Senior Manager, Business Intelligence

At 2U, we are all in on purpose. We are motivated by our mission – to make learning limitless– and connected by our shared passion to deliver world-class higher education at scale. As the parent company of edX, a leading online learning platform, 2U powers thousands of  higher education offerings – from free courses to full degrees. Together with our college, university, and corporate partners, we are helping accelerate careers and transform lives. 

What We’re Looking For:

This senior leadership role functions as a strategic head of Business Intelligence, establishing the foundational data strategy, governance, and architecture necessary for mission-critical reporting and advanced data modeling. 

The Senior Manager is tasked with translating complex business questions into robust, scalable data solutions, providing actionable, high-impact data-driven insights critical for achieving organizational goals and informing C-level operational and strategic decisions.  This role manages a global team of 8-10 BI Developers, and significantly influences project strategy and direction across multiple business functions and/or product lines.   This role also acts as the product owner for our BI tools (primarily Tableau and Sigma), responsible for creating best practices, supporting a robust user community, and fiscal responsibility of the vendor contracts.

Responsibilities Include, But Are Not Limited To:

The responsibilities are structured to reflect the core pillars of a BI Functional Leader: Strategy & Governance, Technical Excellence, Team Leadership, and Business Partnership.

• Strategy & Data Governance
  • Define and execute the BI roadmap and long-term vision in collaboration with Data Engineering and business stakeholders, focusing on scalability and future-proofing.
  • Establish and enforce data governance standards, quality assurance procedures, and documentation practices to ensure data reliability, integrity, and security across all BI assets.
  • Provide input in the design, development, and governance of the canonical analytical data models (using tools like dbt), focusing on creating a robust, optimized, and business-friendly semantic layer for consumption by all BI tools and analysts.
  • Oversee data quality checks specifically at the reporting layer, ensuring that metrics and dimensions displayed in dashboards are accurate, consistent, and documented for business users.
  • Stay abreast of emerging technologies and best practices in BI, Data Science, and Analytics Engineering to proactively introduce innovative tools and methodologies that enhance team productivity and analytical capability.
• BI Development & Data Visualization Excellence
  • Executive Dashboard Design: Guide the team in designing and developing high-impact, user-centric dashboards and dynamic data visualizations (Tableau) that adhere to best practices in data storytelling and information design, ensuring clarity and driving clear calls-to-action for executive and operational stakeholders that clearly communicate findings, drive strategic discussions, and enable informed decision-making.
  • Visualization and Reporting Architecture: Drive the end-to-end reporting strategy and architecture, ensuring the BI platform (Tableau Cloud/Server) is structured for optimal performance, security, and user self-service.
  • Technical Escalation: Serve as the technical expert and escalation point for complex visualization challenges, BI tool performance tuning, and advanced SQL query optimization within the reporting environment.
• Team Management & Mentorship
  • Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing global team of BI Developers, focusing on technical skill-building, career growth, and adherence to high standards of quality.
  • Effectively manage project delivery using Agile methodologies, overseeing team dynamics, prioritizing backlogs, and ensuring timely, high-quality execution of deliverables in partnership with Scrum Masters and Business Analysts
  • Foster a culture of data curiosity, accountability, and continuous improvement, setting clear performance expectations and providing constructive feedback.
  • Communicate the company vision with clarity and enthusiasm, ensuring the team understands how their work directly contributes to organizational success.
• Business Partnership & Influence
  • Act as a trusted strategic partner to executive leadership and cross-functional stakeholders (e.g., Marketing, Finance, Product), anticipating their analytical needs and offering sound, data-backed guidance.
  • Translate complex technical concepts and data findings into accessible, business-focused narratives and recommendations that influence strategic decision-making.
  • Proactively leverage deep business and domain knowledge to identify, prioritize, and initiate analytical projects that maximize business performance and ROI.

Things That Should Be In Your Background:

• Advanced Educational/Professional Experience: Strong background in a heavily quantitative, analytical, or computer science discipline (Master's degree preferred).  8+ years of progressive professional experience in a data analytics or technical space. 
• Leadership Experience: Minimum of 3+ years experience leading and managing Business Intelligence Developers, including people management, project prioritization, and stakeholder influence.  
• Expert BI/Analytics Toolkit: Expert proficiency in advanced SQL, modern data modeling practices (dbt preferred), and version control systems (Git/GitHub)
• Visualization Mastery: Expertise with an industry-leading reporting and data visualization tool (Tableau Cloud/Server preferred), capable of building scalable, complex dashboards and governing the platform's usage.  
• Cloud Data Platform Experience: Experience working with cloud-based data warehouses (e.g., Snowflake, Google BigQuery, Redshift) and developing robust data pipelines using modern ETL/ELT tools and APIs.

Other Attributes That Will Help You In This Role:

• Programming Proficiency: Advanced proficiency in a scripting language (e.g., Python or R) for data manipulation, statistical analysis, and pipeline enhancement, emphasizing effective application of best coding principles is strongly preferred.
• Strategic Problem Solver: Takes ownership, anticipates new systemic problems, and develops long-term solutions and frameworks, serving as a mentor for effective problem-solving across the team.
• Executive Communication & Influence: Demonstrates strong executive presence, confidently conveys opinions, strategically influences senior stakeholders, and facilitates constructive, data-focused discussions.
• Change Agent & Resilience: Leads by example in managing change, setting expectations for timing and quality, delegating decisions appropriately, and ensuring the team maintains focus and quality under pressure.
• Trusted Partner: Consistently builds and maintains key stakeholder relationships, is perceived as a trusted, objective partner for data integrity and strategic guidance, and navigates challenging cross-functional relationships effectively.

Working Conditions:

This is a full-time position, and hours and days of work are within legal requirements. However, irregular work schedules may occasionally be required to accommodate meetings across different time zones. International Travel may also be requested.

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 millions of learners and counting with access to world-class higher education, then join us – and do work that makes a difference.

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: [email protected]. 

About 2U

2U partners with the world's top universities and companies to develop and deliver education programs that accelerate careers and transform lives. Through partnerships with the world’s leading colleges, universities, and companies, 2U delivers thousands of online programs to millions of learners worldwide on edX, its global learning platform. From executive education and professional credentialing to master’s degree programs and free, open courses, 2U transforms how top institutions deliver workforce-aligned online education, enabling professionals to advance without pausing their careers. Learn more at 2U.com.

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.