NDS Program Office IT Program Administrator Governance
Lincoln, NE - USA
Job Summary
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 youre 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.
This position lives in the Nelnet Diversified Services (NDS) Program Office within IT Process Governance & Atlassian Products.At hire this role owns NDSs AI governance capability ensuring our processes include the AI-specific gates artifact requirements and approval checkpoints required by policy and that development teams understand and meet their AI governance obligations. This is a compliance-primary role: you hold teams accountable to requirements you dont do their compliance work for them.
This role is designed to grow. Within the first 30 days you will begin absorbing the broader IT Program Administrator scope Atlassian platform health and troubleshooting change management CMMI process documentation and governance and SDLC process governance. Candidates who already have experience in these areas are welcome but its not required at hire what matters is genuine willingness to learn and grow into the full scope over time.
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.
Annual compensation range for this role is $95000 - $120000 depending on experience.
AI Process Governance Core Function at Hire
Ensure NDS SDLC stages include the AI-specific gates artifact requirements and approval checkpoints required by the Nelnet AI Governance Policy and Acceptable Use Policy.
Maintain the NDS AI-extended SDLC (AISDLC) updating it as policy regulation or technology changes.
Ensure all NDS AI development and deployment initiatives complete the AI Registry & Impact Assessment process; evaluate submissions for accuracy and completeness.
Verify AI-specific requirements are met at defined SDLC checkpoints.
Verify NDS associates are using approved AI tools at correct data classification levels.
Build and maintain the NDS AI compliance evidence package keeping it current and audit-ready.
Maintain a current inventory of all AI systems in development deployed and retired within NDS including owners risk tier and system type.
Ensure development teams understand their AI governance obligations and hold them accountable when requirements arent met.
Represent NDS in enterprise AI governance conversations and working groups.
IT Program Administration Growth Begins Within 30 Days
Monitor and maintain the health of NDS Jira and Confluence environments; diagnose and resolve platform-level issues and configuration problems.
Partner closely with development teams and leadership to support active products and ensure adherence to standards.
Document measure and improve system and software lifecycles to meet business objectives across NDS IT programs.
Interpret contractual and regulatory documentation (CMMI NIST FSA Contract RFPs) to identify gaps in lifecycles policies and procedures and work with stakeholders to close those gaps.
Document processes and procedures in an organized user-friendly format.
Provide clear and concise verbal and written communication tailored to the appropriate audience technical and non-technical.
Research assess and train others on non-development tools used across the segment.
Perform value stream mapping for processes owned within NDS IT to streamline workflows and eliminate waste.
Education:
Bachelors degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
Required Experience:
2 years in a role combining process compliance governance or audit work with meaningful exposure to AI or emerging technology.
Genuine demonstrable fluency in the current AI landscape.
Conceptual understanding of how agentic AI systems work what agents are how they use tools and memory and what makes them different from traditional software from a governance standpoint.
Ability to evaluate an AI system description or impact assessment and identify whats missing understated or inaccurate.
Preferred Experience:
Hands-on experience with Jira Confluence or Atlassian products including platform health monitoring and troubleshooting.
Experience in financial services or another heavily regulated industry.
Familiarity with NIST AI RMF ISO 42001 or similar AI governance frameworks.
CMMI process area knowledge.
Exposure to CFPB FCRA UDAAP or FSA regulatory requirements.
Relevant certifications: AIGP CIPP CISA CRCM or equivalent AI/compliance credentials.
Experience building or reviewing agentic AI systems LLM integrations or AI-assisted workflows.
Change management experience or certification (Prosci CCMP or equivalent).
Skills & Competencies
You follow AI news model releases and regulatory developments without being asked.
Comfortable telling a team theyre not meeting a requirement in a way that results in compliance not conflict.
Strong written and verbal communication skills across all organizational levels.
Excellent interpersonal consensus-building and analytical skills.
Highly self-motivated and proactive with a strong sense of ownership.
Low ego about what you dont know high confidence about what you do.
This position requires work in support of the Companys 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 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 or.
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
Required Experience:
Unclear Seniority
About Company
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