Senior Director, People Technology, AI and Analytics

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:

2U is seeking a forward-thinking People Analytics, AI, and People Technology leader to architect and execute a next-generation strategy for how we leverage data, artificial intelligence, and HR technology across the organization. This role leads the People Analytics & Technology team and serves as a strategic thought partner as part of the People Senior Leadership Team. 

In this role, you will drive the design and adoption of an integrated AI-enabled people technology ecosystem - maximizing the value of our platforms, data, and automation capabilities to improve the employee experience, accelerate decision-making, and unlock business performance. You will identify and scale opportunities for applying predictive analytics, machine learning, automation, and advanced people insights to enhance core HR processes and outcomes, including workforce planning, talent acquisition, DEI, employee experience, retention, and organizational health.

You will develop a holistic roadmap for our people technology stack, ensuring systems are optimized and future-ready. You will lead technology-driven transformation projects focused on user experience, cost efficiency, data governance, and system cohesion, while also serving as the strategic integration layer between the People Team, 2U Tech, and our HR technology vendors. This includes translating business needs into technical requirements, aligning SLAs and outcomes, and ensuring effective administration of contracts, spend, and vendor performance.

As the organization’s subject matter expert for People Analytics, AI, and People Tech, you will collaborate deeply with Finance, Tech, and People Team COEs to ensure leaders can access, interpret, and act on insights through scalable self-service tools, dashboards, and advanced analytics products. Your work will empower leadership with data-driven intelligence and predictive capabilities that inform strategic, operational, and talent-related decisions.

Responsibilities Include, But Are Not Limited To:

People Technology Leadership

• Develop and maintain the HR technology strategy and roadmap, ensuring systems, architecture, and integrations are modern, scalable, and aligned to business needs.
• Lead and oversee Workday configuration needed for major enterprise initiatives, including Job Architecture, Pay for Performance, organizational restructuring, and ongoing optimization work.
• Oversee the end-to-end migration of contract workers into Workday, ensuring clean data architecture, sound security design, scalable reporting structures, and a stable long-term operating model.
• Collaboratively assess current and future tech requirements across the People Team; maintain an external awareness of emerging HR tech trends and best practices, implement opportunities to streamline to expand the HR technology landscape, consolidate duplicative systems, and identify gaps in the current tools
• Design and oversee cross-system automation to improve accuracy, reduce manual work, and streamline workflows across platforms such as Greenhouse, Workday, and Pyn.
• Manage the HRIS team and partner with cross-functional tech teams to optimize integrations, execute the roadmap, and deliver against cross-functional Workday needs"
• Manage HR tech vendor relationships and ensure services, SLAs, and integrations meet business needs. Navigate technology contract renewal process, working with procurement, legal, privacy, and business stakeholders to effectively execute or eliminate technology contracts.

People Analytics & Insights Leadership

• Develop a people analytics strategy & roadmap, including shift into predictive analytics, innovation lab, and an action-focused analytics function
• Quantify the success of people team initiatives and identify data-driven challenges that should be prioritized. Partner with key stakeholders to implement data-driven solutions. 
• Oversee the team responsible for producing functional dashboards and delivering the employee listening strategy that support leadership data-driven decision-making.
• Deliver high-quality reporting and analytics covering talent acquisition, attrition, diversity, employee experience, and People Team operational metrics.
• Partner with People team leaders to support strategic workforce planning, including scenario modeling and forecasting.
• Translate data into compelling narratives, visualizations, and insights that clearly articulate business implications - not just numerical outputs.
• Serve as a subject matter expert for the People Team on analytics and measurement strategy, providing guidance, mentorship, and education across the function and serving on the company-wide Data council representing the people team
• Own the Snowflake enterprise data warehouse, partnering with the data platform team to identify opportunities to add data sources, optimize configuration, and troubleshoot challenges.

HR Enablement & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Serve on the People team Senior Leadership team, crafting and executing the broader people team strategy and fostering team culture
• Manage Director, HR Enablement who will drive alignment and collaboration across the People Team to ensure technology, analytics, and process improvements are understood, adopted, and fully activated.
• Oversee training, documentation, and knowledge-sharing forums to ensure HR and managers are equipped to leverage new tools, insights, and capabilities.
• Convene cross-functional groups to drive innovation and elevate the strategic value of data and technology within HR.
• Support Director, HR Enablement with communication and change management efforts for major People Team initiatives, ensuring clarity, adoption, and continuity.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leaders on the intersection of technology, analytics, and people strategy - helping shape a more modern, scalable HR operating model.

Artificial Intelligence & Automation Strategy

• Identify and implement a human-first AI philosophy for the people team
• Identify and evaluate opportunities to embed AI, machine learning, and automation into HR processes to reduce manual workload and improve quality and experience.
• Partner with HR leaders to implement AI-driven solutions, including workflow automation, predictive modeling, conversational tools, and intelligent content delivery.
• Ensure AI adoption aligns with governance, responsible-use principles, and data integrity requirements.
• Measure the impact of AI-enabled enhancements and refine strategies based on usage, adoption, and business outcomes.
• Foster a culture of experimentation, innovation, and continuous improvement across the People Team - encouraging new ideas and bold solutions.

Things That Should Be In Your Background:

• 5+ years’ experience in building and leading high performance analytics organizations in the HR space with experience implementing core HCM and other point technology solutions.
• 10+ years’ experience with data analytics tools, Workday (or other HCM) and data visualization tools such as Tableau.
• Collaborative leadership skills to challenge the status quo and chart an effective technology strategy and roadmap
• Ability to gather and use data to inform decision-making and persuade others. Work effectively in an unstructured environment requiring new perspectives and creative approaches
• Enthusiastic about the opportunity to partner, lead and build new things. Comfort with toggling between managing the day-to-day and envisioning/building the future.
• Desire to automate and deliver self-service tools and dashboards to allow for more sophisticated analyses, complex problem solving and business value
• Strong problem-structuring and problem-solving ability
• Strong Excel and Google Sheets skills
• Proven ability to challenge and motivate a team to foster innovation in an atmosphere of mutual respect

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 ($170,000.00 - $200,000.00), 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: recruitingaccommodations@2u.com. 

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.