Program Associate Jobs in Stoughton, WI (NOW HIRING)

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.

This position lives in the Nelnet Diversified Services (NDS) Program Office, within IT Process Governance & Atlassian Products.
At hire, this role owns the technical health and governance of NDS's Atlassian Cloud ecosystem - Jira, Confluence, permissions, automation, and platform configuration. This is not a help desk role; the right candidate is comfortable making architectural decisions and troubleshooting at a system level.
This role is designed to grow. Within the first 30 days, you will begin absorbing the broader IT Program Administrator scope - change management, CMMI process documentation, SDLC process governance. Candidates who already have experience in these areas are welcome, but it's 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 $100,000-$120,000, depending on experience.

Atlassian Cloud Platform Administration - Core Function at Hire

• Administer NDS's Atlassian Cloud platform (Jira, Confluence) at a system health and governance level.

• Write and maintain scripts (Python and/or Groovy/ScriptRunner) and advanced Jira Automation rules to support platform workflows.

• Evaluate and develop cloud-native automation solutions (Jira Automation, Forge, REST API integrations) as legacy ScriptRunner capabilities are assessed and transitioned.

• Partner closely with development teams and leadership to support active products and ensure adherence to standards.

• Perform value stream mapping for processes owned within NDS IT, with a focus on streamlining Atlassian-supported workflows and eliminating waste.

• Mentor other Atlassian administrators toward cloud platform competency, and build knowledge transfer materials to reduce single-person dependencies.

IT Program Administration - Growth Begins Within 30 Days

• Support and facilitate change management activities associated with process, tool, and governance changes across NDS IT.

• Ensure users have access to the training they need on Program Office tools - facilitating and coordinating training resources, not necessarily delivering it directly.

• 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.

Education

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.

Required Experience

• 2+ years of Jira and Confluence administration experience at a system health.

• Demonstrated experience with Atlassian Cloud (not exclusively data center).

• Scripting experience: Python and/or Groovy (ScriptRunner); willingness to learn Forge.

• Ability to read and write advanced Jira Automation rules.

• Experience with SSO and identity integration (SAML, SCIM, Okta, Azure AD, or equivalent).

• Experience designing and implementing workflows, dashboards, and Kanban or Scrum boards.

• Familiarity with the full software development lifecycle (SDLC), including Agile or other iterative methodologies.

• Hands-on experience with AI tools used in a professional setting, with a genuine willingness to deepen that fluency.

• Proven experience collaborating across multiple functional areas to achieve shared business objectives.

• Experience working in a team-based, collaborative environment.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).

• Ability to create and interpret analytical reports and performance metrics.

Preferred Experience

• Experience with AI tools such as Rovo or Claude Code.

• Exposure to AI governance, agentic systems, or AI-specific SDLC requirements.

• Experience with large-scale change management initiatives; change management certification (Prosci, CCMP, or equivalent).

• Knowledge of compliance frameworks such as NIST and CMMI.

• Experience creating and utilizing performance metrics for individuals or teams.

• Experience with Power BI for reporting and dashboard development.

• Familiarity with process improvement techniques such as value stream mapping or other Lean methodologies.

• Atlassian certification at the cloud administrator level or equivalent.

• Experience supporting a data center-to-cloud migration.

Skills & Competencies

• AI-first mindset - defaults to evaluating whether AI tools can solve a problem before reaching for manual or legacy approaches.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to communicate effectively across all organizational levels.

• Excellent interpersonal, consensus-building, and analytical skills.

• Ability to work effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

• Highly self-motivated and proactive, with a strong sense of ownership.

• Comfortable operating in ambiguous or rapidly changing environments.

• Quick learner with the ability to adapt to new roles, tools, and functions.

• Strong organizational skills with a commitment to follow-through.

• Ability to work successfully in a virtual and geographically distributed team.

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 orcorporaterecruiting@nelnet.net.

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