Senior Director, New Course Design & Development Operations

Senior Director, New Course Design & Development Operations

College Board   –   AP&I

Location:     This is a remote role. Candidates who live near CB offices have the   option   of being fully remote or hybrid (Tuesday and Wednesday in office) . All CB employees   are required to   occasionally travel to meet in person for business purposes.

Role Type :    This is a full-time position

About the Team

The College Board’s Advanced Placement and Instruction division (300+ staff) develops and administers coursework taken by more than   3 million students   worldwide each school year, and the related subject-matter exams   utilized   by more than 4,000 colleges and universities for course placement and awarding of college credit. These include credit and placement examination programs like CLEP and   ACCUplacer ; Advanced Placement (AP) and Pre-AP courses in 40+ disciplines; and associated teacher professional learning programs.

The Advanced Placement Program is the largest offering in the division’s portfolio, and currently has five departments:   Curriculum and Assessment , which manages the ongoing development and evolution of AP’s courses and exams within the Arts, English, History, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and World Languages;   Production and Delivery , which manages the annual cycle of transactions with schools – from student registration and exam production to exam administration, scoring, and score reporting;   Access , which focuses on expanding availability of AP and Pre-AP courses, participation among traditionally underserved students, and supporting teachers;   Strategy , which measures and evaluates the program’s components and leads the development and implementation of strategic initiatives, and   New Course and Exam Development , which leads the development, launch, and refinement of new AP courses designed to reach students not currently engaged with AP.

About the Opportunity

The Senior Director of New Course Design & Development Operations leads the end-to-end operational management of new AP course and exam development, including project management, Development Committee oversight, and cross-functional coordination across a portfolio of 6-8 new courses in development. T hrough management of a team of Project Managers and an Associate Director, t his role oversees   the project management of   a range of initiatives, including full course and exam development,   scoping of   course resources and supports, professional learning design and delivery, and the development of rubrics and scoring guidelines to support the annual AP Reading. Reporting to the Vice President, New Course Design & Development, the Senior Director provides strategic leadership and operational oversight throughout the multi-year development lifecycle—from defining scope and managing change through implementation, AP Exam administration, and establishment of valid and reliable AP Exam cut scores based on college performance data.

In addition, the Senior Director supports and enables the work of a large cross-functional team of curricular analysts, instructional designers, and assessment specialists working across multiple content domains   by   establishing   and maintaining   the systems, processes, planning structures, and operational supports needed to prioritize and coordinate curriculum and assessment development work across the portfolio. This individual also manages the multi-million-dollar New Course Design & Development budget and serves as a key liaison   serving   on a cross-divisional project management governance group , ensuring clear communication, aligned project governance, and coordinated go-to-market support for each course launch.

In this role, you will

New AP Course and Exam Change Project Management   ( 6 0 %)

• Lead the end-to-end project management of new AP course and exam development initiatives across a portfolio of 6-8 courses, aligning development timelines, priorities, and deliverables with AP Program Enablement, Digital Delivery, and broader AP program roadmaps to ensure successful launch and operational readiness.

• Direct cross-functional planning and execution across AP and College Board teams   on behalf of the New Course Design and Development team to ensure coordinated implementation of all course and exam development activities, changes, and launch milestones.

• Establish and oversee integrated department project management processes, governance structures, and communication plans to manage the full lifecycle of course and exam development, including scope definition, dependency management, risk mitigation, change management, and executive stakeholder reporting.

• Manage the operation al impact of new course and exam development on curriculum, instruction, assessment, professional learning, and AP Reading processes, including rubric development , scoring guidelines, and implementation supports   required   for successful administration and educator adoption.

Department Operations and Budget   ( 20   %)

• Manage the multi-million-dollar New Course Design and Development budget, including financial planning, forecasting, resource allocation, and ongoing budget oversight across the portfolio.

