VP, Academic Innovation and Strategic Partnerships

Requirements

• Responsibilities Include, But Are Not Limited To:
• Senior Academic Engagement & Relationship Leadership
• Executive University Relations: Build and sustain senior-level relationships with edX partners, engaging Provosts, Deans, and faculty to align institutional goals with the edX platform.
• University Partner Advisory Council Leadership: Lead and facilitate the University Partner Advisory Council for edX, serving as the primary voice for academic collaboration and feedback.
• Senior Support: Act as a high-level advisor and support for the VP, Snr General Manager and the broader edX Partner management team to resolve complex academic or strategic partnership challenges.
• Strategy Alignment: Work closely with the edX Director to ensure that business strategies are fully integrated with the strategic priorities of university partners.
• Academic Innovation & Cross-Product Strategy
• Academic Lead: Serve as the primary academic authority for the edX business line, working within the matrix org overseeing the integrity and innovation of educational offerings.
• Cross-Product Innovation: Drive innovation across EE and Degree business lines, identifying opportunities for cross-functional synergy and product evolution.
• Lead Partnerships Liaison: Act as the primary lead for the edX Director regarding partnership strategy and senior partner management.
• Business Development & Strategic Growth
• New Business Development: Assist in identifying and securing new business opportunities, leveraging academic expertise to build compelling value propositions for potential partners.
• Growth Strategy: Collaborate with the VP, Sr. General Manager to develop long-term growth plans that balance operational targets with academic excellence.
• Matrix Leadership: Coordinate with internal functional heads - including Curriculum & Learning Education, Operations and Tech - to ensure the successful delivery of high-quality, innovative academic content.
• Things That Should Be In Your Background:
• Education: Master's degree required; Doctorate or equivalent academic leadership experience preferred.
• Experience: 15+ years of experience in Higher Education or EdTech, with a proven track record of managing complex university partnerships at an executive level.
• Academic Insight: Deep understanding of academic governance, curriculum innovation, and the evolving digital education landscape.
• Leadership: Demonstrated success in a matrixed environment, with the ability to influence senior internal and external stakeholders without direct authority.
• Other Attributes That Will Help You In This Role:
• Strategic Vision: Ability to synthesize market trends and academic needs into actionable business strategies.
• Relationship Management: Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to navigate complex institutional hierarchies.
• Communication: Reflective and persuasive communication style suitable for engaging both academic and corporate executives.
• Excellent commercial acumen and strategic judgement, particularly within the EdTech or Higher Ed space.
• Strong financial acumen, including financial models.
• Confident decision-making and the ability to lead people to results.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and listening skills, with proven success in go to market roles.
• 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 trans

Benefits

Additional Information

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.

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