Director, Strategic Partnerships Americas

As the Director of Strategic Partnerships at 2U, your main responsibilities will include developing go-to-market strategies with US strategic partners, managing and expanding existing partnerships, and collaborating on joint initiatives. You'll also be accountable for ensuring partner-driven projects are successfully delivered while monitoring performance metrics, which align with our overall company objectives.

The ideal candidate for the Director, Strategic Partnerships position at 2U should have at least 10 years of experience in business development, account management, or partnerships, particularly in a B2B environment. Experience engaging with high-level executives, along with strong operational skills and the ability to multitask, will be essential. Excellent communication and negotiation skills are a must!

In this role, the Director of Strategic Partnerships plays a critical part in furthering 2U's mission to eliminate the back row in education. By building and nurturing strategic partnerships, the Director ensures that we provide world-class learning experiences that empower millions of learners while fostering revenue growth and innovation in our offerings.

To thrive as the Director, Strategic Partnerships at 2U, you should possess strong leadership and interpersonal skills, creativity in developing solutions, and a strategic mindset capable of setting and meeting long-term goals. Your ability to operate cross-functionally will be pivotal in influencing teams to achieve partnership goals effectively.

The work environment for the Director, Strategic Partnerships at 2U is dynamic and collaborative. While the role allows for remote work, candidates in the Washington-Baltimore area will have the opportunity to work from our Arlington headquarters for part of the week. The culture emphasizes flexibility, innovation, and a commitment to transformation in education.

Certainly! When discussing your experience in building strategic partnerships, focus on specific examples that highlight your ability to establish and nurture relationships. Mention the types of partnerships you’ve formed and how they contributed to business growth or enhanced learning opportunities.

Share your techniques for managing multiple partnerships, such as using project management tools or setting clear priorities. Discuss how you ensure that each partnership receives the attention it deserves while achieving both partner objectives and company goals.

Talk about strategies like conducting regular performance reviews, seeking feedback from partners, and identifying areas for growth. Emphasize your proactive approach in collaborating with partners to enhance offerings and jointly create new opportunities.

When discussing a go-to-market strategy, provide a concrete example that illustrates your planning process, collaboration with various departments, and the impact of your strategy on sales and partnership goals. Highlight any metrics that demonstrate your success.

Describe your methods for staying informed about industry trends, such as subscribing to relevant publications, attending industry conferences, and networking. Discuss how this knowledge informs your strategic planning for partnerships.

Talk about specific metrics you would consider, including revenue generated, partner satisfaction, and the impact on company objectives. Sharing a case study of a previous partnership's evaluation can strengthen your answer.

Explain your onboarding process, including initial meetings to align objectives, creating a clear communication plan, and establishing performance metrics. Express your commitment to ensuring that the new partner feels supported from the start.

Highlight the importance of open, transparent, and continuous communication. Discuss how you ensure all parties are aligned and how you handle conflicts or misunderstandings effectively while maintaining strong relationships.

Provide a specific story that details the context, your approach, the tools you used to present your case, and the outcome. Reflect on the skills you utilized to influence decision-makers and highlight your success.

Define a successful partnership in terms of mutual benefits, shared goals, and impactful outcomes. Mention how success would be measured through revenue growth, streamlined processes, and enhanced learner experiences.