Product Owner - FACTS Financial Aid

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.

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

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 as security clearance is required.

WHO WE ARE:

We are FACTS Financial Aid Management, and just like our parent company, Nelnet, we are dedicated to diversification and growth. We are people driven. As opportunities arise to diversify and apply our customer service and software expertise, we look to develop our associates to grow right alongside the company.

We move fast, stay curious, and value fresh ideas. At FACTS, you won’t just keep up with change - you’ll help shape it. And because we’re only as good as our people, we make sure our teams have the support and opportunities they need to thrive.

SUMMARY:

The Product Owner coordinates product development, release planning, and manages the overall successful delivery of new and existing products. This position supports FACTS Financial Aid, working with financial aid stakeholders (the schools and administrators who assess and award aid, the families who apply for it, and the internal teams who support the process) to translate their needs into product solutions. This position focuses on developing skills and abilities under the guidance of both management and experienced members of the product team.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Works very closely with agile development teams to create use cases, requirements, estimates, and low-fidelity prototypes in support of company objectives.

2. Serves as a liaison across FACTS Financial Aid stakeholders, including schools and administrators, families and applicants, state programs and scholarship granting organizations (SGOs), and internal and external delivery teams. Gathers, prioritizes, and translates their needs into actionable requirements and user stories.

3. Intakes and probes stakeholder feedback, looking past the stated problem to uncover the deeper, often unspoken need beneath it, and shapes solutions that solve the real problem.

4. Creates, modifies, and validates UX mockups and functional prototypes with internal and external stakeholders, using their feedback to shape the product.

5. Develops working familiarity with the data and technical specifications behind financial aid workflows, and partners with engineering and data teams on requirements, validation rules, and how information moves through the product.

6. Documents release notes and manages the analytics behind the customer's journey through products.

7. Works with development teams to ensure solutions meet market expectations.

8. Works with sales, technical sales, marketing and product management to provide content for sales, user training and documentation tools.

9. Ensures client documentation is updated and effective including release notes and roadmaps.

10. Works with clients directly and manages client feedback 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. Familiarity with financial aid, tuition management, or K-12 school operations preferred.

3. Exposure to structured or financial data, or to 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 and business rules and translate them into clear requirements for development teams.

4. Comfort working with data, including understanding data elements, relationships, and validation concepts, without needing to be a developer.

5. Ability to analyze manual, document-heavy workflows and identify opportunities to streamline and automate them, reducing effort for client support teams and administrators.

6. Ability to communicate effectively with both technical audiences (developers, data teams) and non-technical audiences (school administrators, families, support and delivery teams).

7. Strong attention to detail and comfort operating under externally imposed, non-negotiable deadlines.

8. Strong customer focus.

9. Ability to be a team player.

10. Good time management and organizational skills.

11. Strong written and oral communication skills.

12. Strong problem solving skills.

13. Demonstrated respect, collaboration, and pride in ownership and accountability.

14. Focus on delivering value.

Compensation range for this role is $85,000- $90,000 annually depending on experience.

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