Sr Director, Product Research

Sr Director, Product Research

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:

The Sr. Director of Product Research will be responsible for designing, researching, and providing strategies to improve revenue across 2U business lines. This individual will serve as a lead on degree research and deep dives. This individual will be responsible for developing insights on customer sentiment and trends in the broader education industry. This individual will also be accountable for measuring the efficacy of strategies tested, building reporting mechanisms to report findings, and ensuring that high value strategies are scaled across the portfolio. This position will require significant collaboration with leadership across the organization.

Key Role and Responsibilities:

Research and Insights: Quantify consumer sentiment with respect to potential opportunities for new programs (pipeline development and opportunities to improve existing programs, (portfolio management), utilizing both primary and secondary research

Ad-Hoc Support: Other needs that arise for product marketing and the larger partnership team, such as being the research representative in external conversations or working on cross-team initiatives like Yield Enhancement

Cross-functional Collaboration: Work closely with Business Intelligence and Data Science to take existing data and turn into meaningful insights to be shared across relevant departments at 2U, such as marketing, GMs, and sales

Operations: Manage efforts involving other employees, outside contractors, or independent market research organizations

Education and Experience:

Basic qualifications include:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience; Master's degree a plus
• At least 7 - 10 years of relevant work experience
• A clear understanding of the higher education landscape
• 7+ years' experience utilizing data and analytics to formulate sound program objectives, solve business problems, and drive business strategy
• Proven ability to work in cross-functional teams, communicate with colleagues in both business and technical roles, and develop trusting relationships at all levels
• Demonstrated organizational skills, and ability to work independently and autonomously

Preferred qualifications include:

• Outstanding tendency and ability to communicate (written, verbal, presentation) with all stakeholders
• Strategic and tactical problem solver including facility with using data and analytics
• Meticulous attention to detail
• Proven ability to influence cross-functional teams without formal authority
• Ability to thrive in an environment of constant change
• Self-starter attitude; ability to self-serve, investigate and get the information needed for the project at hand through to completion
• Ability to thrive in a complex and often ambiguous environment, to build recommendations to team members and management
• Ability to work independently with credibility in a complex and often ambiguous environment, to build rigorous, fact-based that support recommendations to team members and management
• Self-starter attitude; ability to self-serve, investigate and get the information needed for the project at hand

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 three days a week.

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 ($153,000-$183,000), 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.

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.

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.

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.