Senior Director, New Course Design & Development Operations

College Board • New York, NY

5d • $108,000 - $165,000 • Remote

About The Position

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. Through management of a team of Project Managers and an Associate Director, this 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.

Requirements

• 8-10 years of leadership experience in program management, project management, or 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.
• 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.

Nice To Haves

• 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.

Responsibilities

• 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 operational 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.
• 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 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 manage 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.

Benefits

• meaningful career
• supportive team
• comprehensive package designed to help you thrive
• fair and competitive compensation grounded in your qualifications, experience, impact, and the market
• open, transparent conversations about compensation, benefits, and what it’s like to work at College Board throughout your hiring process

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed