Senior Academic Manager

At 2U, we are all in on purpose. We are motivated by our mission – to make learning limitless– and connected by our shared passion to deliver world-class higher education at scale. As the parent company of edX, a leading online learning platform, 2U powers thousands of  higher education offerings – from free courses to full degrees. Together with our college, university, and corporate partners, we are helping accelerate careers and transform lives. 

What We’re Looking For:

As a Senior Academic Manager, you will be responsible for leading and developing a team of Academic Managers, Lead Academic Managers, and Head Managing Instructors. Your primary focus will be ensuring the overall success of your direct reports' portfolios, which encompass a wide range of products, programmes and educators. This includes driving process improvement initiatives, overseeing performance management for your team, and fostering a culture of excellence and continuous development. 

As a trusted collaborator to 2U’s partner institutions, the Senior Academic Manager provides support to Academic Managers, Lead Academic Managers, and Head Managing Instructors/Lead Instructors in managing escalations. You tackle problem solving from a global perspective, ensuring enhancement to the educator experience across markets and products and allowing your team to focus on individual educator support. You will play a critical role in shaping and executing the academic management strategy and function, collaborating closely with cross-functional 2U teams and partner institutions to ensure high-quality course delivery and an exceptional educator and learner experience. 

What Skills are Aligned to this Role?

• Strategic Leadership: Ability to set vision, drive strategic initiatives, and align team efforts with broader organisational goals.
• People Leadership & Development: Demonstrated ability to manage, mentor, coach, and develop a team of managers, individual contributors and full-time instructors.
• Process Optimisation: Strong aptitude for identifying inefficiencies, designing, and implementing scalable process improvements, and the ability to calculate, plan, and manage capacity within a team of individuals.
• Performance Management: Expertise in setting performance expectations, providing constructive feedback, and managing team performance effectively.
• Relationship Management: Exceptional ability to build and maintain strong relationships with internal stakeholders, partner institutions, and a diverse team, with talent in influencing others toward outcomes through sophisticated relationship management.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Proficiency in analysing complex data to inform strategic decisions, identify trends, and evaluate team and portfolio performance.
• Change Management: Ability to lead teams through organisational changes and adapt strategies in a dynamic environment, ensuring the team is adaptable to fluctuating task situations and demands.
• Advanced Communication: Superior written and verbal communication skills for influencing and disseminating information across various levels of the organisation.
• Risk Mitigation: Proactive identification and strategic management of academic and operational risks within team portfolios, providing support, solutions, and making decisions around effective risk management issues.
• Cultural Acumen: Demonstrated ability to operate effectively and inclusively within diverse global contexts, fostering good working relationships with colleagues to ensure teams operate as a well-oiled machine.

Responsibilities Include, But Are Not Limited To:

Team Leadership & Performance Management

• Lead and develop a team of full-time Academic Managers, Lead Academic Managers, and Head Managing Instructors.
• Conduct regular 1:1 meetings, performance reviews, and provide ongoing coaching and feedback to foster professional growth.
• Oversee the performance management of your direct reports, including goal setting, development plans, and addressing performance gaps.
• Facilitate team meetings to ensure alignment, share best practices, and promote collaborative problem-solving.
• Support the hiring, onboarding, and retention of academic management talent within your team.
• Ensure your team's compliance with internal policies, procedures, and reporting requirements.
• Foster a culture of belonging and inclusion that attracts and retains team members with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and strengths.

Strategic Oversight & Portfolio Success

• Provide strategic oversight and guidance to your team on the overall success of their assigned portfolios of products, programmes and educators.
• Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) related to educator satisfaction, student impact, instructional staffing efficiency, and compliance across your team's collective portfolios.
• Partner with cross-functional leaders to align academic management strategies and resolve escalated issues.
• Guide your team in developing and implementing innovative strategies to enhance educator engagement, retention, and performance within their portfolios.
• Provide structured guidance, support, and oversight to both people managers and individual contributors, ensuring alignment of team performance, individual growth, and deliverable execution with organizational objectives.
• Ensure consistent application of academic management best practices and 2U policies across your team's areas of responsibility.

Process Improvement & Operational Excellence

• Identify opportunities for process improvement and efficiency gains within the academic management function.
• Design, develop, and implement scalable processes and systems to optimise educator management, staffing, and support.
• Collaborate with technology teams to advocate for and implement platform enhancements that benefit academic managers, educators, and learners.
• Lead initiatives to improve data collection, analysis, and reporting for better decision-making within the department.
• Ensure adherence to internal and interdepartmental procedures, fostering a culture of operational excellence.
• Report on daily & weekly, monthly academic management performance and facilitation team engagement metrics and presentation wrap-up performance with a goal to achieve team targets for grading completion and student satisfaction

Stakeholder Collaboration & Strategic Partnerships 

• Represent the Academic Management team in strategic discussions with senior leadership stakeholders and partner institutions.
• Collaborate with HR, Legal teams and Lead Academic Managers on complex educator relations or compliance matters.
• Contribute to the development of departmental goals, objectives, and long-term strategic plans.
• Act as a key liaison for significant escalations related to educator performance or portfolio challenges.

Things That Should Be In Your Background:

• At least 5+ years of progressive work experience in academic management, educational leadership, or a related field.
• Proven track record of success in leading, coaching, and developing high-performing teams.
• Extensive experience in process improvement and implementing operational efficiencies.
• Demonstrated ability to drive strategic initiatives and achieve measurable outcomes.
• Strong understanding of adult learning principles and effective teaching practices.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate effectively at all organisational levels.
• Proficiency in relevant academic management platforms and data analysis tools.

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 millions of learners and counting with access to world-class higher education, then join us – and do work that makes a difference.

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

• 2 complimentary Getsmarter short courses per year
• Subsidised medical aid with Discovery Health Medical Scheme
• 4% 2U contribution towards Discovery Life Pension Fund and Group Risk Benefit
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Generous leave policy including time off to volunteer for non-profit organization, study leave, sports leave and a company-wide festive season break

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

2U partners with the world's top universities and companies to develop and deliver education programs that accelerate careers and transform lives. Through partnerships with the world’s leading colleges, universities, and companies, 2U delivers thousands of online programs to millions of learners worldwide on edX, its global learning platform. From executive education and professional credentialing to master’s degree programs and free, open courses, 2U transforms how top institutions deliver workforce-aligned online education, enabling professionals to advance without pausing their careers. Learn more at 2U.com.

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.