Executive Director, Market Insights

The College Board • New York, NY

119d • $160,000 - $225,000 • Remote

About The Position

The Market Insights Research Team at the College Board plays a vital role in understanding the voices of key stakeholders across the education ecosystem. We design and execute quantitative and qualitative research to inform and strengthen College Board programs, including SAT, AP, BigFuture, and emerging products. Our work centers on the lived experiences, perspectives, and needs of students, parents, educators (K-12 and higher ed), administrators, and employers. We use this insight to inform strategic and tactical decisions across the organization, from product development to policy design, and to assess the impact of our work on access and success in education. As Executive Director, Market Insights, you will lead the vision, strategy, and execution of survey and qualitative research at College Board. You will oversee a team with expertise in engaging diverse stakeholder groups across the education and workforce landscape. In this role, you will champion the use of rigorous, actionable research to shape the College Board's products, services, and business decisions, while also advancing thought leadership in the field through publications and presentations. You will be responsible for ensuring the team delivers best-in-class, fit-for-purpose research that is both timely and impactful.

Requirements

• A Ph.D. or master's degree in a relevant field (e.g., social science, education, market research, statistics, behavioral science).
• 10+ years of experience designing, conducting, and leading survey and qualitative research.
• Experience producing peer-reviewed publications or industry white papers/reports.
• A deep understanding of stakeholder and customer insight generation in both consumer and B2B settings, preferably in the education sector.
• Demonstrated success in using research evidence to influence product development, strategy, or policy.
• Exceptional communication skills and a track record of effectively presenting findings to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Experience leading inclusive teams in fast-paced, matrixed environments.
• Experience managing third-party vendors, research partners, and clients.
• Experience with a wide range of survey and analysis tools (e.g., Qualtrics, Alchemer, Sawtooth, SAS, Q) and advanced methods (e.g., conjoints, max-diffs).
• Experience utilizing the latest AI tools for research as well as portfolio and team management.

Nice To Haves

• Comfort navigating ambiguity and a high degree of intellectual curiosity.
• Willingness to travel 3-5 times per year to the New York or Reston offices or other sites as needed.

Responsibilities

• Set and drive the College Board's stakeholder and market research strategy in alignment with enterprise-wide priorities and changes in the education landscape.
• Design and oversee a research portfolio that includes large-scale surveys, tracking surveys, blind surveys, qualitative studies, and mixed-methods research.
• Lead strategic collaboration with the leadership of College Board assessments, programs, and initiatives to ensure that research insights inform innovation.
• Ensure research design meets the highest standards of methodological rigor, ethical responsibility, and data privacy and security considerations.
• Author or co-author research publications, presentations, and briefs that advance both internal knowledge and public understanding of key issues in education.
• Lead, manage, mentor, and develop a highly productive team of 7-10 survey and qualitative researchers.
• Foster a culture of intellectual curiosity, continuous learning, and methodological excellence.
• Partner with senior leaders across College Board to identify emerging insight needs and proactively recommend research approaches.
• Represent Market Insights and the Research division in enterprise-level planning and strategy sessions.
• Act as a trusted advisor on issues related to survey methodology, respondent experience, sampling, and data interpretation.

Benefits

• A meaningful career, a supportive team, and a comprehensive package designed to help you thrive.
• Fair and competitive compensation, grounded in your qualifications, experience, impact, and the market.
• The hiring range for this role is $160,000 - $225,000.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Industry: Educational Services
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree