Senior Content Acquisition Manager

Coursera was founded in 2012 by Stanford professors Andrew Ng and Daphne Koller to make world-class learning accessible to everyone, everywhere. Today, over 190 million learners and 375+ university and industry partners use our platform to gain skills in fields like AI, data science, technology, and business. As a Delaware public benefit corporation and Certified B Corp, we’re driven by the belief that learning can transform lives through learning.

At Coursera, we’re looking for inventors, innovators, and lifelong learners ready to shape the future of education. You’ll help build global programs and tools that power online learning for millions turning bold ideas into real impact. People who thrive here are customer-first builders who move fast, simplify ruthlessly, and iterate relentlessly on the metrics that matter.

We’re a globally distributed team and let you choose the best way you work, whether it’s from home, a Coursera hub, or a co-working space near you. Our virtual hiring and onboarding make it easy to join us and start making an impact from anywhere. If you’re ready to make a global impact, scale unique products exclusive to Coursera, and expand your career horizons, apply below.

The Senior Content Acquisition Manager will source, develop, and successfully transition Industry and University partnerships that align with Coursera's core academic and content strategy. Under the Strategic Partnerships umbrella, the prime focus will be identifying potential Industry and University partners across the EMEA and APAC regions, analysing academic landscape trends, and conducting targeted outreach. Once viable partnerships are identified, they will be responsible for lead generation, negotiations, proposal development, and ensuring a seamless transition to the account management team. Reporting and feedback management, along with pipeline management, will be critical elements of this role’s responsibility. They will have a keen grasp of the academic landscape, a knack for relationship building, and a commitment to Coursera's mission of expanding access to world-class learning opportunities.

Ideal Candidate Profile:

• Experience: Demonstrated ability in higher education and/or joint venture partnerships, with a strong sales background.
• Background: Roles such as Senior Manager, Associate Director, Regional Manager, Business Development Manager or Director or similar, ideally from commercial academia or related fields.
• Passionate about education and the positive impact access has globally.
• Adaptable to strategic changes, ability to balance executive presence with administrative tasks and maintain a proactive attitude in a dynamic environment.
• Experience working with senior level executives across sectors, particularly within the Higher Education space and Industry leaders.

Responsibilities:

• Source high-demand catalogs of content by closely following the strategic plan and content strategy targets, ensuring alignment with Coursera’s goals and market needs.
• Identify and research leading Universities and Industry-leading organisations that align with Coursera’s strategy to form high-impact partnerships.
• Curate GTM strategic plans, managing them through creation, sign off and execution.
• Analyse the academic and industry landscapes to spot emerging trends, disciplines, and institutions that could significantly enhance Coursera’s content offerings, providing strategic insights to inform decision-making.
• Manage executive level relationships across new and current partners to influence their content production roadmaps.
• Develop and execute comprehensive outreach strategies to engage potential partners, crafting compelling value propositions that align with their goals and Coursera’s mission.
• Generate and qualify leads through strategic, data-driven methods, ensuring all potential partnerships meet Coursera’s strategic objectives and high content standards, and lead detailed negotiations to secure mutually beneficial agreements.
• Manage the entire partnership pipeline from initial contact through to final agreement and handover, providing regular detailed reports on progress, challenges, and successes to the Director of Industry and University Partnerships, and ensuring seamless transitions to the account management team for ongoing relationship management.

Basic Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as Business, Education, or a related discipline.
• Experience: Minimum of 5-7 years of experience in higher education partnerships, joint ventures, or a related field.
• Sales Background: Proven track record in a strong sales role, including experience with lead generation, negotiation, and proposal development.
• Analytical Skills: Ability to analyse academic landscapes and identify trends and opportunities.
• Communication Skills: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate value propositions and engage with senior academic and industry leaders.
• Project Management: Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines.
• Travel: Willingness to travel 25-50% as required for partner meetings and industry events.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced Degree: MBA or a relevant Master’s degree.
• Industry Experience: Experience working within or with universities, particularly in roles involving strategic partnerships or content acquisition.
• Leadership: Previous experience in roles such as Senior Manager, Associate Director, Regional Manager, or similar.
• Strategic Thinking: Ability to adapt to changing strategies and balance high-level executive tasks with detailed work.
• Passion for Education: Strong commitment to the mission of expanding access to world-class learning opportunities globally.
• Technical Proficiency: Familiarity with Learning Management Systems (LMS) and other educational technologies.
• Network: Established network within academic and industry circles that could be leveraged for partnership opportunities.