Executive Director, Research and Development

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.