NDS Program Office IT Program Administrator - Cloud Altassian Administrator

Overview

Nelnet’s Diversified Services Program Office (NDS) in IT Process Governance & Atlassian Products seeks a technical leader to own the health and governance of the company’s Atlassian Cloud ecosystem – Jira, Confluence, permissions, automation, and platform configuration. The role will begin with Atlassian platform administration and, within the first 30 days, expand into broader IT Program administration, change management, and process governance.

• Administer NDS Atlassian Cloud platform (Jira, Confluence) at a system‑health and governance level.
• Write and maintain scripts (Python and/or Groovy/Script Runner) and advanced Jira Automation rules to support platform workflows.
• Evaluate and develop cloud‑native automation solutions (Jira Automation, Forge, REST API integrations) as legacy Script Runner capabilities transition.
• 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, focusing 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.
• Support and facilitate change‑management activities associated with process, tool, and governance changes across NDS IT.
• Ensure users receive necessary training on Program Office tools, coordinating resources as needed.
• Document, measure, and improve system and software life cycles to meet business objectives across NDS IT programs.
• Interpret contractual and regulatory documentation (CMMI, NIST, FSA Contract, RFPs) to identify gaps 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 both technical and non‑technical audiences.

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• 2+ years of Jira and Confluence administration experience at a system‑health level.
• Extensive experience with Atlassian Cloud (not limited to data center).
• Proficiency in scripting with Python and/or Groovy (Script Runner); willingness to learn Forge.
• Strong skill in writing and reading advanced Jira Automation rules.
• Experience with SSO and identity integration (SAML, SCIM, Okta, Azure AD, or equivalent).
• Design and implementation of workflows, dashboards, and Kanban or Scrum boards.
• Familiarity with the full software development lifecycle (SDLC) and Agile or other iterative methodologies.
• Hands‑on experience with AI tools used in a professional setting and willingness to deepen that fluency.
• Proven collaboration across multiple functional areas to achieve shared business objectives.
• Experience 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.

• Experience with AI tools such as Rovo or Claude Code.
• Exposure to AI governance, agentic systems, or AI‑specific SDLC requirements.
• 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.
• Power BI for reporting and dashboard development.
• Familiarity with process‑improvement techniques such as value‑stream mapping or other Lean methodologies.
• Atlassian Cloud administrator certification or equivalent.
• Support of a data center‑to‑cloud migration.

• AI‑first mindset – evaluate whether AI tools can solve a problem before resorting to manual or legacy approaches.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with ability to communicate 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…