Manager, Central Operations

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 Manager, Central Operations will lead a team and partner with business stakeholders to strengthen the operations of the business. The Manager, Central Operations will focus on scaling processes, developing and maintaining best practices, and drive consolidation of repetitive processes. The Manager will partner with leadership to identify and execute these projects. The Manager, Central Operations is a people manager that will also drive large to extra large projects as part of their own caseload. Key partnerships for the Manager role includes working with VP levels and below across stakeholder groups for projects, with consistent and active involvement from Central Operations leadership. The Manager, Central Operations is accountable for ad hoc and project-based work relevant to their teams, including their own workload, delegating and holding team members accountable to project-level work, and managing performance issues (in consultation with CO leadership). The Manager role is also responsible for shared knowledge and documented resources across the team. 

Central Operations establishes and maintains best practices of business processes. Central Operations supports all student and university partner-facing business teams, across regions, to drive scalable best practices across product lines. Central Operations supports department level strategy by driving efficient and effective cost saving solutions which includes, but is not limited to, implementing or enhancing business processes, identifying opportunities for automation through tool integration, generating reports to support departmental and staff level KPIs, etc. Central Operations collaborates with various tech, product and project teams to drive and maintain scalable best practices across 2U. 

Responsibilities Include, But Are Not Limited To:

• People & Stakeholder Management
  • Hire, manage, coach and provide regular feedback to direct reports.
  • Create a culture of inclusion that attracts and retains candidates with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and strengths.
  • Effectively and independently develop relationships with stakeholders to eliminate resource constraints or conflicts.
  • Effectively establish and communicate expectations and information to stakeholders.
  • Identify escalation points and collaborate efficiently with stakeholders to rapidly resolve issues.
  • Build and establish relationships with multiple functional areas, serve as a resource for the broader team. 
• Project & Task Management
  
  • Identify, plan, manage, and execute projects with a focus on scalability. 
  • Independently lead large and extra large, cross-departmental projects to identify, scope, plan, and execute with a focus on driving increased efficiency across teams.
  • Delegate projects to staff as appropriate, while maintaining ownership and/or accountability over project’s completion, success, timeline, and adherence to budget. 
  • Align work to individual team member’s unique strengths, experiences, and areas of expertise to create a high-functioning team.
  • Use JIRA to manage and analyze requests from a wide variety of stakeholders
  • Monitor, control and manage business operations compliance to standard processes and best practices.
  • Document and maintain records to ensure processes/systems are transparent, transferable and long-term
• Strategic Process Improvement
  
  • With leadership support, identify areas of opportunity; recommend viable solutions to senior leadership to improve processes and drive plans for change.
  • Implement measurable goals for their team.
  • With leadership support, prioritize work activities focused on driving the business forward, envisioning future trends and consequences related to functional responsibility areas.

Things That Should Be In Your Background:

• Minimum of 1-3 years experience providing strategic direction to growing operations with focus on a proactive, forward thinking, scalable approach to creating processes.
• Experience in contracts, operations, or compliance management.
• Demonstrated general understanding of business operations.
• Analytical thinker with great attention to detail.
• A comprehensive understanding of Salesforce is required.
• Advanced Excel skills required and database skills required.
• Demonstrated ability to identify opportunities for improvement and make constructive suggestions for change.
• Great communication and interpersonal skills.
• The ability to communicate difficult/sensitive information in a tactful manner.
• Well-developed sense of discretion regarding access to sensitive information.
• Enthusiasm and the ability to thrive in an environment of constant change.

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, 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: [email protected]. 

About 2U LLC

For more than a decade, 2U, LLC. 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.