Sr Director, Paid Search

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 Senior Director, Paid Search will be responsible for 2U’s global paid search teams, strategy and direction across all business lines.  In this role you will be charged with building platform excellence for 2U’s portfolio of products and driving innovation and performance for the channel.  As a growth driver, you will set the agenda for testing, prioritization and the development of new technologies and capabilities that fuel efficiency and growth.  This role is a key leader and decision maker on the global media team, supporting over $130M in annual spend. 

As the leader of a large and distributed global team, you should be confident in setting vision and direction, motivating and influencing on multiple levels.  You will also be responsible for partnering with cross-functional leaders in the organization and owning relationships with platform partners (Google and Microsoft).

Reporting to this leader will be several managers who are leading teams, as well as media experts at an IC level.

Responsibilities Include, But Are Not Limited To:

Platform Strategy

• Own the overall strategy, vision and results for global Paid Search team
• Partner with stakeholders across business lines to execute on goals and roadmap, develop strategies and profitability generate prospects and students 
• Implement and adapt best practices, processes, tools, and technology for paid search channels; including measurement and data capabilities
• Lead team to identify new optimization tests and opportunities for additional investment
• Planning, managing and executing a tactical roadmap 
• Ensure 100% safety of our partners’ brands

Growth and Innovation

• Develop and implement capabilities on a global basis that improve automation, speed to market, efficiency and quality of media performance; that reduce risk; and that better utilize our data 
• Influence and drive partner (ie Google, Microsoft) roadmaps based on 2U’s business and technology needs
• Drive creative and media innovation through testing, strategy and processes that are scalable and measurable across business lines
• Ensure new capabilities are fully deployed with in-house and agency teams 

Develop and Train High Performing Team

• • Direct oversight of US based in-house teams and indirect oversight of Cape Town teams and agency partners
  • Lead a team of managers and ICs; including career planning and development of personnel
  • Hire and retain top talent; structure the team around the needs of the business
  • Own onboarding and training for paid search teams

Things That Should Be In Your Background:

• 8-10+ years of experience in digital marketing, with a strong track record and knowledge of Paid Search platforms
• Proven experience with leading and managing large teams, setting strategy and vision, and enabling growth
• Strong analytical and quantitative skills, including experience working with analytics platforms
• Must have experience in running large budgets for paid channels
• A mindset of optimization and testing, including track record and a strong approach to optimizing, testing new ways of executing and new traffic programs 
• Strong interpersonal and team-building capabilities, ability to develop strong trust-based relationships and manage effectively
• Strong knowledge of digital marketing technologies and new developments in the space

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 Lanham, MD two days a week.

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