Lead Academic Program Manager (Department Chair), WGU School of Technology

About the role

The Lead Academic Program Manager at WGU is responsible for overseeing the development and continuous improvement of IT degree programs. This role involves conducting market research, defining product roadmaps, leading cross-functional teams, and ensuring strong student outcomes and labor market relevance.

Responsibilities

• Conduct market research, competitive analysis, skills and competency definitions, segmentation analysis, and positioning.
• Define the product roadmap for one or more academic programs.
• Lead cross-functional work with subject matter experts, the program development team, and the broader organization to build degree programs that deliver strong student outcomes and labor market relevance.
• Track KPIs including applicants, enrollment, progress, retention, key financial metrics, and alignment with employer needs.
• Align cross-functional stakeholders on priorities, decisions, and execution.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in a business or technical field, or a bachelor's degree plus 7 years of directly relevant experience.
• 4+ years in product management, product marketing, program or operations management, or a customer-facing role with accountability for measurable business outcomes.
• A Master's degree is preferred, but a bachelor's degree with 7 years of relevant experience may be considered.