Sr. Director, Partner Strategy and Development

At 2U, we are all in on purpose. We are motivated by our mission – to eliminate the back row in education – and connected by our shared passion to deliver world-class digital education at scale. As the parent company of edX, the world’s leading online learning platform, 2U powers more than 4,000 online higher education offerings – from free courses to full degrees. Together with more than 230 colleges, universities, and corporate partners, we are helping to unlock human potential.

What We’re Looking For:

We’re seeking a Sr. Director, Partner Strategy and Development to design, lead, and champion financial strategies that align partner success with 2U’s growth. This is a highly visible role within our Partnerships organization, reporting directly to the Global Head of Growth, Higher Education.
You’ll sit at the intersection of finance, strategy, and partnerships—building innovative financial and growth models, advising university leaders, and ensuring that incentives drive both near-term results and long-term strategic value. If you thrive on blending rigorous financial thinking with creative deal-making and strategy, this role is for you.

Responsibilities Include, But Are Not Limited To:

External

• Develop and refine partner-facing financial models and incentive structures that drive growth and retention across alt-credentials, edX, and degree programs.
• Act as a partner-facing financial expert, engaging directly with university executives—including CFOs and senior administrators—to align budgets, strategies and incentives.

Internal

• Work cross-functionally with Product Marketing, FP&A and Program Management to ensure financial models align with 2U’s strategic and financial goals.
• Demonstrate thought leadership in designing and recommending new and innovative revenue models that anticipate and respond to changes in the higher education and edtech landscape.
• Serve as a strategic partner to the Partnerships team, providing guidance, challenge, and support to maximize the impact of partner deals.
• Bring a sales-first mindset, identifying business opportunities that accelerate growth and working to ensure financial incentives enable deal success.
• Champion and defend critical partner deals internally, providing financial storytelling that makes the business case clear to senior leadership and stakeholders.
• Monitor performance of existing incentive structures, iterating as needed to support both short-term wins and long-term strategic outcomes.
• Maintain a deep understanding of partner needs and market trends, ensuring financial models remain competitive and compelling.

Things That Should Be In Your Background:

• 10+ years of progressive experience in finance, FP&A, or strategic partnerships, ideally with a strong track record in edtech, higher education, or related industries.
• Proven expertise in financial modeling, incentive design, and deal structuring at a senior leadership level.
• Demonstrated ability to influence and collaborate cross-functionally with senior leaders across finance, product, marketing, and operations.
• Strong partner-facing experience, including direct engagement with senior university executives (e.g., CFOs, provosts, presidents).
• A sales-first, growth-oriented mindset, with the ability to spot opportunities and align financial frameworks to unlock them.
• Exceptional storytelling and communication skills, able to translate complex financial structures into clear, compelling narratives for internal and external stakeholders.
• Proven experience in structuring large-scale partnerships or enterprise-level deals.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to balance short-term performance pressures with long-term strategic objectives.
• High comfort level in fast-paced, evolving environments, with a strong bias for action and results.
• MBA, CFA, or other advanced business/finance credentials preferred.

While this position is open to remote candidates across the U.S., we will prioritize those who live in the Washington-Baltimore metropolitan area and who are available to come into our Headquarters in Arlington, VA two days a week.

Benefits & Culture

Our global employee base is a diverse collection of innovators, dreamers, and doers working together to transform lives through higher education. We believe that every employee can advance our shared purpose, and that life at 2U should be fun and meaningful. If you’re excited by the opportunity to provide over 40 million learners and counting with access to world-class online higher education, then join us – and do work that makes a difference. #NoBackRow

We offer comprehensive benefits (unique per country) and excellent work/life balance.
Full-time, U.S.benefits include: 

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Life insurance, disability, and 401(k) employer match
• Free snacks and drinks in-office
• Generous paid holidays and leave policies, including unlimited PTO
• Additional time off benefits include: volunteer days, parental leave, and a company-wide winter break

The anticipated base salary range for this role is ($175,000 - $210,000), with potential bonus eligibility.  Salary offers are made based on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, budget for the position and cost of labor in the market in which the candidate will be hired.

2U Diversity and Inclusion Statement

At 2U, we are committed to building and sustaining a culture of belonging, respect, and inclusion. We are proud of the steps we’ve taken to bring together an employee base that embodies diverse walks of life, ideas, genders, ages, races, cultures, sexual orientations, abilities and other unique qualities. We strive to offer a workplace where every employee feels empowered by what makes us different, as well as by how we are alike. 

2U is committed to providing reasonable accommodations during our recruitment process. If you need assistance or accommodations, please reach out to us at: recruitingaccommodations@2u.com. 

About 2U LLC

For more than a decade, 2U, Inc. has been the digital transformation partner of choice to great non-profit colleges and universities delivering high-quality online education at scale. As the parent company of edX, a leading global online learning platform, 2U provides over 45 million learners with access to world-class education in partnership with more than 230 colleges, universities, and corporations. Our people and technology are powering more than 4,000 digital education offerings — from free courses to full degrees — and helping unlock human potential. To learn more: visit 2U.com.

About edX

edX is the education movement for restless learners and a leading global online learning platform from 2U, LLC. Together with the majority of the world’s top-ranked universities and industry-leading companies, we bring our community of over 45 million learners world-class education to support them at every stage of their lives and careers, from free courses to full degrees. And we're not stopping there — we're relentlessly pursuing our vision of a world where every learner can access education to unlock their potential, without the barriers of cost or location. Learn more at edX.org.

Learn more at https://2u.com/careers/
#NoBackRow

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by individuals assigned to this position, and are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required. All employees may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.

2U is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against applicants or employees and ensures equal employment opportunity for all persons regardless of their race, creed, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, national origin, age, marital status, disability, citizenship, military or veterans’ status, or any other classifications protected by applicable federal, state or local laws. 2U’s equal opportunity policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to recruiting, hiring, training, promotion, job benefits and pay.