Director, Academic Product Operations- SFBUE

SFBUE is building a platform-centric AI-enabled enterprise learning organization designed to support scalable academic and workforce learning opportunities. The organization is early-stage fast-moving and closely connected to San Francisco Bay University while developing its own operating model partnerships and platform capabilities.

Position Overview

Reporting to the Vice President of Strategy & Operations the Director Academic Product Operations leads the academic market segment for SFBUE with an initial focus on higher education and workforce training opportunities. The Director translates academic opportunities into scalable operating models delivery workflows partner coordination and measurable execution across SFBUE SFBU stakeholders faculty and third-party partners. This is an exempt full-time hybrid position based in the Bay Area with regular in-person collaboration expected in Fremont California.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead operational planning and execution for the Academic market segment initially focused on MBA undergraduate and workforce training opportunities.
• Refine and manage the operating model for SFBU/SFBUE Pro and related academic offerings including launch readiness and hyper-care.
• Build repeatable workflows SOPs KPIs dashboards reporting structures ownership models and escalation processes for academic program delivery and learner experience.
• Serve as the primary operating lead across academic platform technical and strategic delivery partners; coordinate timelines deliverables service quality issue resolution and escalations.
• Maintain visibility into partner performance operational dependencies and delivery risks and recommend improvements to partner strategy and internal capabilities.
• Translate academic delivery needs and operational pain points into product requirements platform feedback and roadmap recommendations.
• Coordinate across SFBUE leadership SFBU leadership faculty technical partners and other strategic stakeholders; maintain clear decision tracking and executive visibility.
• Identify operational gaps and implement scalable improvements across people process systems and partner support without introducing unnecessary bureaucracy.
• Support future academic market expansion by creating a repeatable operating infrastructure that can scale beyond the initial Pro implementation.
• Perform other duties as needed.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

This role may lead cross-functional workstreams and oversee vendors contractors or future team members as the academic segment scales. Direct people-management responsibilities may evolve with organizational growth.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelors degree in education business operations technology organizational leadership or a related field or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• 7 years of progressively responsible experience in program operations academic operations product operations EdTech higher education innovation education services delivery or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience building operating models workflows SOPs KPIs and delivery systems in complex or evolving environments.
• Experience managing vendors service providers implementation partners or platform delivery relationships.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex cross-functional initiatives involving senior leaders and multiple stakeholder groups.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to provide concise executive-level updates risk assessments and recommendations.
• Ability to operate effectively in an early-stage environment with ambiguity changing priorities and a high degree of personal ownership.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in higher education workforce learning or enterprise learning environments.
• Experience with learning platforms LMS ecosystems AI-enabled learning tools or education technology products.
• Experience working in AI-native or AI-mediated environments and translating operational needs into product/platform requirements.
• Experience supporting new program or product launches including launch readiness hyper-care stabilization and continuous improvement.
• Familiarity with academic delivery models learner support operations faculty engagement and institutional stakeholder management.
• Masters degree in a relevant field.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities:

• Strong program and operating leadership with the ability to create structure where it does not yet exist.
• Strong partner-management negotiation issue-escalation and relationship-management skills.
• Ability to balance academic quality learner experience operational reliability speed and scalability.
• Executive presence and the ability to communicate effectively with faculty university leaders vendors product/technology teams and external partners.
• Strong analytical judgment prioritization and comfort using KPIs and operating data to drive decisions.
• Demonstrated strong commitment to diversity equity inclusion and social justice.

Salary Range:

The anticipated base salary range for this position is $170000 $195000 annually depending on experience qualifications and scope.

Application Process:

1. For full consideration please submit your completed application a letter of interest describing your experience based on the stated responsibilities your leadership approach a current CV/ resume and the names and contact information of three references.

This position description is not intended to cover or contain a comprehensive list of activities duties or responsibilities required of the employee. Duties responsibilities and activities may change or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

SFBUE is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer: SFBUE is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all employees and applicants for employment. SFBUE does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices based on race color religion sex age national origin disability veteran status sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by law.

In accordance with federal and state disability laws SFBUE provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you require assistance during the application or interview process please contact