Compensation Manager, HR​/Recruitment

Overview

At 2U, we are all in on purpose. We are motivated by our mission – to make learning limitless – and connected by our shared passion to deliver world-class higher education  the parent company of edX, a leading online learning platform, 2U powers thousands of higher education offerings – from free courses to full degrees. Together with our college, university, and corporate partners, we are helping accelerate careers and transform lives.

What We’re Looking For: The Compensation Manager leads the design and delivery of 2U’s compensation programs, ensuring market competitiveness, internal equity, and alignment with business strategy. This role partners with HR and business leaders to guide job evaluations, pay decisions, incentive programs, and retention strategies, and plays a key role in the annual global compensation review process. The Compensation Manager provides data-driven insights and recommendations to senior leadership while ensuring compliance with company policies and applicable regulations.

As a member of the Compensation leadership team, this role helps shape the organization’s overall compensation strategy to align with our corporate culture, values, and compensation philosophy in ways that are scalable to accommodate future growth.

• The Compensation Manager ensures that pay structures and incentive plans are aligned with Company philosophy to attract, retain and engage top talent.
• Oversee and maintain components of the compensation framework, such as job architecture, salary structures, etc.
• Lead the annual compensation review process and compensation planning process for merit, bonus, and promotion with program design, system preparation, testing, training, budget reporting, communications and analytical support.
• Conduct job evaluations and market reviews plus make recommendations that are equitable and competitive.
• Participation in relevant compensation surveys and maintain survey data in the compensation evaluation software.
• Serve as a strategic compensation partner to senior leadership, HR leaders, and the business, acting as a subject matter expert to ensure alignment on compensation practices, programs, policies, budget, and strategy.
• Partner with the Communications and Learning & Development teams to create and distribute effective materials that enhance the understanding and value of the compensation programs.
• Ensure compliance with SOX, internal policies, global and local labor laws.
• Develop and lead training for managers and the broader HR Team on compensation concepts and processes.
• Manage Pay Equity analysis, FLSA determination.
• Manage data integrity in the HRIS and compensation systems.
• Train, coach, mentor, and collaborate with global compensation team members.
• Help drive process improvements, including automation initiatives and leveraging AI tools in compensation programs.
• Manage vendors for compensation systems.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics, HR, or other related field of studies
• A minimum of 6+ years of experience in an HR leadership and Compensation role.
• Experience managing and/or supporting annual merit and bonus cycles in a complex, global organization
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to analyze market data and make informed decisions.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to work with individuals at all levels.
• Sound judgement and confidentiality.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and proactive in identifying and solving challenges
• Experience in Workday and Payfactors a plus

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 millions of learners and counting with access to world-class higher education, then join us – and do work that makes a difference.

We offer comprehensive benefits (unique per country) and excellent work/life balance. Full-time, U.S. benefits include:

• Medical, dental, and vision…