Director, Product and Business Management

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.

The Director, Product & Business Management establishes and grows a market segment (vertical) for New Ventures. The job changes shape over time, and the person must be excellent at every stage. It starts hands-on: serving as the product manager for one validated product with a small team, close to customers, the roadmap, and the sales motion. It grows into running a multi-product portfolio, leading a team of product managers, and owning the full segment P&L. This includes building the team deliberately, adding the right roles at the right time so the segment scales efficiently rather than ahead of its revenue.
The role blends three things in one leader: general management, product ownership, and revenue generation. Selling is part of the job at every stage: early on the leader personally converts the first clients, and ongoing business development remains essential as the segment grows. It equally demands product ownership, deep expertise in the segment’s market and buyer, and sound judgment on what to invest in, hire, and prioritize. Performance is measured by segment revenue growth, profitability, product adoption, operational maturity, and disciplined investment and hiring decisions.Responsibilities

• Establish and grow the segment: begin as the product manager for one validated product, then expand it into a multi-product portfolio with full P&L ownership.

• Early on, personally own product management: roadmap, prioritization, customer discovery, and go-to-market for the first product.

• Build the team deliberately: add the right roles at the right time, scaling capacity with revenue rather than ahead of it, and stand up dedicated Sales and Operations as the segment matures.

• As the portfolio grows, build and lead a team of product managers, each owning a product end to end, and raise the bar for product judgment and execution.

• Develop deep segment and buyer expertise: procurement cycles, decision-makers, and the competitive landscape.

• Define and execute product and business strategy for the segment, aligned to company priorities and market opportunity.

• Partner with the Venture Factory on net-new products graduating into the segment, integrating the right ones and declining those that do not fit.

• Own the segment P&L: budgets, forecasts, revenue targets, NOI, and pricing, packaging, positioning, and launch execution.

• Make lifecycle decisions for the segment and its products: investment, scaling, optimization, or pivots.

Annual compensation for this role is $200,0000

This position offers a hybrid work option. 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 per week.

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.
 

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Technology, or a related field, or equivalent experience.

• Preferred: Advanced degree or equivalent experience in product management, general management, or business strategy.

Experience

• 8+ years of experience in product management, general management, strategy, or commercial leadership roles.
• Demonstrated ownership of business outcomes, including revenue, growth, or P&L-adjacent accountability.
• Proven business development and sales ability: personally sourced, closed, and grew client revenue, with sustained business development over time.
• Track record across the full journey: hands-on product management plus scaling a product into a larger business or portfolio.
• Experience leading and developing product managers or product teams at scale, preferred.
• Demonstrated depth in a specific market segment or vertical (e.g., higher education, K-12), preferred.
• Experience building teams and sizing roles to the stage of the business, preferred.

Competencies & Skills

• General management and business ownership

• Segment and market expertise and customer insight

• Hands-on product management and leading product managers

• Team building and stage-appropriate hiring

• Product strategy and multi-product segment scaling

• Commercial and financial acumen and P&L ownership

• Cross-functional leadership and influence

• Strategic decision-making under ambiguity

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.

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