Implementation Lead

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.

We are seeking an experienced Implementation Lead to join our dedicated 4-person team developing and launching a new fintech platform serving higher education institutions. This is a foundational role responsible for designing and executing client onboarding processes that will replace our existing product offerings. The successful candidate will create net-new implementation frameworks while managing the complex migration of existing clients to our new platform.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES :

Design and standardize onboarding methodology, project templates, timeline estimation models, milestone frameworks, and best practices for higher education institutions.

Develop change management strategies and maintain an implementation documentation library.

Lead client migration strategies, including discovery, complexity assessments, and transition planning.

Coordinate with technical teams on data migration to ensure minimal disruption during academic periods.

Manage client communications and expectations throughout implementation and migration.

Establish and refine project management frameworks, tools, and risk assessment protocols.

Create escalation procedures, issue resolution workflows, and provide progress reporting to stakeholders.

Monitor implementation timelines, milestones, and resource allocation for efficiency and success.

Collaborate with product, support, and technical resources to ensure feasibility, smooth handoffs, and client success.

Partner with stakeholders and leadership to integrate feedback, influence go-to-market strategy, and drive continuous improvement.

Salary for this role is : $115,000

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, Project Management, or related field

EXPERIENCE :

5+ years of ERP and / or SIS implementation or project management experience (higher education systems preferred)

3+ years working with higher education institutions (colleges, universities)

Project management methodology certification required (PMP, Agile, or similar)

Experience with software implementations, preferably in fintech or edtech

Familiarity with data migration and system integration concepts

Experience with project management tools, process documentation, and workflow design

Proven track record managing complex, multi-stakeholder projects

Previous experience with financial aid, student billing, or payment processing systems preferred

Background in higher education administration or consulting preferred

Experience with enterprise software implementations at educational institutions preferred

Knowledge of student information systems (Banner, PeopleSoft, Workday Student) preferred

Familiarity with higher education regulatory environment preferred

COMPETENCIES – SKILLS / KNOWLEDGE / ABILITIES :

Exceptional communication and presentation abilities

Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities

Ability to manage multiple concurrent implementations

Change management and stakeholder influence skills

Customer-focused mindset with relationship-building expertise

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.

You may know Nelnet as the nation’s largest student loan servicer – but we do more than that. A lot more. We’re also a professional services company, consumer loan originator and servicer, payment processor, renewable energy innovator, and K-12 and higher education expert (and that’s just a shortlist). For over 40 years, we’ve been serving our customers, associates, and communities to make dreams possible.

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