Fast Facts

Join Nelnet Business Services as the Manager of Product Strategy, a senior leadership role responsible for aligning product strategy with execution and overseeing a cross-functional team to deliver impactful outcomes for educational technology products.

Responsibilities: Define product strategies aligned with business objectives, lead a product team, drive customer and market understanding, and oversee complex initiatives and cross-team planning.

Skills: Strong leadership in product development, excellent communication skills, and a deep understanding of customer needs in education technology are essential.

Qualifications: Candidates should have a Bachelor's degree, 3+ years in product leadership roles, and experience managing cross-functional teams within a SaaS or educational environment.

Location: This position is based in Lincoln, United States of America.

Compensation: $90000 - $120000 / Annually

Nelnet Business Services (NBS), a division of Nelnet, Inc., provides payment technology, education services, and learning management solutions to education and faith-based organizations, serving more than 1,300 higher education institutions, 11,500 K-12 schools, 3,500 churches, 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.

As a Nelnet company, the perks at NBS go beyond our benefits package. You’re part of a community, invested in you as an individual and united by our mission to create opportunities for people where they live, learn and work.

At FACTS, we build technology that powers K–12 education. From tuition management and financial aid to admissions, SIS, and learning platforms. Our Product team is at the heart of this mission, transforming deep customer insight into bold, market-aware strategies that support the missions of the schools we serve. We’re a team of builders, thinkers, and collaborators who care deeply about the schools we serve. As we continue to grow, we’re investing in strategic leadership roles that will help us scale innovation, elevate customer experience, and lead with an AI-first mindset. Join us in shaping products that matter, for schools, families, and the future of learning.

The Manager of Product Strategy and Execution is a senior leadership role within the Product Team, responsible for turning insight into action across either a core product line or a set of shared platform capabilities (e.g., data interoperability, AI enablement, integrations). This leader oversees a cross-functional team of Product Managers, Product Owners, and/or Project Managers to deliver high-impact outcomes that advance strategic vision and meet the evolving needs of customers. This role is also accountable for aligning product strategy with execution, developing talent, and ensuring that product initiatives—whether platform-wide or product-specific—are customer-informed, data-driven, and technically feasible. In addition, this position requires a strong mix of customer empathy, product expertise, cross-functional collaboration, and leadership maturity.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Define and own product strategies that align with vision and business objectives.
• Lead a cross-functional team of product professionals, providing direct management, coaching, and performance feedback across roles.
• Drive customer and market understanding across the team, ensuring decisions are grounded in real-world insights from schools, families, and internal stakeholders.
• Translate strategic priorities into actionable plans, working across Engineering, UX, Marketing, Sales, and Operations to ensure clarity and alignment.
• Oversee backlog health, OKR progress, and cross-team planning cycles to ensure predictable and meaningful delivery.
• Coordinate complex initiatives across product lines, particularly in areas like platform infrastructure, data, and AI.
• Serve as a visible champion of the platform strategy through customer-facing webinars, strategic sales conversations, and industry events.
• Foster a high-performing, customer-obsessed culture that values continuous learning, data-informed decision-making, and executional excellence.

**Pay Range for this role is - $ $90,000 - $120,000

EDUCATION:

Bachelor’s degree in a related field, or a combination of relevant education and experience equal to a Bachelor’s degree, is required. 

EXPERIENCE:

• 3+ years of experience in product leadership roles in a SaaS, technology-driven, or educational environment. Experience may include school leadership, operations, or edtech product roles.
• Demonstrated experience managing cross-functional teams, as well as direct-reporting teams, and aligning stakeholders around shared outcomes.
• Experience leading either a major product line or shared platform initiatives.

COMPETENCIES – SKILLS/KNOWLEDGE/ABILITIES:

• Strong understanding of product development lifecycle, agile methodologies, and go-to-market alignment.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to connect day-to-day execution to long-term product vision.
• Strong leadership and coaching abilities tailored to diverse product roles (Product Managers, Product Owners, and Project Managers). 
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to influence both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Deep customer empathy and a passion for solving real-world problems in education.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, evolving environment and manage ambiguity with confidence.
• Familiarity with data systems, AI trends, or educational technology platforms is a plus.
• Strong problem-solving skills with a focus on identifying root causes, proposing solutions, and actively addressing issues with a focus on listening and understanding.
• Strong work ethic and self-motivation, with the ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills with strong attention to detail.
• Collaborative mindset with the ability to motivate and work effectively with team members and other departments.

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: LINK.

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.