA

401K + student loan repayment

Life insurance & AD&D

Wellness program

Paid time off

Job summary

Nelnet Business Services (NBS), a division of Nelnet, Inc., is seeking a Director of Business Operations to set the strategy and operating model for key functions, translating priorities into scalable processes and measurable outcomes. You will lead cross-functional planning, performance, and continuous improvement, building capability and guiding leaders to drive sustainable growth.

The ideal candidate has 8+ years in business operations with proven ability to define functional strategy, scale

Qualifications

• 8+ years of progressive experience in business operations, strategy and operations, product operations, program leadership, or related discipline.
• Experience defining functional strategy and leading complex, high-risk, cross-functional initiatives with organization-level impact.
• Proven success designing and scaling operating processes, business systems, analytics, or automation with measurable results.
• Experience leading people, developing talent, and managing work through changing priorities and ambiguity.
• Experience influencing executive and cross-functional stakeholders and translating strategic goals into clear execution plans.
• Preferred: transformation, integration, new business development, or operations in a technology-enabled or multi-business environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and execution of business operations strategy, priorities, roadmaps, and performance measures aligned with organizational objectives.
• Design and continuously improve scalable operating models, governance, workflows, and decision-making processes across functions.
• Oversee the evaluation, implementation, integration, and adoption of business systems, data capabilities, and automation solutions.
• Establish reliable reporting and analytics that provide leaders with clear visibility into operational performance, capacity, risk, and opportunities.
• Lead portfolio planning and prioritization for complex, cross-functional initiatives, balancing strategic value, resources, dependencies, and delivery risk.
• Direct business process optimization efforts that improve quality, speed, customer outcomes, and cost effectiveness.
• Assess new business opportunities and strategic initiatives through research, market analysis, financial and operational evaluation, and implementation planning.
• Build strong partnerships with executive leaders, functional teams, technology partners, and external stakeholders to align priorities and deliver outcomes.
• Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing team, setting clear expectations and adapting resources as business needs change.
• Identify and manage operational risks, change impacts, and compliance considerations while promoting accountability and continuous improvement.

Skills

Strategic Planning

Business Process Modeling

Cross-Functional Leadership

System Implementation

Influence & Executive Presence

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business administration, operations, information systems, engineering, finance, or related field

Master’s degree in business administration, operations, strategy, or related field

Job description

Nelnet Business Services (NBS), a division of Nelnet, Inc., is seeking a Director of Business Operations to set the strategy and operating model for key functions, translating priorities into scalable processes and measurable outcomes. You will lead cross-functional planning, performance, and continuous improvement, building capability and guiding leaders to drive sustainable growth.

The ideal candidate has 8+ years in business operations with proven ability to define functional strategy, scale