• Develop and   maintain   standardized operational processes, documentation, templates, and tools to support consistent execution of curriculum and assessment work across the department.

• Oversee the organization and maintenance of scalable cloud-based file management systems and operational infrastructure to support efficient cross-functional collaboration and knowledge management.

• Lead capacity planning and operational workload analyses to inform prioritization, staffing decisions, and resource management.

• Provide operational leadership and cross-team coordination for recurring department-wide processes, timelines, and annual cyclical workstreams.

Lead and Manage the   New Course Operations   Team ( 20 %)

• L ead and coach a team of four   team members   responsible for coordinating complex development initiatives across the new course portfolio   and for individual courses , inclusive of   overseeing the contracting and support of course development committees.

• Set vision and priorities for the team, track and man a ge progress to goals, and provide coaching and support to ensure team members meet and exceed goals, remain engaged, and contribute meaningfully to our mission.

• Cultivate an inclusive and high-achieving culture that enables all team members to live out College   Board’s   Operating Principles   effectively.

• Bring proven leadership experience and consistently embody College   Board’s   Manager Expectations   in your work.

About You

• Demonstrated leadership and judgment managing complex, cross-functional initiatives with multiple stakeholders across all levels of an organization.

• Strong strategic planning, program development, and change management capabilities.

• Proven ability to manage multiple   interdependent workstreams while managing timelines, budget, and operational alignment.

• Skilled at identifying risk early and developing thoughtful, practical solutions to mitigate impact.

• Strong facilitation, presentation, and written communication skills, including the ability to lead meetings with senior internal and external partners.

• Willingness to travel domestically approximately 6-8 times annually, with   additional   travel as needed.

• 8-10 years of leadership experience in pro gram   management, project management, o r large-scale operational leadership, preferably within education or assessment environments

• A strategic and inclusive leadership style: you set clear priorities, build effective team structures, plan for future needs, and foster a culture of belonging.

• A proven ability to drive performance and growth: you set   high expectations , deliver real-time, evidence-based feedback, and coach team members to take smart risks, stretch their skills, and achieve meaningful impact.

• High level   of   proficiency   with Smartsheet and Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel and PowerPoint.

• Proficiency   in   leveraging   AI-enabled tools and technologies to improve operational efficiency, project management, analysis, and communication.

All roles at College Board require

• A passion for expanding educational and career opportunities and mission-driven work.

• Curiosity and enthusiasm for emerging technologies, with a willingness to experiment with and adopt new AI-driven solutions and comfort with learning and applying new digital tools independently and proactively.

• Clear and concise communication skills, written and verbal.

• A learner's mindset and a commitment to growth: welcoming diverse perspectives, giving and receiving   timely , respectful feedback, and continuously improving through iterative learning and user input.

• A drive for impact and excellence: solving complex problems, making data-informed decisions, prioritizing what matters most, and continuously improving through learning, user input, and external benchmarking.

• A collaborative and empathetic approach: working across differences, fostering trust, and contributing to a culture of shared success.

• Authorization to work in the United States.

About Our Process

• Application review will begin   immediately   and will continue until the position is filled.   This role is expected to accept applications for a minimum of 5 business days.

• 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 .

What We Offer

At   College   Board, we offer more than a paycheck- we provide a meaningful career, a supportive team, and a comprehensive package designed to help you thrive.   We’re   a self-sustaining nonprofit that believes in fair and competitive compensation grounded in your qualifications, experience, impact, and the market.

A Thoughtful Approach to Compensation

• The hiring range for this role is $ 108,000-$165,000

• Your exact salary will depend on your location, experience, and how your background compares to others in similar roles at the College Board.

• We aim to make our best offer upfront, rooted in fairness, transparency, and market data.

• We adjust salaries by location to ensure fairness, no matter where you live.

You’ll   have open, transparent conversations about compensation, benefits, and what   it’s   like to work at   College   Board throughout your hiring process. Check out   our   careers page   for   more.