Manager Strategic Operations

If youre passionate about building a better future for individuals communities and our countryand youre committed to working hard to play your part in building that futureconsider WGU as the next step in your career.

Driven by a mission to expand access to higher education through online competencybased degree programs WGU is also committed to being a great place to work for a diverse workforce of studentfocused 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:

Pay Range: $73100.00 $120600.00

Job Description

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• Drives operational excellence and efficiencies by leading a team of professionals responsible for leveraging systems and designthinking approaches that improve the quality and program experiences for students and faculty.
• Takes the lead to drive process improvements through root causes analysis and change management plans to reach maximum efficiency.
• Responsible to build crossfunctional teams that drive innovation and improvements through and by collaboration presenting business cases to stakeholders and operationalizing all necessary phases for successful change management.
• Responsible for applying learning science techniques through pilot programs specialty taskforces analyzing data to extract root causes to optimize and develop ongoing strategic innovations.
• Demonstrated ability to work across organizational eco systems to build consensus and consider the needs and interests of various stakeholders contributing to a diverse team across the college and institution.

• Responsible to provide feedback coach mentor and develop direct reports accountablefor assignedprojects and performance expectations.
• Create a positive impact on peers and associates to create a change centric environment while staying focused on student and employee satisfaction.

• Manage and prioritize complex projects that span numerous organizational functions and have nonlinear dependencies.
• Focus on the entire arc of the students experience from prospect to alumni to ensure that the students and faculty friction points are understood and programs are delivered as seamlessly as possible to ensure the greatest opportunity for student and faculty success.
• Must demonstrate strong oral and written communication skills solid organizational skills and sound judgment to move projects forward and increase efficiency
• Other duties may be assigned as the position and business needs evolve.

Knowledge Skill and Abilities:

• Ability to think strategically and tactically with a strong bias for
• Ability to lead build and coach high performing teams within a business and ensure projects initiatives or other work functions are performed successfully
• Demonstrated ability to contribute to and thrive in a collaborative environment and apply a positive team approach to working with colleagues
• Possess strong oral and written communication skills solid organizational skills and sound judgment to move projects forward and increase efficiency
• Ability to increase employee engagement support a positive environment and help remove obstacles for team members
• Knowledge of continuous improvement methodologies
• Ability to apply change management practices to both projects and people
• Aptitude to manage and navigate decisions despite ambiguity
• Knowledge of qualitative and quantitative data analysis
• Ability to market and promote new programs and initiatives focused on CompetencyBased Education.
• Highly knowledgeable in best practices literature and research on the needs of students at postsecondary institutions and have a strong understanding of the unique needs of WGU students including graduate and undergraduate students

Competencies:

Organizational Impact:

• Responsible forimplementing initiativesand projects establishedby university ordepartment leadership;establishes operationalplans for departmentfunction or office withshortterm impact onresults.
• May deliver input intonew processesstandards or plans thatimpact overall university ordepartment results.

Problem Solving & Decision Making:

• Leverages system and designthinking approaches that improve department processes and systems using significant conceptualizing reasoning and interpretational judgement.
• Problems and issuesfaced are numerousdifficult and requiredetailed informationgathering and affectmultiple areas orspecialties. Problemsand issues span a wide range ofchallenging and uniquesituations.

Communication & Influence:

• Collaborates crossfunctionally with partieswithin and outside ofthe department and mayoccasionallycommunicate withexternal parties.
• May influence others toaccept the job areasviews practicesconcepts andapproaches and conduct briefings withleaders within theUniversity ordepartment.

Leadership & Talent Management

• Responsible formanaging a team of professionals overseeing college level initiatives by providing guidancecoaching and training toother employees and stakeholders impacting their work.
• Ensures proper training of team members and actively participates in hiring firing and promotion decisions.
• Provides direction and conducts performance reviews of direct reports.
• Demonstrates the WGUleadership principles inall aspects of service tostudents employees andpartners of WGU.
• Primarily achieves goals through leading a team of professionals

Job Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

• 7 years of related experience with a bachelors degree or 4 years and a masters degree or a Doctorate or Terminal degree with 2 years of experience.
• 3 years leading direct reports.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience successfully applying techniques for project and change management a plus.
• Experience developing delivering and evaluating strategies at postsecondary institutions.
• Experience with successful collaboration across multiple departments and proven ability to produce results to operational improvements that impact the student experience.
• Program/project and change management experience are valuable assets.

Position & Application Details

FullTime Regular Positions (classified as regular and working 40 standard weekly hours): This is a fulltime regular position (classified for 40 standard weekly hours) that is eligible for bonuses; medical dental vision telehealth and mental healthcare; health savings account and flexible spending account; basic and voluntary life insurance; disability coverage; accident critical illness and hospital indemnity supplemental coverages; legal and identity theft coverage; retirement savings plan; wellbeing program; discounted WGU tuition; and flexible paid time off for rest and relaxation with no need for accrual flexible paid sick time with no need for accrual 11 paid holidays and other paid leaves including up to 12 weeks of parental leave.

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. Its not allinclusive.

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

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