Enrollment Optimization & Operations Lead

Introduction

University of the People (UoPeople) is the first non-profit, tuition-free, American, accredited, 100% online university. Today, UoPeople has over 170,000 students enrolled from more than 200 countries and territories, including 18,800 students who are refugees. UoPeople is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).

We believe that higher education is a basic human right and that it can transform not only the lives of students, but also their families’ lives, their communities, their nations, and, by extension, the world. See President Reshef’s TED Talk when he announced the founding of the University.

UoPeople is an innovative university, and we welcome team members who bring creativity and innovation to their roles. We’re a fast-paced organization with remote teams all around the globe. If you’re a self-starter who wants to succeed alongside a passionate team, we’d love to hear from you!

UoPeople is supported by the generosity of individuals and foundations, including the Gates, Hewlett, Ford Foundations, Foundation Hoffmann, and others. The University has been covered by The New York Times, BBC, NPR, Times Higher Education, U.S. News & World Report, and many other leading media outlets. President Reshef’s TED Talk and Nas Daily interview about the University have more than 30 million combined views.

General Purpose

The Enrollment Optimization & Operations Lead is responsible for improving the prospective student journey and increasing enrollment conversion through data-driven optimization, structured execution, and cross-functional collaboration.

Reporting to the AVP of Enrollment Operations, this role translates enrollment goals and priorities into structured, measurable initiatives. The Enrollment Optimization & Operations Lead analyzes applicant behavior, identifies conversion barriers, designs targeted interventions, and leads cross-functional projects across Admissions, Marketing, Analytics, Product, Technology, and Operations.

The successful candidate combines strong analytical thinking with hands-on execution and is able to connect data, applicant behavior, communications, processes, and technology to identify opportunities and implement practical improvements.

The role requires a highly organized and execution-oriented professional who can move complex initiatives from idea to implementation, engage the appropriate stakeholders, and measure whether changes deliver meaningful enrollment outcomes.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities

Enrollment Analysis and Optimization

• Analyze the applicant journey, from initial interest and application through enrollment confirmation and the start of studies.

• Identify conversion barriers, drop-off points, technical issues, process inefficiencies, and opportunities for improvement.

• Evaluate performance across applicant segments, academic programs, geographic markets, funding options, and acquisition sources.

• Translate data findings into clear recommendations, priorities, and measurable actions.

Applicant Segmentation and Engagement

• Develop applicant segments based on enrollment stage, behavior, engagement, risk, and conversion potential.

• Design targeted interventions to help prospective students progress through the enrollment journey.

• Partner with Admissions and Marketing teams to implement relevant and personalized communications and outreach.

• Measure intervention effectiveness and continuously improve targeting, messaging, timing, and channel selection.

Project and Process Management

• Translate enrollment goals into structured projects with clear timelines, deliverables, ownership, and success measures.

• Lead cross-functional initiatives from planning through implementation and performance evaluation.

• Identify dependencies and risks, coordinate stakeholders, and provide clear progress updates to leadership.

• Improve enrollment processes while maintaining a positive, accessible, and applicant-centered experience.

Product, Technology, and Performance Measurement

• Translate applicant needs and enrollment challenges into clear business requirements, process flows, and acceptance criteria.

• Coordinate business testing for new tools, features, automations, and process improvements.

• Partner with Product, Technology, and Analytics teams to implement solutions, develop reporting, and monitor performance.

• Evaluate the impact of implemented solutions and present findings, risks, and recommendations to leadership.

Key Competencies

• Analytical & Data-Driven Thinking – Ability to analyze applicant journeys, conversion funnels, behavioral data, and performance trends and translate findings into actionable recommendations.

• Enrollment & Conversion Optimization – Strong understanding of applicant/customer journeys, conversion barriers, segmentation, engagement, and interventions that improve outcomes.

• Execution & Results Orientation – Demonstrated ability to move initiatives from insight and planning through implementation, measurement, and continuous improvement.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration – Ability to work effectively across Admissions, Marketing, Analytics, Product, Technology, and Operations and align stakeholders around shared objectives.

• Project & Process Management – Strong ability to structure complex initiatives, manage timelines and dependencies, coordinate stakeholders, identify risks, and deliver measurable outcomes.

• Problem Solving & Continuous Improvement – Ability to identify process inefficiencies and develop practical, applicant-centered solutions.

• Business & Technology Translation – Ability to translate applicant and business needs into requirements, process flows, acceptance criteria, and technology or automation solutions.

• Communication & Stakeholder Management – Ability to communicate analytical findings, recommendations, risks, and progress clearly to stakeholders and leadership.

• Strategic & Operational Balance – Ability to combine strategic thinking with detailed execution while managing multiple priorities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Data Analytics, Business Analytics, Industrial Engineering, Information Systems, or a related field.

• At least four years of relevant experience in enrollment optimization, growth operations, customer lifecycle management, conversion optimization, or digital operations.

• Strong analytical skills and experience analyzing customer or applicant journeys and conversion funnels.

• Demonstrated experience leading complex, cross-functional projects.

• Experience translating business needs into process or technology requirements.

• Strong project management, communication, problem-solving, and stakeholder-management skills.

• Ability to translate data into clear recommendations and measurable actions.

• Ability to balance strategic thinking with detailed execution and manage multiple priorities.

Preferred Experience

• Min 4 yrs of experience in the current role, experience in higher education, EdTech, digital services, or another high-volume customer journey environment preferred

• Familiarity with CRM, marketing automation, data visualization, or business intelligence platforms.

• Experience working with globally distributed and cross-functional teams.