Executive Director, Research & Development

College Board – Global Strategy – LATAM Operations

Location: This is a fully remote role (must be based in the US or Puerto Rico). Candidates who live near College Board offices in New York City, Reston, VA and Puerto Rico have the option of being fully remote or hybrid (Tuesday and Wednesday in office)  
Type: This is a Full-time position 
Travel: Quarterly travel to Puerto Rico LATAM HQ; up to 25% travel to various strategic locations in the Latin American Region. 

About the Team  

The Latin America Office at the College Board is dedicated to expanding educational opportunities and improving student outcomes across the region. We are driven by our mission to support educational excellence through high-quality assessments.  We develop, validate, and maintain assessments used throughout Latin America. We ensure our work is fair, reliable, and aligned with the diverse needs of students and educators. Our responsibilities include item development, test form assembly, psychometric analysis, and ongoing research to enhance our programs. We also contribute to academic knowledge through published studies that inform decision-making.  We collaborate closely with educational institutions, consultants, and independent contractors across Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Panama, Guatemala, Honduras, and other countries in the region. Together, we work to strengthen learning outcomes and support student success.  

About the Opportunity   

As Executive Director, Research and Development, you will lead efforts to modernize and strengthen our assessment programs and research initiatives across Latin America. You will partner with institutions, policymakers, and other stakeholders to advance academic excellence through innovation, responsible use of AI, and sound assessment practices.  This role requires vision and leadership in driving digital transformation, ensuring the integrity of our assessments, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. You will oversee research, psychometrics, and test design while developing tools and strategies that make our programs more accessible, relevant, and impactful.  

In this role, you will:  

Strategic Leadership & External Engagement (30%) 

• Build and sustain partnerships with educational institutions and decision-makers, promoting our assessments and responsible integration of emerging technologies like generative AI. 
• Serve as the College Board’s academic and innovation leader in the region, representing the organization at conferences, policy forums, and professional events. 
• Support market development efforts by participating in outreach activities that position the College Board as a thought leader in education and technology. 

Innovation & Program Modernization (30%) 

• Lead the transformation of assessments to be digital-first, secure, accessible, and user-centered. 
• Identify and implement GenAI-powered and automation-enhanced tools that improve content development, test delivery, and user experience. 
• Ensure all innovations align with data privacy regulations, fairness principles, and ethical AI practices. 
• Collaborate with technology teams to evaluate digital platforms and implement forward-looking solutions. 

Research & Measurement (25%) 

• Develop a research agenda that supports program adoption, regional alignment, and evidence-based decision-making. 
• Lead psychometric and test development strategies for both paper-based and digital assessments, incorporating AI where appropriate (e.g., automated item generation, adaptive testing). 
• Ensure assessments meet professional standards for validity, reliability, fairness, and accessibility. 
• Oversee all aspects of scoring operations, including training, quality assurance, and process improvement. 

Team & Culture Development (15%) 

• Lead a high-performing team of full-time staff, consultants, and independent contractors. 
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and innovation-ready culture with strong AI literacy and ethical standards. 
• Mentor team members, develop leadership talent, and promote professional growth through continuous learning. 
• Model the College Board’s Operating Principles and uphold management best practices. 

About you, you have:  

• A master’s or doctoral degree in education, psychology, or a related field. 
• At least 10 years of progressively responsible leadership experience in education, testing, or research, ideally with regional exposure in Latin America. 
• A proven track record of digital transformation and responsible AI integration in academic or assessment contexts. 
• Deep experience with education policy, research methodology, standardized testing, instructional design, and college/career readiness metrics. 
• Strong relationships with academic institutions and stakeholders across Latin America. 
• Exceptional communication and public speaking skills in both Spanish and English (native or near-native fluency). 
• A strong ability to lead cross-functional teams and deliver innovative, high-impact solutions. 
• Willingness to travel up to 25% across Latin America and the U.S. 
• Authorization to work in the United States. 

About Our Process   

• Application review will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled   
• While the hiring process may vary, it generally includes resume and application submission, recruiter phone/video screen, hiring manager interview, performance exercise such as live coding, a panel interview, a conversation with leadership and reference checks.    

About Our Benefits and Compensation 

The College Board offers a competitive benefits and compensation program that attracts top talent looking to make a difference in education. As a self-sustaining non-profit, we believe in compensating employees equitably in relation to each other, their qualifications, their impact, and the relevant market.  

The hiring range for a new employee based in Puerto Rico in this position is $126,000 to $139,000

The hiring range for a new employee based in the continental US in this position is $152,000 to $210,000

The College Board differentiates salaries by location so where you live will narrow the portion of this range in which you can expect a salary. Your salary will be carefully determined based on your location, relevant experience, the external labor market, and the pay of College Board employees in similar roles. The College Board strives to provide our best offer up front based on these criteria.  

Your salary is only one part of all that College Board offers, including but not limited to:    

• A comprehensive package designed to support the well-being of employees and their families and promote education. Our robust benefits package includes health, dental, and vision insurance, generous paid time off, paid parental leave, fertility benefits, pet insurance, tuition assistance, retirement benefits, and more 
• Recognition of exceptional performance through annual bonuses, salary growth over time through market increases, and opportunities for merit raises and promotions based on increased scope of responsibility 
• A job that matters, a team that cares, and a place to learn, innovate and thrive 

You can expect to have transparent conversations about benefits and compensation with our recruiters throughout your application process. 

About Our Culture  

Our community matters, and we strive to practice and improve our culture daily. Here are some headlines:  

• We are motivated to positively impact the educational and career trajectories of millions of students a year  
• We prioritize building a diverse and inclusive team where every employee can thrive, and every voice is heard 
• We welcome staff to join any or all six of our affinity groups: ARISE (Alliance for Asian Retention, Inclusion, Success, and Engagement; DIASPORA (Alliance for Pan-African Success and Achievement); Pride (alliance for LGBTQ+ staff and allies); Resilience (alliance for Native staff and advocates); SALSA (Staff Alliance for Latinx Success and Achievement); and WIN (Women’s Impact Network) 
• We value learning and growth; we offer formal and informal ways to lead through your superpowers, sharpen your strengths, and meet your development goals 
• We know that our impact is strongest together. Our College Board Cares program offers all staff up to $1,000 annual match against partner non-profit organizations   
• We offer a transparent approach to promotions and merit raises, annual performance-based bonuses, and how to grow your career here over time 

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