Director of Strategic Growth – Scholarship Services

Nelnet; Hartford (CT); Hybrid; USD 165,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental

Vision

HSA/FSA

401K

Life insurance

AD&D insurance

Employee assistance program

Stock purchase program

Tuition reimbursement

Performance-based incentive pay

Disability insurance

Wellness program

Job summary

Nelnet’s Scholarship Services division seeks a Director of Strategic Growth to lead growth initiatives in Catholic education and private-school choice markets. You will build partnerships with dioceses, school networks, and SGOs while collaborating with Business Development, Product, Operations, IT/Engineering, and Marketing to turn insights into results.

The role requires a deep background in education finance, strong executive presence, and a track record of stakeholder engagement at senior

Qualifications

• 10 years of experience in field or related field or commensurate education.
• 5-7 years supervisory or leadership experience.
• Significant senior leadership experience in education, school choice, scholarship granting, or related nonprofit, philanthropic, or education financial services environment.
• Demonstrated experience leading or working closely within an SGO or comparable scholarship organization.
• Established relationships and credibility within the Catholic education community.
• Strong executive presence, with experience engaging boards, senior leaders, and external partners.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills.
• Ability to work across functions and influence without direct authority.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a growth strategy for Scholarship Services in Catholic, faith-based, and private-school choice.
• Identify and pursue new partnership and growth opportunities with dioceses, school networks, and scholarship organizations.
• Contribute to growth and retention of client relationships within the segment, working with defined goals and in close coordination with Business Development.
• Represent FACTS with Catholic education leaders, SGO leaders, and national school choice organizations.
• Build executive relationships that open doors and strengthen trust in the FACTS Scholarship Services offering.
• Serve as a visible voice for FACTS at conferences, trade shows, and industry events, in coordination with Marketing and Events.
• Shape the impact narrative for Scholarship Services using outcomes data, client stories, and research.
• Contribute thought leadership, presentations, and written content that position FACTS as a leader in scholarship services.
• Partner with Product Strategy to bring client and market insight into product direction and priorities.
• Collaborate with Operations and IT/Engineering to ensure growth initiatives are deliverable and well supported.
• Work with Marketing on positioning, messaging, and campaigns for the segment.
• Align on priorities, pipeline, and client engagement with the BD team.
• Contribute to planning, forecasting, and performance reviews for Scholarship Services.
• Provide input on pricing, packaging, and go-to-market decisions affecting the segment.
• Mentor and support colleagues across the business unit as the role evolves.

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

Remote

Full time

R23260

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 Director of Strategic Growth leads growth strategy for Scholarship Services in the private-school choice markets. This leader draws on deep experience in scholarship granting organizations (SGOs) and strong relationships across the Catholic education network to expand FACTS’ presence, deepen partnerships with dioceses and school networks, and advance our impact story. The role partners closely with Business Development, Product, Operations, IT/Engineering, and Marketing to turn market insight into priorities and results.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

Growth Strategy

• Develop and execute a growth strategy for Scholarship Services in the Catholic, faith-based, and private-school choice segments.
• Identify and pursue new partnership and growth opportunities with dioceses, school networks, and scholarship organizations.
• Contribute to the growth and retention of client relationships within the segment, working with defined goals and in close coordination with Business Development.

Relationships and Market Presence

• Represent FACTS with Catholic education leaders, SGO leaders, and national school choice organizations.
• Build and maintain executive-level relationships that open doors and strengthen trust in the FACTS Scholarship Services offering.
• Serve as a visible voice for FACTS at conferences, trade shows, and industry events, in coordination with Marketing and Events.

Impact and Thought Leadership

• Shape the impact narrative for Scholarship Services using outcomes data, client stories, and research.
• Contribute thought leadership, presentations, and written content that position FACTS as a leader in scholarship services.

Cross-Functional Partnership

• Partner with Product Strategy to bring client and market insight into product direction and priorities.
• Collaborate with Operations and IT/Engineering to ensure growth initiatives are deliverable and well supported.
• Work with Marketing on positioning, messaging, and campaigns for the segment.
• Work closely with the Director of Business Development — Scholarship Services and the BD team to align on priorities, pipeline, and client engagement.

Leadership and Operating Rhythm

• Contribute to planning, forecasting, and performance reviews for Scholarship Services.
• Provide input on pricing, packaging, and go-to-market decisions affecting the segment.
• Mentor and support colleagues across the business unit as the role evolves.

Annual compensation range for this role is $165,000-$175,000 depending on experience.

This position offers a hybrid work option. Nelnet values flexibility and understands the importance of work-life integration. Our hybrid work environment allows associates living within 30 miles of an office location to work remotely for part of the week, while also fostering collaboration and team connection through in-office presence three days per week.

Please note that we are unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position. To be considered, candidates must already be authorized to work in the United States without the need for current or future sponsorship.

EDUCATION:

Bachelors Degree, advanced degree preferred.

EXPERIENCE:

• 10 years of experience in field or related field or commensurate education, and a minimum of 5-7 years supervisory or leadership experience.
• Significant senior leadership experience in education, school choice, scholarship granting, or a related nonprofit, philanthropic, or education financial services environment.
• Demonstrated experience leading or working closely within an SGO or comparable scholarship organization.
• Established relationships and credibility within the Catholic education community.
• Strong executive presence, with experience engaging boards, senior leaders, and external partners.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills.
• Ability to work across functions and influence without direct authority.

Preferred

• Experience with fundraising, program evaluation, or impact measurement.
• Familiarity with state tax credit scholarship programs and the broader school choice landscape including with working with SGO’s.
• Experience with revenue goals, pricing, or business planning.

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.

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 [e-mail] .

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

You may know Nelnet as the nation’s largest student loan servicer — but we do more than that. A lot more. We’re also a professional services company, consumer loan originator and servicer, payment processor, renewable energy innovator, and K-12 and higher education expert (and that’s just a shortlist).

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