Senior Program Manager Product Discovery

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 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

At Western Governors University our mission is to expand access to high-quality affordable education for learners everywhere. As a Senior Program Manager Product Discovery you will play a critical role inidentifyingand shaping new short-term academic programs that meet the evolving needs of learners and employer partners. This role sits at the front end of innovation blending research strategy and cross-functional collaboration to help WGU bring high-impact offerings to market and supportsuccessfulstudentoutcomes.

About WGU Academy

WGU Academy is the platform and service provider of WGUs individual course and certificate offerings. While everyone can succeed in college under the right circumstances WGU recognizes that not everyone who wants to go to WGU is ready to commit to a full course load and a six-month tuition plan. WGU Academy offers courses and certificates that will help studentsto developskills that dramatically increase the likelihood of success in college and career progression. WGU Academy offers students the opportunity to strengthen motivation confidence and academic preparedness while working toward credit on a WGU transcript.

About Academy OnRamps Discovery
OnRamps Discovery helps WGU Academy decide which new courses and certificates to pursue and how to bring them forward responsibly. We combine market research learner and employer insights competitive analysis pricing business cases and cross-functional collaboration and planning toidentifyhigh-value opportunities that will help students toward successful outcomes. We recommend short-term academic offerings that help prepare students for a degree or career align to WGUs mission and move from ideas to launch andevaluationwith a clear strategy.

The Role: Senior Program Manager-Discovery

The Senior Program Manager Discoverymanagesproduct discovery efforts byassessing anddefining demand understanding learner and stakeholder needs and translating insights into clear product strategies and recommendations. The position also manages pre-launch activities partnering closely with academic and operational teams to ensure offerings are compliant market-ready and positioned for strong adoption andsuccessfullearner outcomes. Success is measured byidentifyinghigh-value opportunities and contributing to thelaunchof high-quality programs aligned to institutional goals.

WhatYoullDo

• Lead product discovery efforts including building business cases supported by market sizing competitive analysis demand assessment pricing and strategic insights.
• Design and conduct qualitative and quantitative research in partnership with research teams tounderstand studentand employer needs.
• Manage the academic product roadmap in collaboration with institutional and college stakeholders.
• Drive concept validation and launch planning by engaging cross-functional partners across product design marketing finance enrollment analytics academic and technology teams.
• Use dataand performance insights to evaluate opportunities inform recommendations and support continuous improvement and stakeholder decision-making.

WhatYoullBring

• Bachelors degree or equivalent relevant experience.
• 5 years of experience in program or product discovery roles in higher education withdemonstratedexpertisein discovery strategies.

Bonus Points

• Project management and business intelligence skills

Work Location

• This is a full-time in-office position at WGUs office in Salt Lake City Utah.

What to Expect

At WGU our mission drives everything we doincluding how we hire. Our interview experience is designed to give qualified candidates the opportunity to show their best work through meaningful conversations practical problem-solving and authentic collaboration.

We thoughtfully review every application and invite forward the candidates whose experience and potential best align with the role and our mission. If selectedyoullhear from a recruiter or hiring manager who will guide you through the process and help you know what to expect at each stage. We aim to communicate decisions promptly and respectfully.

Hereswhat that typically looks like:

• Introductory video call (30 minutes):Wellwalk you through who we are at WGU and learn about your relevant experience.
• Hiring manager interview(45minutes)
• Key stakeholder interview(45 minutes)
• Final interview (45minutes)

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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. Its 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

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