Chief of Staff, Partnerships Strategy & Operations

Position Overview

• Location Type: Onsite (Crystal City, VA)
• Job Type: Full-time
• Salary: Not Specified

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.

Role: Chief of Staff (COS) Strategy & Ops

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 week.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Projects and Planning

• Ensure the correct individuals across the org are engaged and that projects are appropriately prioritized and completed.
• 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; 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 as 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 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).

Requirements

• A bachelor's degree (preferably) in Business, MBA highly preferred.
• A minimum 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

• 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.