Director, SEO

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. What We’re Looking For: 2U is seeking an experienced Director of SEO and Organic Growth to lead our organic digital strategy across a diverse portfolio of websites. The ideal candidate will be instrumental in optimizing our digital presence for both lead generation and e-commerce, aiming to drive revenue through a meticulously crafted content strategy. Your leadership will be pivotal in steering cross-functional teams, including product and engineering, towards shared organic growth goals. You’ll be responsible for managing a team responsible for filling a funnel that generates hundreds of students for our university partners. Responsibilities Include, But Are Not Limited To: Craft and execute innovative SEO strategies tailored for organic growth across a variety of websites, with a focus on enhancing lead generation and maximizing e-commerce potential. Drive forward a customer journey-oriented content strategy designed to bolster revenue growth. Cultivate and guide a team of SEO experts, setting clear objectives aligned with organizational goals, and fostering professional development. Work seamlessly with product and engineering leaders to align SEO initiatives with broader product strategies and influence their priorities. Provide comprehensive analysis of key performance indicators such as traffic, engagement, and conversion, using these insights to refine and advance SEO campaigns. Maintain expertise in search engine algorithms and SEO best practices to ensure optimal website performance. Ensure SEO is a core component of all digital marketing efforts by collaborating closely with content, social media, and paid search teams. Oversee partnerships with external SEO agencies and vendors to maximize return on investment in SEO resources. Things That Should Be In Your Background: Bachelor’s degree (in a business, data, or communications related field is a plus);   graduate degree a plus, but not required. 7+ years SEO/Organic search marketing experience. 2+ years of management experience. Strong background in programmatic SEO and experience with a variety of website types, including e-commerce and lead generation platforms. Prior experience in the education sector is a bonus. Familiarity with leading a team with various levels of experience and expertise, and ability to prioritize tasks and manage deadlines in a fast-paced environment. Excellent communication, presentation, and research skills coupled with a strategic mindset conducive to process improvement and business growth. Proven track record of scalable SEO tactics. Successful advocacy for organic search & inbound marketing in your last organization. Deep understanding of: Google Analytics Current data visualization tools, Tableau preferred Brightedge (or similar SEO platform: Conductor, Searchmetrics) Majestic (or similar: Moz, Ahrefs) A web analytics platform (Google Analytics preferred) Google Adwords HTML Search Console Strong attention to detail, love of process-building, and desire to help grow a business unit. Ability to manage stakeholders, at various levels of the organization, and their needs. Understanding of conversion rate optimization (CRO) and user experience techniques. Experience creating client-facing reporting. Experience overseeing partnerships with external SEO agencies and vendors to maximize return on investment in SEO resources. Ability to maintain a fun, casual, professional and productive team atmosphere. Comfortable working with ambiguous concepts and distilling them into sound deliverables. Enthusiasm and the ability to thrive in an atmosphere of constant change. While this position is open to remote candidates across the U.S., we will prioritize those who live in the Washington-Baltimore metropolitan area and who are available to come into our Headquarters in Lanham, MD two days a week. 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, U.S. benefits include:  Medical, dental, and vision coverage Life insurance, disability, and 401(k) employer match Employee stock purchase plan Free snacks and drinks in-office Generous paid holidays and leave policies, including unlimited PTO Additional time off benefits include: volunteer days, parental leave, and a company-wide winter break The anticipated base salary range for this role is ($120,000 -$170,000), with potential bonus eligibility.  Salary offers are made based on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, budget for the position and cost of labor in the market in which the candidate will be hired. 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 Inc. (NASDAQ: TWOU) 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. About edX edX is the education movement for restless learners and a leading global online learning platform from 2U, Inc. (Nasdaq: TWOU). Together with the majority of the world’s top-ranked universities and industry-leading companies, we bring our community of over 45 million learners world-class education to support them at every stage of their lives and careers, from free courses to full degrees. And we're not stopping there — we're relentlessly pursuing our vision of a world where every learner can access education to unlock their potential, without the barriers of cost or location. Learn more at edX.org. 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. 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.