IT Project 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.

Are you a technically grounded project manager ready to lead complex software development and cloud transformation initiatives? Nelnet is looking for an experienced IT Project Manager who can seamlessly bridge the worlds of technical execution and strategic delivery within our NDS IT Delivery organization.
In this role, you will lead cross-functional teams through the full lifecycle of application development, cloud and infrastructure migrations, network and security modernization initiatives, and AI-driven projects — from inception through post-implementation. You will work closely with development teams and business stakeholders to keep initiatives on track and deliver measurable business value.
You will apply Agile and hybrid methodologies, proactively manage risks and dependencies, and communicate clearly across all levels — from individual contributors to senior leadership. Critically, you will responsibly use AI tools to drive your own productivity and lead projects where AI capabilities are being built, integrated, or operationalized.
At this time, we are unable to move forward with external candidates that reside in these states: Alabama, California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington.
This position requires work in support of the Company's contract with the United States Department of Education (“ED”). As such, the United States Government requires that any applicant for this position must complete United States Government security clearance. Effective June 1, 2018, ED has informed Nelnet that security clearance applications for foreign nationals are not being accepted or processed. In light of this direction from ED, Nelnet will be unable to hire applicants without United States citizenship for such positions.

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 a week.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Maintains command of project scope, critical path, dependencies, decisions, and delivery health, using that understanding to anticipate obstacles and drive execution toward committed outcomes.

• Manages and directs project teams to meet project objectives, with a focus on custom software development, system integration, and cloud-based initiatives.

• Leads technical project teams through the full Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC), including application design, development, testing, and deployment phases.

• Champions the responsible adoption of AI tools within the project team to drive team efficiency — modeling sound judgment about when AI is and isn't appropriate, and ensuring outputs are reviewed and validated before use — and leads projects where AI capabilities are being developed, integrated, or operationalized.

• Reviews, evaluates, and formulates project plans, schedules, and budgets; identifies and negotiates milestones, resource requirements, and tradeoffs to meet project objectives.

• Develops sufficient understanding of business and technical requirements to translate them into project scope, delivery plans, dependencies, milestones, and execution priorities.

• Manages staff and budget resources required to meet changing corporate priorities and project demands.

• Leads problem resolution and decision-making through facilitation, structured troubleshooting, and escalation management.

• Evaluates and reports project progress in terms of quality, performance, and delivery metrics common to IT and software development projects.

• Drives cross-functional readiness and execution for systems testing, deployment, training, and transition to post-implementation support.

• Assesses, tracks, and manages project risks, dependencies, and issues; communicates status clearly and consistently to stakeholders at all levels.

• Bridges the gap between technical teams and business stakeholders, ensuring alignment, shared understanding, and clarity throughout the project lifecycle.

EDUCATION:

• Bachelor's degree in information science or related field and/or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• PMP or PMI-ACP certification preferred.
• Coursework or certifications in cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) or AI/ML fundamentals are a plus.

EXPERIENCE: 

• Demonstrated experience leading technical project teams comprised of software developers, cloud engineers, architects, QA engineers, and business analysts, preferably in a matrixed organization.

• Hands-on experience managing full-cycle application development

• Demonstrated ability to use approved AI tools to improve the speed, quality, or consistency of project delivery work — including writing clear, well-structured prompts and selecting the right tool for the task — to increase personal and team efficiency in a professional setting.

• Experience leading projects where AI or machine learning capabilities were being built, integrated, or deployed is a significant differentiator.

• Expert-level experience working with Jira, Confluence, SharePoint, and Excel for project tracking, documentation, reporting, and resource management.

• Strong background in software development and technology is required.

COMPETENCIES – SKILLS/KNOWLEDGE/ABILITIES:

• Ability to manage projects from inception through successful post-implementation, including lessons learned and transition to support.

• Demonstrated competency in developing effective solutions to successfully resolve diverse and complex business and technical problems.

• Demonstrated, responsible use of AI tools in a professional project delivery context — exercising good judgment on when and how to apply them, validating outputs, and coaching team members on effective AI-assisted workflows.

• Comfort with ambiguity in emerging technology spaces — particularly AI and cloud — where methodologies and best practices continue to evolve rapidly.

• Strong analytical, communications, technical teamwork, and interpersonal skills.

• Proficiency in Jira, Confluence, and SharePoint; experience with other database utilities and Microsoft technologies preferred.

• Ability to bridge the gap between technical teams and business stakeholders, ensuring alignment and clarity throughout the project lifecycle.

• Assesses and manages project risks, dependencies, and issues with a proactive and structured approach.

The annual salary range for this position is $105,000–$125,000, depending on experience and qualifications.

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.

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