Fast Facts

The College Board is seeking an Executive Director, Research and Development for its LATAM Office to lead research initiatives aimed at enhancing educational outcomes across Latin America, with a focus on collaboration, innovation, and academic excellence.

Responsibilities: Key responsibilities include leading R&D strategy, transforming test development processes, collaborating with educational institutions, and engaging in research to maintain high standards in assessments.

Skills: Candidates must have strong leadership experience in education, effective stakeholder management, expertise in educational research and assessment design, and fluent verbal and written communication in both Spanish and English.

Qualifications: A master’s or doctorate degree in a relevant field and at least 10 years of senior-level leadership experience in the education sector are required.

Location: This is a hybrid role requiring on-site work in Puerto Rico every Tuesday and Wednesday, with travel required throughout Latin America and the U.S.

Compensation: $126000 - $150000 / Annually

College Board – Global Strategy & Talent – LATAM Office 

Location: This is a hybrid role and requires the candidate to be on-site at CB offices in Puerto Rico every Tuesday and Wednesday. 

Type: This is a full-time position 

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 committed to following strict test development standards and are driven by our mission to enhance educational opportunities and outcomes. Our team is responsible for developing, validating, and maintaining high-quality assessments that are used across the Latin America region. We work collaboratively to ensure that our assessments are fair, reliable, and valid, and that they meet the diverse needs of students and educators. Our work includes item writing, test form assembly, data analysis, and research to continuously improve our programs. Additionally, our psychometricians and statisticians conduct rigorous analyses to ensure the accuracy and fairness of our assessments, while our researchers explore innovative methodologies and contribute to the academic community through published studies sharing valuable information for decision making. We are passionate about our mission and strive to make a positive impact on education through our rigorous and innovative approaches. We enjoy strong partnerships with local educational institutions, consultants, and independent contractors to drive our mission forward in Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Panama, Guatemala, Honduras, and elsewhere in Latin America. 

About the Opportunity 

As the Executive Director, Research and Development, will lead the strategic direction and execution of research initiatives aimed at enhancing educational outcomes in Latin America. This role will involve collaboration with educational institutions, policymakers, and other stakeholders to drive innovation and evidence-based practices in education. You will also spearhead our academic initiatives, driving the development and management of relationships with both internal and external entities. This role is crucial in shaping the future of our assessments, ensuring they meet the highest standards of quality and relevance. In this academic leadership position, you will collaborate closely with the Vice President of LATAM and the leadership team to set priorities and objectives for the R&D unit. You will lead our research and test design strategy, manage and transform our test development processes, and develop high-quality assessments that advance our mission to propel students towards higher education and career readiness. Additionally, you will engage with academic leaders across the region, establishing College Board’s leadership and subject matter expertise in academic readiness assessment and educational excellence. Your work will include conducting and publishing research to support and defend our claims, further solidifying our position as a trusted authority in the field. 

In this role, you will: 

Academic Leadership & Representation (30%) 

• Represent College Board as the leading expert in academic readiness assessments at trade shows, conferences, and regional events. 
• Establish and maintain our expertise in academic readiness assessments, promoting our mission and educational excellence. 
• Build collaborative relationships with secondary and higher education institutions throughout the Latin America region. 
• Support the market development team in conferences, forums, tutorials, demonstrations, or other external activities to discuss and promote our work. 

Program Transformation & Innovation (30%) 

• Lead the transformation of our programs to be digital-first, ensuring they are easy to take and offer. 
• Enhance the security and relevance of our assessments to meet the evolving needs of our users and customers. 
• Implement innovative solutions to improve the user experience and accessibility of our programs. 
• Collaborate with technology and product teams to develop and integrate digital tools and platforms. 
• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of digital initiatives, making data-driven decisions to continuously improve our offerings. 

Research & Measurement Leadership (20%) 

• Develop and implement a comprehensive research agenda aligned with the College Board's mission and goals in Latin America. 
• Lead the implementation of a research strategy to promote vertical integration, adoption, and intended use of the organization’s assessments. 
• Lead the implementation of a test design and development strategy, including establishing the overall change plan for paper and digital assessments. 
• Assess existing and future needs of the R&D unit, including the creation, revision, or maintenance of testing programs and related services for institutions in the region. 
• Oversee all aspects of scoring, including training, quality control, and continuous improvement initiatives. 

Team Building & Management (20%) 

• Lead a high-performing and specialized team, including full-time employees, independent contractors, and consultants. 
• Provide leadership and mentoring with a focus on developing diverse, high-caliber talent. 
• Manage yourself and the team to operate in accordance with and model the College Board Operating Principles. 

About you, you have: 

• A master’s or doctorate degree in education, psychology, or a related field. 
• At least 10 years of directly related, progressively responsible leadership experience at the senior level in the higher education, public, private, or non-for-profit sectors. 
• Proven ability to build and maintain relationships with high-level stakeholders, particularly at academic institutions in Latin America. 
• Effective networker, capable of representing College Board at industry events and conferences. 
• Experience building collaborative relationships with educational institutions and stakeholders. 
• Significant experience developing strategic proposals for services, supporting business development teams effectively, and managing teams to deliver on expectations. 
• Demonstrable talent in areas related to our work, such as education policy, educational research, standardized testing, instructional design, assessment design and development, technology-enhanced assessments, automated item generation, and experience with college and career readiness indicators in reading, writing, and math required at K-12 and first-year university levels. 
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including excellent oral presentation/public speaking skills in both Spanish and English (native or near-native fluency in both languages). 
• Willingness to travel extensively (up to 25%) throughout Latin America and the U.S. 
• A passion for education and a commitment to the mission of the College Board. 
• You are authorized 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, 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 in this position is $126,000 to $150,000. 

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 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 

#LI-TheAcorn

#LI-Hybrid