2U, Inc. Lead Strategist Salary in the United States

Summary of Job:

Lead Strategists consult with leadership and key stakeholders from our university partners to help establish program-wide learning design strategies that amplify the partner’s unique identity and effectively deliver excellent student outcomes. This curriculum strategy work lays the foundation for design work at the course level, and ensures a high-quality, consistent, and streamlined learning experience for students throughout their degree.

Lead Strategists are well-versed in the theory and application of learning science and best practices in instructional design. They leverage discipline-specific expertise, and a deep understanding of 2U’s portfolio of programs within disciplines, to make informed strategic recommendations tailored to each partner’s needs.

Lead Strategists manage a team of Course Strategists and Senior Course Strategists who carry out learning design work at the course level. They manage and coordinate the portfolio of work for their team, ensuring alignment with curriculum-level strategies, offering guidance on complex coursework, and providing quality assurance for their strategists’ work products. Their work, by nature, is heavily collaborative with internal partners across Curriculum & Learning and 2U.

As managers, Lead Strategists participate actively in recruiting efforts, oversee the onboarding of new hires, and guide the professional development of their direct reports. As leaders on the Course Strategy team, they contribute to team-wide strategic initiatives, decision-making, and planning; and they represent Course Strategy in high-profile cross-functional task forces and initiatives as needed.

Key Role and Responsibilities:

1. Curriculum Strategy: Learning design at the curriculum level that lays the foundation for design at the course level.
1. Research and information synthesis: Collect information on specific partners, degree programs, fields of practice, and best practices in pedagogy and assessment. Analyze and synthesize information to craft initial learning design recommendations tailored to each partner’s needs.
2. Collaboration with university partners: Guide program leaders and key faculty through an inquiry-based discovery and design process to better understand the partner’s needs. Establish pedagogical, assessment, and digital delivery strategies that will most effectively deliver outcomes and amplify the partner’s values.
3. Internal coordination and communication: Collaborate with other teams in and out of Curriculum & Learning to gather and share information, and coordinate interactions with the partner. Generate artifacts and deliverables that serve as critical reference guides for stakeholders. Communicate strategies and design recommendations to strategists for implementation in course-level design. Monitor and guide strategists’ work to maintain a holistic view of learning design across the degree’s curriculum.
2. Leadership and Strategic Initiatives: Contribute to decision-making and problem-solving on team-wide issues, and to establishing team-wide best practices and standards. Independently project-manage key strategic initiatives, and represent Course Strategy in cross-functional task forces as needed.
3. Work Management: Monitor and manage workload and assignments for direct reports. Ensure quality, consistency, and adherence to curriculum strategy. Collaborate with other managers across Curriculum & Learning to resolve escalated issues.
4. People Management: Manage and mentor Course Strategists to meet performance and development objectives. Problem-solve course design issues, and provide regular feedback, support, and guidance on individual work.
5. Recruiting and Onboarding: Contribute to team-wide recruiting efforts. Oversee training for new hires, delegating to Senior Course Strategists and Course Strategists as necessary. Lead key onboarding sessions and offer feedback on trainee performance in shadow assignments. Evaluate and update training materials periodically.

Education and Experience:

• 7+ years of directly relevant or transferable professional experience
• Experience with program-level curriculum design or educational strategy, and course-level learning design strongly preferred
• Experience with hybrid or online education, learning management systems, and a range of digital tools and technologies (including the appropriate pedagogical applications of each)
• Knowledge in the theory and application of the science of learning, instruction, and assessment -- with a focus on hybrid or online pedagogy
• An understanding of the higher education ecosystem
• Experience managing personnel and leading a team
• Experience leading persuasive and responsive high-level meetings, presentations, and workshops with high-profile clients
• Direct experience working with faculty or school leadership, preferably to deliver some form of academic product
• Demonstrated experience thinking strategically, anticipating needs, and taking proactive steps to address challenges and opportunities
• Exemplary verbal and written communication skills, and sophisticated interpersonal skills, including empathy, negotiation and persuasion, active listening and responsiveness, and diplomacy

Working Conditions

• Frequent computer-based meetings required
• Occasional travel may be required
• Occasional evening and weekend work may be required in peak seasons

Management Responsibilities

Lead Strategists manage Course Strategists and Senior Course Strategists. 

About 2U Inc. (NASDAQ: TWOU)

Eliminating the back row in higher education is not just a metaphor–it’s our mission. For more than a decade, 2U, Inc., a global leader in education technology, has been a trusted partner and brand steward of great universities. We build, deliver, and support more than 250 digital and in-person educational offerings, including graduate degrees, professional certificates, Trilogy-powered boot camps, and GetSmarter short courses. Together with our partners, 2U has positively transformed the lives of more than 150,000 students and lifelong learners. To learn more, visit 2U.com. #NoBackRow

2U Diversity and Inclusion Statement

At 2U, we are committed to creating and sustaining a culture that embodies diverse walks of life, ideas, genders, ages, races, cultures, sexual orientations, abilities and other unique qualities of our employees. We strive to offer a workplace where every employee feels empowered by the ways in which we are different, as well as the ways in which we are the same. 

Why It’s Great to Work at 2U

2U offers a high-energy work environment that’s both challenging and fun. We work hard, but our offices are casual and social places. We wear jeans to work and fuel brainstorming sessions with snacks and seltzer. 

Benefits

2U offers a comprehensive benefits package:

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Life insurance, disability and 401(k)
• Unlimited snacks and drinks
• Tuition reimbursement program
• Generous paid leave policies including unlimited PTO for your vacation, personal, or sick days
• Additional time off benefits include:
• time off to volunteer for non-profit organizations
• parental leave after 9 months of employment
• holidays that include a winter break from Christmas through New Year and more!

Note: 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, 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, pay and dismissal.