Title: Program Recognition Lead 

Department: Office of Strategy, Planning, and Learning 

Reporting to: Senior Director, Strategy, Planning, and Learning

Compensation: $185K - $195K USD

Location: Remote - USA ( Candidates based in the US only)

 

Who We Are:

World Education Services (WES) is a non-profit social enterprise that supports the educational, economic, and social inclusion of immigrants, refugees, and international students. For 50 years, WES has set the standard for international academic credential evaluation, supporting millions of people as they seek to achieve their academic and professional goals. Through decades of experience as a leader in global education, WES has developed a wide range of tools to pursue social impact at scale. From evaluating academic credentials to shaping policy, designing programs, and providing philanthropic funding, we partner with a diverse set of organizations, leaders, and networks to uplift individuals and drive systems change. Together with its partners, WES enables people to learn, work, and thrive in new places. For more information about WES, please visit our website at www.WES.org.  

 

About the Opportunity:

This role will lead, manage, scale and evolve new business offerings as part of the WES strategic plan.  The incumbent will utilize their skills in strategic thought-leadership, problem-solving, and product vision to develop products and management frameworks. This position will ensure that WES is effectively serving its customers in new ways and generate revenue sources to continue its mission. This role will manage a small team to fulfil the work required.

 

What You'll Do:

• Lead development and execution of a multi-year strategy to evolve the product opportunity and business model for WES Program Recognition.  

• Steer initiatives across product, engineering, and partner teams – both with and without influence - to ensure the best product solution for our customers and WES.  

• Define a differentiated business strategy positioning based on an understanding of the market including potential competitors, substitutes, and technology trends.  

• Take an MVP (minimum viable product) strategy to validate hypotheses for opportunities in the business models and applications for WES Program Recognition.  

• Assess business and technology trade-offs, find creative solutions, and define product and delivery objectives.  

• Manage product P&L and budget.   

• Continuously develop a deep understanding and empathy for WES Program Recognition current customers and potential new product users. Driving growth to 200 programs by the end of year one.  

• Lead development and execution of a data-informed product roadmap of new and improved product features.  

• Define pricing structures, licensing, and distribution mechanisms.  

• Experience leading and managing a small team of direct reports (4-5) and cross-functional team resources to achieve goals.  

• Collaborate with cross-functional resources to build and execute product launch and go-to market strategy. Including defining relevant content, value propositions for typical use cases, distribution on applicable channels, and defining product line sales targets as well as countermeasures to address shortfalls.  

• Communicate regularly with business unit leaders and other key business stakeholders to ensure overall product roadmaps align with strategic imperatives.  

• Maintain a strong industry focus and support the assessment of external products to complement and drive product life cycles from ideation through delivery.  

• Other duties as the product evolves.  

 

Your Experience:

Required 

• Strong leadership experience in product, product management, strategy or operations, developing business objectives and driving towards business goals.
• Leadership and Product management experience in the education services industry or higher education industry is a plus, with an ability to drive business objectives through product development and a history of people management leading teams of product managers. 
• Experience leading cross-functional teams and shared people resources.
• History of developing strong partnerships across large organizations in a highly collaborative environment that values challenging the status quo.
• Excellent communication skills with an ability to build compelling and successful strategic and development plans that resonate with stakeholders.
• Proven ability to grasp technical concepts quickly and identify key optimization opportunities, with a history of close collaboration with software engineering organizations to deliver against a shared vision and strategy.
• Data minded with an ability to drive product development roadmaps based on factual data driven conclusions.
• A passion for people leadership with a strong focus on colleague development and creating a collaborative and inclusive culture.
• Strong communication skills; sense of urgency; strong customer empathy; adaptive to change; continuous improvement mentality; self-starter. 
• Proven ability to build and execute product roadmaps and implementation plans.
• Bachelor’s degree, MBA preferred.

Desired 

• An understanding and commitment to the WES mission to ensure that the education, skills and talents of international student immigrants, and refugees are recognized. Knowledge of the WES evaluation methodology is a plus.
• Solid experience leading the launch of successful products and features on multiple platforms.
• A strong track record of delivering products while meeting or exceeding revenue, margin, and delivery commitments. 

 

What We Offer:

Joining our team at WES means embarking on a purpose-driven career with a global impact, where you contribute daily to making a tangible difference in the lives of people worldwide. You'll thrive in an employee-centric environment, with access to learning opportunities, pathways for personal and professional development, and recognition of your achievements. Our inclusive, mission-driven culture values employees and focuses on investing in our people through our culture, people framework, and programming while offering the flexibility of remote work options.

• Work-Life Harmony: We believe that success is all about maintaining balance. Enjoy the freedom of remote work and flexible scheduling, paired with generous time-off policies designed to assist you in maintaining a healthy equilibrium between your personal and professional commitments. Our comprehensive wellness programs and work environment are focused on fostering your well-being.
• Rewards and Recognition: Your dedication and achievements are the cornerstone of our success. We recognize the importance of valuing your hard work which is why we offer competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and tangible rewards to celebrate your contributions.
• Professional Growth and Development: We are committed to nurturing growth within our team, recognizing that growth is essential to providing opportunities for career advancement and ongoing professional development. To prioritize your learning and success, we invest in comprehensive training programs and offer tuition reimbursement opportunities. We promote a culture of continuous learning that empowers you to thrive and evolve in your career.
• Innovation and Impact: Engage in work that directly transforms lives and empowers individuals and communities by expanding access to global educational and professional pathways. Join us in fostering a culture that values innovation, embraces new approaches, and leverages transformation to implement and drive impactful change.
• Community and Connection: Our team is made up of individuals from different cultures and backgrounds who have varying perspectives and ideas. Our diverse workforce reflects the global community we serve, and we take pride in it. We are committed to fostering a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and included. Experience the power of connection by participating in a range of activities, including employee-led resource groups, town halls, collaborative team events, meaningful volunteer opportunities, and initiatives that promote equity, celebrate diversity, and cultivate a strong sense of belonging within our organization. 

 

Values: 

• Opportunity - We open doors so people can build better futures.
• Inclusion - We become stronger, more creative, and more resilient when we embrace diversity.
• Equity - We uphold fairness and justice in our work and actions.
• Enterprising - We are resourceful, inventive, and driven.

 

Inclusive Recruitment Process:

We welcome all applicants, irrespective of their experience perfectly fitting the job description, as we value diverse and innovative viewpoints. At our organization, individuals who thrive in a culture of continuous learning and inclusive teamwork excel. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible work environment where everyone feels valued, respected, and supported and welcome members of all backgrounds and perspectives to apply.

 

Our Commitment:

World Education Services is committed to fostering an inclusive workplace that reflects the rich tapestry of our communities, both in the US and Canada. This commitment is underscored by our unwavering dedication to providing equal opportunities to all qualified individuals, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or genetics. This commitment extends to every aspect of employment, from recruitment and hiring to promotions, training, and benefits. We comply with all applicable federal, state, and local anti-discrimination laws. For us, diversity goes beyond compliance – it's about embracing unique perspectives and cultivating an environment where everyone feels valued and empowered to reach their full potential. 

If you require assistance and/or accommodation at any point during the recruitment process, please contact us at hiring@wes.org, we're here to support you. Our Talent Acquisition team is happy to work with you to find solutions that meet your needs.

For more information about WES, please visit our website at www.WES.org