IT Delivery Lead

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 NDS IT Delivery Lead balances responsibilities as a hands-on skilled contributor and a lead. The balance of individual contribution and delivery leadership may vary based on the needs of the team - with the general expectation of 60% individual contribution and 40% delivery leadership activities. They will pull stories and deliver work as part of the team. They will also perform lead activities including delivering to committed timelines, removing team impediments, being accountable for effective team ceremonies, and drive team adherence to CMMI practices, governing policies, and best practices.

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 a 3/2 (in-office/work-from-home) split for associates that reside within 30 miles of an office. This is subject to change, based on manager discretion.

At this time, we are unable to move forward with candidates that reside in these states: Alabama, California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington.

Summary of Essential Job Functions:

Individual Contributor:
Actively contribute as a member of the development team, engaging in coding, testing, support, and release management activities, such as:

• Write, review, and maintain code to ensure quality and functionality.

• Participate in pair programming, code reviews, and test automation efforts.

• Write and execute unit and integration tests in collaboration with QA to ensure comprehensive test coverage.

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date technical documentation, including documenting code and system design decisions.

• Coordinate and manage the path to production, including release planning, scheduling, and ensuring successful and timely deployments.

Leadership Activities:

• Communicate effectively with team members and stakeholders, 

• providing support and mentorship to team members.

• Manage day-to-day work and ensure timely delivery, balancing Run/Support tasks with prioritized items from Product Strategy.

• Remove team impediments to facilitate progress, and ensure risks are logged and escalated to Program Managers as needed.

Technical Expertise:

• Solid understanding of the delivery goals of the team , stakeholders, and expected outcome of initiatives.

• Ability to represent technical debt and initiatives for backlog prioritization.

• Leadership Agility: Promotes agile principles and fosters an Agile mindset within the team.

• Decision Making: Capable of strategizing and planning effectively in the face of an uncertain future state. Demonstrated identification of appropriate deliverables and a clear course of action to meet requirements.

• Considers all relevant factors and uses appropriate decision-making criteria.

Technical Skills:
As an individual contributor, will exercise proficiency in one or more of the following three technical skillsets: 

• Technical Architecture

• System Reliability Engineering

• Software Engineering

In addition, may exercise proficiency in one or more of the following:

• Familiarity with technical documentation, security, and compliance processes and expected outputs. Ensures processes and policies are adhered to by the team.

• Structured systematic approaches and whole system thinking.

• Facilitation and negotiation skills. Workflow/Gap-analysis,

• Process Modeling,

• Use Case Analysis, Process and Context Diagramming, Data and/or Requirements Modeling.

• Additional skills will vary depending on the contributor role they perform within the team.

Relationship Building:

• Develops internal and external trusting, professional relationships. Purposefully develops networks to build value through collaboration.

• Impacts others' thinking, decisions, or behavior through inclusive practices and relationship building. Drives action through influence, not authority.

• Self-Leadership: Demonstrates authenticity, courage, and trustworthiness in leadership.

• Shows self-awareness and actively seeks personal growth and development.

• Manages ambiguity, learns from setbacks, and adapts to changing situations.

• Time & Project Management: Strong time management, project management, and administrative skills.

• Ensures transparency in work, ticket management, and roadmap coordination.

Competencies:

• Exemplifies the Nelnet PBO competencies, NDS Leadership Principles, and IT Delivery Behaviors 

• Technical Skills and Expertise as a software engineer, system reliability engineer, or software architect

• Leadership Agility

• Decision Making

• Relationship Building & Influence

• Self-Leadership

• Time & Project Management

Annual starting compensation range for this role is $90,000 - $140,000, depending on experience.

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.

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 corporaterecruiting@nelnet.net.

Nelnet is a Drug Free and Tobacco Free Workplace.