Vice President, New Course Design and Development

College Board•New York, NY

11d•$275,000 - $310,000•Remote

About The Position

The Vice President of New Course Design and Development will establish vision and methods for the design, development, and launch of new AP courses intended to extend AP coursework to students not currently engaged by AP’s offerings. Accordingly, this Vice President will develop new AP courses and exams in fields of especial post-secondary relevance for a broader group of high school students than currently participate in AP, designing these courses in ways that maximize relevance, student engagement, and career connections while maintaining alignment with standards for awarding of “advanced placement” and college credit by Higher Ed institutions. As part of this effort, the Vice President will identify, validate, and incorporate innovative assessment models and item types (e.g., simulations, project portfolios) that effectively measure career-essential knowledge and skills that are the focus of these courses. Following the development and launch of these new AP courses and exams, the Vice President will partner with the researchers to evaluate and refine the design of these courses and exams, and will instantiate processes for efficient, streamlined semi-annual course and exam updates in rapidly changing technology and career fields. The initial scope of the New Course Design and Development department is to develop and launch six-to-eight new AP courses in Fall 2028 and Fall 2029, from a current list of possibilities that includes: Introduction to Health Science; Anatomy and Physiology; Marketing and Sales; Digital Media and Design; Engineering; Data Science; Agricultural Science; Advanced Manufacturing. You will directly manage a team of Executive Directors with expertise in instructional design and assessment design, who in turn will lead teams of curricular analysts, instructional designers, assessment specialists, and project managers responsible for building the new courses, exams, and associated instructional resources.

Requirements

15+ years of experience in education, curriculum, or assessment development; experience with career-focused or CTE pathways strongly preferred
Deep understanding of secondary education, including state standards, career pathways, and authentic assessment of knowledge and durable skills
Proven ability to lead complex, high-impact initiatives from concept through execution
Strong analytical and data-driven decision-making skills
Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work across disciplines and influence diverse stakeholders
High attention to detail paired with creativity and problem-solving
Openness to feedback and a commitment to continuous learning
Passion for education and student impact
Willingness to travel 6–12 times per year
Experience building, developing, and retaining high-performing teams
Ability to delegate effectively, empower others, and drive accountability
Strong strategic thinking and planning skills, with the ability to connect near-term work to long-term goals
Skilled at leading through change in fast-paced, high-stakes environments
Demonstrated ability to influence, collaborate, and build relationships across stakeholders
Commitment to inclusive leadership and fostering a culture of belonging
Track record of setting high expectations, coaching others, and driving performance and growth
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

Responsibilities

Lead and Manage the New Course Design and Development Team(50%)
Effectively manage a high-performing, remote team of ~25 curricular researchers, instructional designers, and project managers, ~4 of whom are direct reports, to enable growth and success in accomplishing annual goals.
Set vision and priorities for the team, track and mange 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.
Bring proven leadership experience and consistently embody College Board’s Manager Expectations in your work.
Sit on the College Board’s AP Leadership Team, meeting weekly with the other senior leaders of the Advanced Placement Program, identifying, structuring, and enacting new opportunities to expand AP opportunities to students not yet benefiting from such.
Represent the AP Program in presentations to teachers, professors, administrators, and policymakers, particularly at conferences and events where the focus is on curriculum and instruction.
Partner with the Access department and State and District Partnerships colleagues to observe classrooms testing and implementing new content.
Lead the New Course Design and Development Department through several phases for each new AP course, including (50%):
Analysis: Lead research and option development for new AP courses, evaluating curricular and assessment trade-offs to recommend whether to proceed.
Course Design & Development: Oversee creation of rigorous, nonpartisan course frameworks aligned to college credit standards and designed for broad student engagement and teacher usability.
Exam Design & Development: Guide development of innovative, high-quality assessments and supporting resources, balancing new approaches with operational feasibility and ongoing refinement.
Instructional Resources: Direct rapid prototyping and development of instructional materials that support effective teaching and expand AP’s reach to diverse learners.
Evaluation & Continuous Improvement: Partner across teams to assess impact and continuously improve courses, exams, and instructional supports based on data and feedback.