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Job Profile Summary: Lead Academic Program Manager

The Lead Academic Program Manager (LAPM) in WGU’s School of Business serves as the end-to-end program owner, responsible for the full program lifecycle. This includes defining program goals, researching market and student needs, developing curricula in partnership with program directors and subject matter experts, and tracking post-launch outcomes to continuously enhance program relevance, quality, and student success.

Success in this role is measured by the ability to strategically design, launch, deliver, and scale programs that meet diverse student needs and drive completion, strong retention, and return on investment. The Lead Academic Program Manager reports to the Associate Dean and Academic Director.

Core Responsibilities

• Student Success & Continuous Improvement: Has a strong outcomes-based orientation. Persists in accomplishing objectives despite obstacles and setbacks. Has a track record of successfully achieving goals and helping others to succeed. Has a continuous improvement mindset and uses data-driven insights to enhance program quality and impact student success.

• Program Development & Market Relevance: Design and launch competency-based programs that align with market demands. Conduct in-depth analysis to ensure programs stay relevant to both students and industry.
• Strategic Partnerships & Go-to-Market Strategy: Build partnerships and implement strategies to attract students and employer partners, maximizing program reach and student engagement.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Lead through influence, coordinating with teams across WGU’s shared services to achieve program goals.
• Manages Ambiguity: Deals comfortably with the uncertainty of change. Effectively handles risk. Can decide to act without the total picture. Is calm and productive, even when things are up in the air. Deals constructively with problems that do not have clear solutions or outcomes.
• Adaptability & Problem Solving: Thrives in dynamic environments, addressing challenges and driving program outcomes by adapting strategies as needed.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Student-Centered Approach: Demonstrates a deep understanding of student learning needs and the ability to craft innovative curriculum and support strategies.
• Data-Driven Decision-Making: Cultivates a culture of continuous experimentation, learning, and data-informed improvements.
• Leadership & Collaboration: Skilled in guiding and building effective teams across a matrixed organization. Strong communication and relationship-building skills for engaging with diverse internal and external stakeholders.
• Industry Expertise: Insight into current industry trends and the evolving educational landscape, making the LAPM a credible voice in external partnerships and thought leadership opportunities.
• Change Leadership: Drives innovation and embraces change, continuously seeking improvement opportunities.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a Marketing or related area from an accredited institution.
• 4+ years of relevant marketing experience with a strong background in program planning, operations, and student success.

Preferred Qualifications

• Doctorate in a relevant field.
• Experience in higher education or online program development, particularly in fast-paced, evolving environments.

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Ability to lift up to 15 pounds occasionally.

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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:

How to apply: apply online

Full-time Regular Positions (FT classification, standard working hours = 40)

This is a full-time, regular position 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.

The University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.