Job Description

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:
The Technical Operations Manager is a cross-functional role, working across Enterprise Architecture (EA) and Infrastructure + Cybersecurity (INFSEC). They are responsible for orchestrating and optimizing the operations, governance, and analytical capabilities that enable the EA and INFSEC functions to run efficiently and deliver strategic value.
Within EA: this role manages the operating cadence, oversees work intake and prioritization, administers EA governance bodies, maintains technology standards and best practices, and ensures that all EA documentation and knowledge assets are well maintained and aligned to enterprise expectations.
Within INFSEC: this role collaborates with key stakeholders on a regular cadence to ensure alignment with business objectives and priorities, and acts as a conduit between business and technical stakeholders. They assist with tracking of delivery across security and back-office IT teams, coordinate the sharing of roadmaps, and ensure that milestones, risks and dependencies stay visible and on schedule, whilst also preparing clear updates for leadership. They help teams stay organised, aligned and focused on the right outcomes.
Responsibilities Include, But Are Not Limited To:
Operating Model & Governance Support
Combined:

• Exercise sound judgment in stakeholder alignment and expectation-setting across Technology, Product, and Executive groups.
• Apply business analysis skills to ensure requests, requirements, and decisions are well understood, accurately documented, and strategically aligned.

EA:

• Administer and continuously refine the EA work intake and qualification process, including triage, documentation, coordination with requestors, prioritization, and decision tracking.
• Facilitate and support the Enterprise Architecture Council (EAC) operations - agenda development, meeting orchestration, minutes and action logs, and accountability follow-ups.
• Maintain EA governance calendars, approval workflows, and operating rhythms across platforms including Jira and Confluence.

INFSEC:

• Coordinate and maintain a cadence with stakeholders to ensure alignment against objectives and adherence to defined KPIs.

Technology Standards, Best Practices & Documentation
Combined:

• Maintain and evolve design, patterns, reference architectures, and best practices.

EA:

• Own and manage the Technology Standards catalog, ensuring accuracy, version control, and alignment with business and technology roadmaps.
• Keep EA Confluence spaces up to date - content quality, structure, governance, templates, access management, and taxonomy.
• Manage the EA JIRA backlog.
• Manage the EA knowledge repository and ensure alignment with broader organizational IT documentation structures.
• Ensure documentation is consistent, searchable, authoritative, and aligned with EA communication and governance goals.

INFSEC:

• Maintain security and BOIT Technology Standards, working with stakeholders to ensure accuracy, version control, and alignment with business and technology roadmaps.
• Assist in the maintenance of Confluence spaces.

Operational Coordination, Risk Assessment & Analytics
Combined:

• Produce reports and summaries for leadership that articulate findings, risks, and recommendations.

EA:

• Track and report EA KPIs, architecture insights, work intake trends, compliance indicators, and architectural debt areas.
• Collaborate across Engineering, Security, Product, and Privacy/ Compliance teams to ensure EA processes run smoothly and consistently.

INFSEC:

• Track and report KPIs, security and infrastructure insights, event and incident trends, compliance indicators, and security debt areas.
• Track and report on cost reductions across Technology vendors and contracts.
• Consistent representation of Cyber and BOIT roadmaps, risks and initiatives.

Tooling & Platform Administration
EA:

• Partner with IT teams to enhance EA tooling, automate workflows (where appropriate), and improve user experience.
• Maintain EA templates, forms, repositories, and collaboration spaces with a focus on standardization and usability.

Things That Should Be In Your Background:

• 5+ years of experience in technical operations, architecture support, PMO, or technical program/portfolio management roles.
• Bachelor's Degree or higher at an accredited institution.
• Strong understanding of CoE practices, governance, and IT operating models.
• Experience with Confluence, Jira, and Google Workspace.
• Strong business analysis, stakeholder management, negotiation, and communication skills.
• Highly organized, analytical, and capable of managing multiple workstreams with clarity and accuracy.
• Sound judgment in navigating organizational politics, risks, and nuanced decision-making.

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, ZA benefits include:

• 2 complimentary Getsmarter short courses per year
• Subsidised medical aid with Discovery Health Medical Scheme
• 4% 2U contribution towards Discovery Life Pension Fund and Group Risk Benefit
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Generous leave policy including time off to volunteer for non-profit organization, study leave, sports leave and a company-wide festive season break

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: .
About 2U
For more than a decade, 2U 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. 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
#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.
2U is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from South African citizens who are members of designated groups who may contribute to Employment Equity within the workplace and the further diversification of ideas. In this regard, the relevant laws and principles associated with Employment Equity will be considered when appointing potential candidates. We are required by law to verify your ability to work lawfully in South Africa. 2U requires that you submit a copy of either your identity document or your passport and any applicable work permit if you are a foreign national, along with an updated curriculum vitae.

Skills Required