Director – Product and Market Research

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 Director of Product and Market Research will be responsible for designing, researching and providing strategies to improve revenue across 2U business lines. This individual will own the market research function for the business, focusing on the research and analysis of the company's markets, competition, and product mix. This individual will be responsible for conducting primary and secondary research and data analysis to provide insights on customer sentiment and trends in the broader education industry. This individual will also be accountable for measuring the efficacy of marketing and financial strategies tested, building reporting mechanisms to report findings, and ensuring that high value strategies are scaled across the portfolio. This position will require significant collaboration with leadership across the organization.

Responsibilities Include, But Are Not Limited To:

• Conduct Research: Quantify consumer sentiment with respect to potential opportunities for new programs (pipeline development) and opportunities to improve existing programs, (portfolio management), by conducting both primary and secondary research. Monitor industry trends, macro economic environment impacts, and lead the creation of reports to help 2U be a leading voice in higher education. 
• Internal Insights: Lead development of internal research processes for performance of existing programs, learner sentiment and personas of enrolled students as well as lost leads.  Create executive-facing dashboards and standard reporting. Responsible for the design, execution, analysis and reporting of consumer insight projects to drive marketing and enhancement strategies. 
• Cross-functional collaboration: Work closely with Business Intelligence and Data Science to take existing data and turn it into meaningful insights and recommendations for marketing, GMs, and sales. Use these data-backed recommendations to drive policy and strategy change across relevant the organization
• Ad-Hoc Support: Other needs that arise for product marketing and the larger partnership team, such as being the research representative in external conversations or being the product marketing leader on cross-team initiatives like Yield Enhancement
• Operations: Manage efforts involving other employees, outside contractors, or independent market research organizations, including budget responsibility for vendors 

Things That Should Be In Your Background:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience; Master’s degree a plus
• At least 7 - 10 years of relevant work experience
• A clear understanding of the higher education landscape
• 7+ years’ experience utilizing data and analytics to formulate sound program objectives, solve business problems, and drive business strategy
• Proven ability to work in cross-functional teams, communicate with colleagues in both business and technical roles, and develop trusting relationships at all levels
• Demonstrated organizational skills, and ability to work independently and autonomously
• Outstanding tendency and ability to communicate (written, verbal, presentation) with all stakeholders
• Strategic and tactical problem solver including facility with using a variety of survey tools, data and analytics
• Meticulous attention to detail
• Proven ability to influence cross-functional teams without formal authority
• Ability to thrive in an environment of constant change 
• Self-starter attitude; ability to self-serve, investigate and get the information needed for the project at hand through to completion
• Ability to thrive in a complex and often ambiguous environment, to build recommendations to team members and management
• Ability to work independently with credibility in a complex and often ambiguous environment, to build rigorous, fact-bases that support recommendations to team members and management
• Self-starter attitude; ability to self-serve, investigate and get the information needed for the project at hand

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 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, U.S.benefits include: 

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Life insurance, disability, and 401(k) employer match
• Free snacks and drinks in-office
• Generous paid holidays and leave policies, including unlimited PTO
• Additional time off benefits include: volunteer days, parental leave, and a company-wide winter break

The anticipated base salary range for this role is ($126,600 - $152,000), with potential bonus eligibility.  Salary offers are made based on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, budget for the position and cost of labor in the market in which the candidate will be hired.

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, Inc. 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.