Product Owner - Consumer

Nelnet; Lincoln (NE); Hybrid; USD 72,000 - 88,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision, HSA and FSA

401K and student loan repayment

Tuition reimbursement

Employee stock purchase program

Wellness program

Job summary

Nelnet is seeking a Product Owner to partner with stakeholders and delivery teams to define, prioritize, and deliver product features aligned with business goals. The role ensures transparency, drives continuous improvement, and supports strategic alignment across business, IT, and leadership teams.

You will collaborate with users and clients to translate needs into actionable requirements, take ownership of the product line, and report risks to the Product Manager.

Qualifications

• Experience: Proven experience as a Product Owner, Product Manager, or similar role.
• Skills: Strong communication, leadership, and relationship-building skills. Ability to manage expectations and keep stakeholders informed.
• Education: Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with stakeholders to understand needs and prioritize features based on business value.
• Partner with Product Manager to maintain a cohesive product vision and support roadmap development.
• Manage and prioritize the product backlog; ensure visibility and clarity for teams and stakeholders.
• Lead agile ceremonies when relevant to product initiatives and guide teams toward goals.
• Monitor product investment, spend, ROI, and contribute to cost-benefit analyses.

Skills

Product ownership

Leadership

Communication

Stakeholder management

Agile

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

Job description

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 Owner (PO) partners with stakeholders and delivery teams to define, prioritize, and deliver product features that align with business goals. This role ensures transparency, drives continuous improvement, and supports strategic alignment through effective collaboration across business, IT, and leadership teams.

Key Responsibilities

Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement

• Engage stakeholders to understand needs and prioritize features based on business value.
• Communicate effectively with delivery teams and business stakeholders at the appropriate level of detail to ensure shared understanding of requirements, progress and value.
• Collaborate with users and clients to translate needs into actionable requirements.
• Negotiate priorities and facilitate alignment across teams.
• Report status and elevate risks to the Product Manager.

Product Strategy & Roadmap

• Partner with the Product Manager to maintain a cohesive product vision.
• Support roadmap development and ensure alignment mock up.
• Promote transparency in product delivery and decision-making.
• Take ownership of learning the product line to ensure alignment with user needs, understand dependencies, risks and business goals.

Backlog & Delivery Management

• Manage and prioritize the product backlog as needed.
• Ensure backlog visibility and clarity for teams and stakeholders.
• Oversee product development stages and track progress using relevant metrics.

Team Leadership

• Participate or lead agile ceremonies when relevant to product initiatives.
• Lead the team(s) toward achieving product goals.

Financial Awareness

• Contribute to monitoring product investment, spend, and ROI.
• Assist with creation of cost benefit analysis for proposed initiatives.

Qualifications

• Experience: Proven experience as a Product Owner, Product Manager, or similar role.
• Skills: Strong communication, leadership, and relationship-building skills. Ability to manage expectations and keep stakeholders informed.
• Education: Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.

This role involves effective collaboration with various business, IT, and leadership teams. The PO ensures alignment across product strategy and reports directly to the Product Owner Manager.

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 24 hours of in-office work each week, for associates that reside within 30 miles of an office. This is subject to change, based on manager discretion.

In order to be considered, candidates must live within 30 miles of the following locations:

• Lincoln, NE
• Madison, WI
• Centennial, CO

Internal associates working in a remote capacity are eligible to apply.

Annual compensation for this role starting at $80,342.00.

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 Talent Acquisition 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