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Salary: USD 230,000 - 260,000 / annual
Stepful is a workforce platform training healthcare workers for America's largest health systems. Since 2021, Stepful has trained over 32,000 practice-ready healthcare workers and partners with half of the top 10 US health systems. The company is backed by Y Combinator, Reach Capital, and AlleyCorp, with a recent $55M Series C led by Oak HC/FT, and was named the #1 EdTech company in the U.S. by TIME for 2025.
As VP, Operations (Degree Programs), you will lead the Strategy and Operations function for all degree programs—Nursing, Imaging, and Respiratory—housed under Stepful College. Degree programs face unique challenges: greater regulation, longer timelines, and higher clinical-site requirements than certificate programs. You will own the operating model that enables scaling these programs without compromising outcome quality, student satisfaction, or compliance.
You will lead strategy, organizational design, budget allocation, and contribute directly to Stepful's growth. You'll manage a layered team of Operations Directors and Clinical Leaders, setting direction, standards, and operating rhythm while enabling them to drive their own initiatives independently.
Key responsibilities include: leading and evolving Stepful College's operating model (currently organized by Schools: Nursing, Imaging, and Respiratory); setting strategy to deliver degree programs at highest quality at scale; owning the department budget and resource allocation across schools and geographies; designing organizational structure as it grows, including leadership layers and senior hires; leading Operations and Clinical Leaders with clear performance expectations and accountability; partnering with Learning, Product, Legal, Growth, and Workforce Solutions teams; and driving AI adoption across schools.
This role reports to the SVP, Operations, and is hybrid in NYC with regular travel to campuses and clinical sites.
REQUIREMENTS:
- 12+ years of experience, including 5+ years leading multi-layered organizations (managers of managers) in operations or program leadership
- Track record of owning a department or business unit, including strategy, budget, and org design, and scaling it through significant growth
- Experience leading regulated, licensure-track education programs (such as nursing or allied health), including direct work with state boards and accreditors
- Proven ability to drive workflows across multiple domains and build operating systems enabling leader independence
- Executive communication skills: clear, concise writing and ability to align executives, regulators, faculty, and employer partners
- Highly analytical, data-driven approach to diagnosing problems and making decisions
- Comfort leading in fast-paced, ambiguous environments with willingness to get into details when needed
- Genuine curiosity about AI and habit of experimenting with it to improve team workflows
BONUS: high-growth startup or venture-backed healthcare/EdTech experience; clinical background (RN or registered radiologic technologist); multi-state/multi-campus operations or campus launch/school integration experience; advanced degree (MBA, MSN, EdD).
