Chief of Staff, Partnerships Strategy & 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 Chief of Staff (COS) Strategy & Ops is a highly critical senior leadership role combining strategic planning, project management, and process implementation across a fast-moving business. They will manage strategic projects and operational cadences in support of key business goals related to partner growth, service and satisfaction, in close collaboration with the CPO and other members of the leadership team. This role will be based in our HQ in Crystal City, VA and will require coming into the office at least 2 days a wee

Key responsibilities will include:

Strategic Projects and Planning

The COS will ensure the correct individuals across the org are engaged and that projects are appropriately prioritized and completed. They will also: 

• Partner with the CPO and other functional leaders to support key strategies and operational plans focused on partner growth, service and satisfaction
• Organize strategic planning meetings and operating rhythms across the organization. 
• Coordinate creation of strategic goals, metrics and related tracking
• Proactively identify strategic opportunities to add value, solve problems and address the needs of the business and propose and deliver tangible solutions 
• Provide support and oversight for special projects and initiatives.
• Support CPO on developing internal team cadences, processes and communication, as well other key processes across the organization  
• Generate regular reports and other communications to update executives, department teams, and other internal stakeholders on the progress towards our strategic goals

Meeting Management

• Help structure, prepare for and facilitate recurring meetings for the CPO, including weekly executive team meetings, regular senior leadership team meetings, progress meetings on strategic initiatives, etc. 
• Follow up on initiatives, projects or outstanding items that result from leadership team meetings or events.
• Partner with the CPO and other members of the leadership team to ensure proper reporting and operational dashboards are in place to track and measure progress 

Other

• Work alongside the CPO’s executive assistant and other internal and external stakeholders to ensure appropriate preparation occurs for meetings and events (and that all meetings are necessary and prioritized).

Things That Must Be in Your Background:

• A bachelor's degree (preferably) in Business, MBA highly preferred
• A minimum of of 10 years’ professional work experience, with at least 3 years in a leadership position
• Excellent verbal, written, analytical, organizational and motivational skills
• Experience in project management, communications, and change management
• Experience in development of executive-level briefing, presentations and analysis
• Ability to handle multiple responsibilities and tasks concurrently in a fluid environment
• Ability to independently communicate and report initiative and project status to corporate executives
  
  

Other Attributes That Will Help You in This Role and at 2U:

• Strong work ethic with a “can do” positive attitude
• Strong “EQ” and intuition 
• Highly proactive
• Solid organizational skills with a laser-focused eye for detail
• Impeccable written and oral communication skills
• Poised demeanor when dealing with all stakeholders including CEO, executives, academic leaders, board members
• Flexible and able to multitask, switch priorities as needed within a collaborative environment
• A desire to remain and grow in this role over a number of years

Travel: as needed to support meetings/events

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 transform lives through h