University of Phoenix

SP100 - VP, Continuing Education

University of Phoenix • $156K — $335K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, education, finance, or related field.
  • Ten years of leadership experience in general management or profit-and-loss management.
  • Five years of experience leading high-performing teams and setting business strategy.
  • Experience with direct-to-consumer or digitally enabled business models.
  • Strong financial acumen in managing P&L statements and investment decisions.

Responsibilities

  • Own the strategy and financial performance of the Continuing Education portfolio.
  • Define and execute the portfolio strategy, identifying new revenue opportunities.
  • Collaborate with Marketing and Enrollment to establish the go-to-market strategy.
  • Lead the sales organization, setting strategy and performance goals.
  • Enhance the digital customer experience from discovery through enrollment.

Benefits

  • Annual bonus and equity awards.
  • Participation in a Deferred Compensation Plan.
  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
  • 401(k) plan with employer match.
  • Tuition discounts for employees and eligible dependents.
Full Job Description
About the Position

Provides strategic leadership and full profit-and-loss accountability for the University's Continuing Education portfolio, which includes continuing education and degree-based single-course offerings. Accountable for setting the portfolio strategy, achieving revenue and profitability goals, and driving overall business performance for the business line. The role works across the institution to align the capabilities, investments, and execution required to deliver accelerated, profitable growth and significant expansion of the portfolio.

What You'll Do

1. Owns the strategy and financial performance of the Continuing Education portfolio, with accountability for revenue, profitability, pricing, operating expenses, forecasting, and investment decisions. Establishes annual and multi-year plans, financial targets, and a disciplined business review cadence.

2. Defines and executes the portfolio strategy for Continuing Education. Identifies new revenue opportunities and determines where to build, buy, partner, scale, reposition, or exit based on market demand, academic standards, differentiation, and expected financial returns.

3. Works closely with Marketing and Enrollment to define the go-to-market strategy for the portfolio, including positioning, priority customer segments, pricing, and demand generation. Works with Marketing and Enrollment to translate that direction into customer acquisition, conversion, retention, and growth plans.

4. Leads and holds accountable the sales organization. Sets sales strategy, performance goals, and operating discipline to drive revenue growth and results.

5. Works closely with the Provost organization to define the portfolio and curriculum priorities based on market demand, learner needs, academic quality, and financial potential. Works with the Provost organization and Curriculum teams to develop, improve, and retire offerings as appropriate.

6. Owns the digital customer and learner experience from discovery through enrollment, engagement, and course completion. Sets priorities for the shopping-cart and other digital experiences and uses data, experimentation, AI-enabled capabilities, and emerging technologies to reduce friction, improve conversion and engagement, and drive growth.

7. Defines the growth strategy across multi channels including direct-to-consumer. Works with Workforce Solutions and other leaders to develop partnerships and distribution opportunities that extend reach and create new revenue.

8. Establishes financial targets, product performance measures, and investment criteria for the portfolio. Reviews business performance regularly with executive leadership. Uses performance insights to make investment decisions and determine when to scale, redesign, reposition, or retire offerings.

9. Aligns cross-functional leaders around shared business outcomes, decision rights, and resource priorities. Resolves competing priorities and holds teams accountable for milestones and results through influence and direct authority.

10. Builds and develops a high-performing, growth-oriented organization. Creates a culture that is customer-focused, analytical, collaborative, and accountable for business and learner outcomes.

11. Select, mentor, coach and evaluate staff; establish and monitor appropriate employee performance objectives; prepare and present employee performance discussions, including one-on-one meetings and quarterly check-ins; implement mentoring and coaching plans, or correction action, where appropriate.

12. Performs other duties as assigned or apparent.

NOTE: The Primary Accountabilities above are intended to describe the general content and requirements of the position and are not intended to be an exhaustive statement of duties. Incumbents may perform all or most of the Primary Accountabilities listed above. Specific goals or responsibilities will be documented in incumbents' performance objectives as outlined by the incumbents' immediate manager.

Supervisory Responsibility

Includes direct supervision of Continuing Education personnel, with indirect leadership of cross-functional teams and business partners supporting the portfolio.

Minimum Education and Related Work Experience
• Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, education, finance, product management, or a related field
• Ten (10) years of progressively responsible leadership experience in general management, profit-and-loss ownership, direct-to-consumer or digitally enabled business growth, sales, or related disciplines, including at least five (5) years leading high-performing teams, setting business strategy, and influencing cross-functional and executive stakeholders; or an equivalent combination of education and experience

Additional Qualifications
• Proven experience scaling a direct-to-consumer or digitally enabled business, with strong understanding of customer acquisition, digital discovery, ecommerce, conversion, and the end-to-end customer journey.
• Demonstrated ability to apply technology, AI-enabled capabilities, and emerging digital tools creatively to improve customer acquisition and experience, solve business problems, and drive growth.
• Demonstrated ability to challenge conventional approaches, develop creative growth solutions, and move with urgency to materially grow a business. Brings a builder's mindset, is comfortable pushing the organization to think differently, and can translate ideas into action and results.
• Collaborative leader with demonstrated ability to build strong relationships, work effectively across teams, and influence senior leaders across Marketing, Academic, Technology, Finance, Operations, and other enterprise functions to align around shared business outcomes.
• Strong strategic judgment and market orientation, with the ability to set clear direction, assess customer needs and market opportunities, make sound tradeoffs, and translate insights into growth strategies and portfolio priorities.
• Demonstrated ownership of a substantial profit and loss statement, including revenue, profitability, forecasting, investment decisions, and delivery of significant business growth.
• Strong financial acumen and demonstrated ability to evaluate business cases, pricing, customer acquisition economics, investment tradeoffs, resource allocation, and return on investment.
• Demonstrated success leading sales organizations, establishing performance expectations, and driving pipeline, forecasting, account growth, and results; experience with school districts, employers, or other institutional buyers preferred.
• Strong executive presence and people leadership, with a record of building high-performing teams, setting clear priorities, and operating effectively with a lean team in a fast-moving environment.
• Experience in online higher education, education technology, professional learning, continuing education, workforce development, or certification strongly preferred

#LI-SM1

Pay Range

The annual pay range for this position is $156,600 (minimum), $245,800 (midpoint), and $335,000 (maximum).*

*Typical hiring range is between the minimum and midpoint of the above pay range. Actual starting base pay may vary based on factors such as education, experience, skills, location and budget. Compensation above the midpoint is generally associated with experienced, long-tenured employees who have demonstrated sustained performance and expertise in the role.

Individuals in this role are eligible for:

  • Annual Bonus Award
  • Annual Equity Award
  • Participation in the Deferred Compensation Plan


Your work is critical to helping adult learners achieve their dreams, and we're committed to rewarding you for your efforts. We offer a competitive, comprehensive total rewards package designed to help you achieve your health, financial, educational and work-life balance goals.

Full-time employees are eligible for:

  • Medical, dental and vision plans; Flexible Spending Accounts; Health Savings Accounts; Life and Disability insurance; and our Wellness incentive program;
  • Competitive 401(k) employer match;
  • Substantial tuition discount for you and eligible dependents; and,
  • A generous time off package, including paid vacation, sick time and company holidays.*

*For more details around paid time off benefits, please click here.

Application Deadline is 10/09/2026.

About University of Phoenix

The University of Phoenix is a for-profit university that offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in a variety of fields, including business, education, healthcare, and technology. The university was founded in 1976 and is headquartered in Tempe, Arizona. The university is known for its online programs, which allow students to complete their coursework from anywhere in the world. The university has faced criticism in recent years for its high tuition costs and low graduation rates, but it remains one of the largest universities in the United States.
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