Manager, Student Affairs

Sophia Learning is seeking a highly organized, ethically grounded, and operationally rigorous Manager of Student Affairs to lead core student affairs operations within our educational technology environment. This leader will oversee a team of Student Affairs Analysts while designing, improving, and managing scalable end-to-end processes that ensure consistency, fairness, compliance, and an exceptional student experience.
This role is ideal for someone who thrives in ambiguity and transforms complex or unclear situations into structured, repeatable systems. The Manager of Student Affairs will partner cross-functionally with Product, Engineering, Operations, and Support teams to improve workflows, implement preventative academic integrity tools, and operationalize policies across a growing online learning ecosystem.
The ideal candidate combines strong people leadership with exceptional process management capabilities, sound judgment, technical collaboration skills, and a commitment to equitable and ethical decision-making.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

Operational Excellence & Process Management

• Lead and manage end-to-end student affairs operations with a focus on consistency, scalability, operational rigor, and continuous improvement.
• Design, implement, document, and maintain airtight operational systems and workflows that support efficient and compliant student affairs processes.
• Establish operational standards, quality assurance processes, escalation procedures, and service expectations across the function.
• Identify operational inefficiencies and implement structured process improvements to increase effectiveness and reduce risk.
• Create clarity and structure within ambiguous or evolving operational situations by developing repeatable frameworks and standardized procedures.

Academic Integrity & Policy Administration

• Oversee student affairs processes related to academic integrity, student conduct, appeals, and policy enforcement.
• In collaboration with Product and Engineering teams, implement and leverage preventative academic integrity tools, technologies, and monitoring systems to proactively reduce integrity risks.
• Apply policies consistently, ethically, and fairly across complex or nuanced student situations.
• Ensure operational alignment with institutional standards, compliance requirements, and organizational values.
• Recommend policy iteration based on ground truth to push the organization forward in a world of rapidly evolving technology.

Team Leadership & People Management

• Manage, coach, and develop a team of Student Affairs Analysts.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, operational excellence, and continuous learning.
• Support team members in resolving complex student cases and operational challenges.
• Set team goals, monitor performance, and provide ongoing feedback and professional development.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner effectively with Product and Engineering teams to communicate operational needs, define technical specifications, and improve internal systems and tooling.
• Collaborate with Support, Success, Grading Ops, Partnerships and other stakeholders to streamline workflows and enhance the student experience.

Reporting & Continuous Improvement

• Monitor operational metrics and trends to identify risks, process gaps, and opportunities for improvement.
• Develop operational reporting and insights to support decision-making and strategic initiatives.
• Drive initiatives that improve operational efficiency, consistency, and student outcomes.

Job Skills:

Operational & Process Management

• Strong process management and systems-thinking capabilities with the ability to design scalable, repeatable workflows.
• Ability to manage complex operational functions with high levels of accuracy, organization, and accountability.
• Skilled at bringing structure and clarity to ambiguous situations and evolving operational challenges.

Academic Integrity & Ethical Judgment

• Experience implementing and leveraging preventative academic integrity tools and systems.
• Strong ethical standards and sound judgment with the ability to apply policies consistently and fairly across unique student situations.
• Knowledge of academic integrity and student affairs best practices within online learning or higher education environments.

Leadership & Communication

• Demonstrated ability to lead, coach, and develop high-performing teams.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to collaborate across technical and non-technical teams.
• Effective stakeholder management and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Technical & Analytical Skills

• Experience collaborating with Product and Engineering teams on workflow enhancements, operational tooling, and technical requirements.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to use data to inform operational decisions.
• Experience with CRM (Salesforce), case management, workflow automation, or operational support systems preferred.

Work Experience:

Required Experience

• 6-8 years of relevant experience and 2-4 years leadership experience. .

• Experience managing student affairs processes within an educational technology, online learning, or higher education environment.
• Experience overseeing operational workflows related to student support, academic integrity, student conduct, appeals, or related student affairs functions.
• Demonstrated success implementing scalable operational processes and systems.
• Experience implementing or managing preventative academic integrity technologies or tools.
• Experience partnering cross-functionally with Product and Engineering teams on operational or technical initiatives.
• Proven ability to operate effectively in ambiguous environments and develop structured solutions.

Preferred Experience

• Experience working within high-growth EdTech organizations.
• Experience managing operational teams in remote or distributed environments.
• Experience using operational reporting, dashboards, and workflow analytics to drive improvements.
• Experience scaling operational programs or support functions.

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree required

Other:

• Must be able to travel occasionally should a business need arise. For most roles travel would not be common. Travel may involve plane, car or metro. In accordance with ADA policies, reasonable accommodations regarding travel limitations can be provided. Travel will be more common for roles such as Account Executives (25 - 50%), senior leaders (10 – 20%) or Capella Core Faculty (5 – 10%). 
• Ability to work onsite in Corporate or Campus location (in a typical office environment) may be required based on role. If so, this would include being mobile within the office, including movement from floor-to-floor using elevators or stairs.
• If offsite or hybrid role, must have access to work in setting which enables meeting all requirements of the role (including privacy, reliable internet access, phone, ability to video conference, etc.) at a remote location.
• Faculty and Federal Work Study roles require access to work in setting which enables meeting all requirements of the role (including computer, privacy, reliable internet access, phone, ability to video conference, etc.) at a remote location.
• This role may require lifting, however reasonable accommodations will be provided in accordance with our ADA policies.
• Must be able to meet critical thinking and problem solving aspects aligned to job duties, as well as effectively communicating with co-workers.
• Must be able to work more than 40 hours per week when business needs warrant. Accommodations related to schedule may be considered. 
• Able to access information using a computer.
• Other essential functions and marginal job functions are subject to modification.

Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

$75,800-$90,000 is the expected starting pay for this position. This offer is based on current budgetary guidelines and the additional factors outlined below.

#LI-SW1

SEI offers a comprehensive package of benefits to employees scheduled 30 hours or more per week. In addition to medical, dental, vision, life and disability plans, SEI employees may take advantage of well-being incentives, parental leave, paid time off, certain paid holidays, tax saving accounts (FSA, HSA), 401(k) retirement benefit, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, tuition assistance as well as entertainment and retail discounts. Non-exempt employees are eligible for overtime pay, if applicable.

Careers - Our Benefits, Strategic Education, Inc

SEI is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive and collaborative culture where individuals can grow their careers and contribute fully. We strive to attract talent with broad experiences, skills and perspectives. We welcome applications from all. While it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top end of the pay range at SEI, we offer a competitive salary.  The actual base pay offered to the successful candidate may vary depending on multiple factors including, but not limited to, job-related knowledge/skills, experience, business needs, geographical location, and internal pay equity. Our Talent Acquisition Team is ready to discuss your interest in joining SEI. The expected salary range for this position is below.

$75,800.00 - $113,700.00 - Salary

If you require reasonable accommodations to complete our application process, please contact our Human Resources Department at Careers@strategiced.com.