Senior Director, Data Science

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.

Summary of Job:

The Sr. Director, Data Science will lead a global team responsible for harnessing the power of data science to drive strategic initiatives across the organization. This role is critical in aligning the data science function with business objectives, ensuring optimal use of machine learning/artificial intelligence (ML/AI), experimentation, and other advanced analytics to address key business problems. This position requires deep technical expertise, strategic vision, and proven leadership skills to manage and grow a high-performing global team. The Sr. Director, Data Science will be responsible for building, scaling, productionizing, and optimizing data science initiatives that impact core business functions like marketing, product development, and operations. This is a highly quantitative role that requires elite analytical aptitude, strong programming and engineering skills, strong interpersonal and management skills, and intellectual curiosity. We are looking for someone who has a history of using data science to solve business problems, has extensive experience training and evaluating machine learning models in production, and a proven ability to manage people and grow teams.

Key Role and Responsibilities:

1. Strategic Vision & Business Alignment
   • Work closely with stakeholders across departments, as well as external stakeholders, to integrate data science solutions into business processes and identify opportunities for optimization through AI/ML, experimentation, and advanced analytical products.
   • Maintain direction. Ensure team is aligned at all times on changes associated with business priorities in order to meet performance expectations through tools like product roadmaps, OKRs, etc.
2. Stakeholder Partnership
   • Balance the team’s focus on known business problems and existing solutions with taking risks into new/novel areas, focusing on revenue optimization or cost reduction.
3. Team Leadership and Development
   • Support, mentor, and guide direct and indirect reports.
   • Continuously manage performance and professional development of direct reports through regular 1:1s, ad-hoc feedback, bi-annual performance reviews.
   • Cultivate an inclusive, engaging, and well-defined work environment to retain and attract top talent, growing the team per business needs.
   • Mentor and coach managers in the team to establish their own leadership style, aligning to 2U’s competency guides.
   • Define and implement business processes, procedures, and policies for the data science team, where applicable.
   • Recognize high performance and reward accomplishments.
   • Define and implement strategies to strengthen team engagement and morale.
   • Identify retention strategies with the talent team.
   • Identify and manage future growth of the team as per business needs.
4. System and Product Ownership
   • Oversee the design, development, and deployment of machine learning models and decision engines that address complex business problems.
   • Lead efforts to implement best practices in model training, validation, and performance evaluation across diverse datasets.
   • Collaborate with outside engineering teams to productionize machine learning code, automate workflows, and integrate models into the broader 2U technical ecosystem.
   • Ensure the integrity and accuracy of data science products while driving continuous improvements in efficiency, cost, and long-term impact.
5. Operational Excellence & Innovation
   • Drive the efficient execution of data science initiatives, ensuring alignment with agreed-upon timelines and resourcing plans.
   • Oversee the development of technical processes, including model development, testing, code review, job workflow optimization, and job scheduling.
   • Manage the data science team’s budget, collaborating with global teams to identify cost-saving opportunities and optimize resources.
6. Personal Development
   • Strategic thinking skills
   • Postgraduate studies in management/related

Education and Experience:

• 10+ years’ experience in applying machine learning and advanced analytical techniques in a fast-paced business environment. Experience in marketing and sales optimization is a plus.
• 3+ years in a leadership role in the Data field, with experience managing global, high-performing teams.
• Proven track record in deploying machine learning models in production environments, with experience in Python and/or R, and SQL. Foundation in working in distributed cloud environments and container technologies (i.e. Docker, Kubernetes) to manage workflows.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to simplify complex data and technology concepts to stakeholders at all levels.
• Minimum Engineering / Information Systems / Computer Science / Econometrics degree or related.

Working Conditions

Due to the nature of this role, there will be an expectation to have online meetings from time to time during US hours.

Management Responsibilities

Direct reports:

• Data Science Team

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, ZA benefits include:

• 2 complimentary Getsmarter short courses per year
• Subsidised medical aid with Discovery Health Medical Scheme
• 4% 2U contribution towards Discovery Life Pension Fund and Group Risk Benefit
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Generous leave policy including time off to volunteer for non-profit organization, study leave, sports leave, and a company-wide festive season break

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.

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.