Lead General Education Program Manager

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Driven by a mission to expand access to higher education through online, competency-based degree programs, WGU is also committed to being a great place to work for a diverse workforce of student-focused professionals. The university has pioneered a new way to learn in the 21st century, one that has received praise from academic, industry, government, and media leaders. Whatever your role, working for WGU gives you a part to play in helping students graduate, creating a better tomorrow for themselves and their families.

The salary range for this position takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs.

At WGU, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their position, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range is:

Job Description

Job Profile Summary:

The Lead General Education Program Manager plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of General Education at WGU, creating a strong General Education program that supports the university's academic portfolio, drives innovation, and provides students with a world-class General Education experience. This critical role helps WGU advance and adapt to the changing landscape in higher education while supporting workforce alignment and partnerships. This position is a key leadership role within the General Education Academic Innovation team with the responsibility of leading General Education strategic initiatives, program management, and partnership development. With exemplary innovation skills and commitment to excellence, this role collaborates across WGU leadership to drive creative strategies and solutions, creating a meaningful and relevant General Education program that supports the university's Key Results.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• Collaborates with senior leadership to define, develop, and implement a comprehensive vision, strategy, and program outcomes for the General Education program, aligned with the university's mission, values, and objectives.
• Establishes General Education Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), program curriculum, delivery, and service requirements. Provides thought leadership and recommends innovations in learning design and delivery based on data analysis and learning science. Identifies potential General Education products and microcredentials.
• Monitors program effectiveness through regular review and assessment. Develops and implements strategies to measure and enhance the program's impact on student success and workforce readiness. Leads initiatives to improve program efficiency, effectiveness, and student outcomes.
• Ensures compliance with all relevant accreditation standards and regulations. Implements and manages change control processes for the General Education program. Develops and maintains program documentation, including project plans, schedules, and status reports.
• Plans and leads the work of direct reports, including experienced people leaders and individual contributors. Establishes clear performance expectations and delivers results consistent with university goals and department responsibilities. Manages the hiring process for direct reports and ensures team members receive consistent and substantive training. Fosters a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement within the team.
• Represents General Education Academic Innovation to external and internal stakeholders at all levels.
• Partners cross-functionally for the timely execution of new products, processes, and procedures that support the growth of the General Education program.
• Collaborates with internal stakeholders to implement and promote the new General Education brand internally and externally. Strengthens and maintains school partnerships to support General Education implementation.
• Establishes a network of strategic relationships with the Academy, school partners, and external organizations to stay current on new research, strategies, and initiatives. Identifies potential new corporate and institutional partnership opportunities.
• Communicates program goals, progress, and outcomes to various audiences, including executive leadership, faculty, and external partners.

• Maintains professional knowledge of innovative and current practices in the areas of learning science,competency-based education,and online learning throughanalysisof research and participation in conferences.

• Serve as co-lead of the General Education committee.

Knowledge, Skill and Abilities:

• Deep knowledge of how students learn and combining innovative curriculum and student support strategies to drive student success and employability
• Credible voice of the department in external partnerships and presentation opportunities
• Ability to build relationships and influence at all levels, both internally and externally
• Ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams, including those in a remote environment, while demonstrating excellence, integrity, and respect
• Ability to work effectively in a highly matrixed organization
• Lead change in a rapidly changing environment
• Proven ability to analyze data to identify trends and drive innovation
• Strong strategic thinking, problem-solving, and analytic skills
• The ability to identify risks and take action to mitigate those risks
• Strong organizational and demonstrated communication and research skills
• Excellent organizational and project management skills, including the ability to effectively handle multiple tasks and pay attention to detail
• Requires composure under pressure, dealing with ambiguity, and comfort working closely with senior leadership.

Job Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master's degree in related field or disciple
• 4 years of years of relevant professional experience in addition to a master's degree, including 2 years of experience in an educational institution or education technology company
• An equivalent combination of training, experience, credentials, or accomplishments demonstrating the ability to perform the essential functions of this job may substitute education degree requirements.

Preferred Qualifications:

• PhD or terminal degree in a related field or discipline
• Experience in higher education, competency-based education and/or online education
• Experience in developing online education programs and/or developing and scaling rapidly changing organizations/programs
• Experience in developing curriculum and/or high-stakes assessments
• Demonstrated success in change management, and bringing order and structure to complex situations
• Experience in relationship management across a range of internal and external partners

Physical Requirements:

• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times.

Position & Application Details

How to Apply: If interested, an application will need to be submitted online. Internal WGU employees will need to apply through the internal job board in Workday.

Additional Information

Disclaimer: The job posting highlights the most critical responsibilities and requirements of the job. It's not all-inclusive.

Accommodations: Applicants with disabilities who require assistance or accommodation during the application or interview process should contact our Talent Acquisition team at recruiting@wgu.edu.

Equal Employment Opportunity: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any protected characteristic as required by law.