Director, Digital Product Initiatives

About The Team

The Digital Product team at The College Board is at the forefront of evolving our digital assessment experience. As AI transforms education, we are committed to preparing students for the future by ensuring our digital assessments are secure, meaningful, and reflective of the knowledge and skills necessary to thrive in an AI-enabled world.

We are a highly collaborative group of product leaders, strategists, and innovators dedicated to reimagining the delivery and experience of digital assessments. Our work spans the entire product lifecycle, from initial discovery and design to delivery and continuous improvement. We partner extensively across the organization to ensure every solution we build enhances outcomes for students, educators, and institutions.

Annually, our platform facilitates assessments for millions of students globally, offering opportunities that shape futures. We are actively transforming The College Board's trusted assessment platform into a next-generation digital assessment experience that is secure, user-centered, and adaptable to the future of learning and assessment.

About the Opportunity

As the Director, Digital Product Initiatives, you will function as the operational and cultural cornerstone of the Digital Product department. Your role will be critical in driving alignment, accountability, and connection within a growing, high-performing team.

You will collaborate closely with the Vice President of Digital Product and other senior product leaders to translate strategic vision into effective execution, manage key initiatives, and establish robust systems that empower our teams to excel. This position is ideal for a systems-minded operator who thrives in complex environments, excels at bringing clarity to ambiguity, and fosters a culture of high performance and clear purpose. You will be responsible for converting departmental vision into measurable results, ensuring smooth, efficient operations, and strong alignment with our mission and goals.

In this role, you will:

Strategic Planning & Operational Excellence (50%)

• Partner with the VP and leadership team to establish and monitor annual and quarterly objectives and cross-functional initiatives, aligning with The College Board’s digital strategy.
• Lead planning and execution for initiatives across the Digital Product department, ensuring clear alignment and communication of priorities, milestones, and deliverables.
• Develop robust mechanisms for documentation, reporting, and information-sharing to enhance transparency, decision-making, and follow-through.
• Track progress against departmental goals, proactively identifying dependencies, bottlenecks, and risks.
• Create and maintain a centralized hub for team and product information to facilitate efficient collaboration and onboarding.
• Monitor and manage departmental headcount and staffing needs, maintaining visibility into recruiting status and future resource requirements.
• Identify and implement tools and systems that streamline workflows and enhance the department’s operational maturity.

Elevate Communication and Alignment Across Teams (30%)

• Support the VP in fostering consistent communications, meetings, and decision-making rhythms throughout the department.
• Build and optimize structures to ensure leadership meetings are consistent, productive, and promote alignment and clarity.
• Prepare comprehensive materials and updates for department and cross-divisional meetings, including leadership meetings, planning sessions, and retrospectives.
• Establish and maintain shared documentation, dashboards, and reporting tools to provide visibility into department initiatives and performance.
• Continuously improve communication channels and practices, ensuring efficient information flow and timely action based on decisions.
• Ensure seamless coordination between Digital Product and key partners across Technology, Security, Legal, Operations, and Program teams.

Strengthen Culture and Performance (20%)

• Organize in-person and remote meetings, initiatives, and retrospectives that reinforce connection, clarity, and team performance.
• Serve as the liaison with Talent for department-wide programs such as performance management, goal setting, and engagement planning.
• Lead an engagement planning committee that designs and implements initiatives to help teams thrive, build connection, and perform at their highest potential.
• Translate insights from engagement and listening sessions into targeted actions that improve collaboration, inclusion, and team performance.

About You

To qualify for this Director, Digital Product Initiatives role, you must have:

• 5+ years of experience in operations, business management, or project management roles, consistently delivering measurable results in fast-paced environments.
• Demonstrated success in building systems and processes that enhance clarity, communication, and accountability across complex teams.
• A proven ability to translate ideas into action and achieve results through clarity, organization, and persistence.
• Highly organized and execution-focused, with a strong ability to build structure and drive initiatives to completion.
• Analytical and data-driven, utilizing metrics to assess performance, guide decisions, and refine strategies.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence effectively across all levels and disciplines.
• The capacity to build trust, influence stakeholders, and motivate cross-functional teams.
• Comfort operating in dynamic environments; adaptable, resourceful, and energized by solving complex problems.
• The ability to travel 3-5 times a year to College Board offices or for College Board business.

All Roles At College Board Require

• A passion for expanding educational and career opportunities and mission-driven work.
• Authorization to work in the United States for any employer.
• Curiosity and enthusiasm for emerging technologies, with a willingness to experiment with and adopt new AI-driven solutions and a comfort learning and applying new digital tools independently and proactively.
• Clear and concise communication skills, both 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.

About Our Process

Application review will begin immediately and 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 The College Board, we provide more than just a paycheck—we offer a meaningful career, a supportive team, and a comprehensive package designed to help you thrive. We are 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 $80,000-$130,000. 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 The College Board throughout your hiring process. Check out our careers page for more.

About The College Board

The College Board reaches more than 7 million students a year, helping them navigate the path from high school to college and career. We’re a mission-driven, not-for-profit membership organization dedicated to excellence in education. Founded 125 years ago, we are committed to clearing a path for all students to own their future. We pioneered programs like the SAT® and AP® to expand opportunities for students and help them develop the skills they need. Our BigFuture® program helps students plan for college, pay for college, and explore careers. Learn more at cb.org.

Mission

Clearing a path for all students to own their future.

What Guides Us

At The College Board, our work is guided by four Operating Principles, and we seek team members who not only align with these principles but actively live them out in their day-to-day work:

• Prioritize and Simplify – We focus on what matters most, reduce complexity, and move quickly when needed.
• Say and Receive – We give and receive feedback candidly and kindly, welcoming growth and healthy debate.
• Go for Greatness – We pursue excellence using data, iteration, and bold thinking to raise the bar.
• Lead as One College Board – We build a culture of trust, inclusion, and shared responsibility for long-term impact.

We Value and Provide Growth, Recognition, and Purpose

In addition to a competitive salary and benefits, we offer:

• Annual bonuses and opportunities for merit-based raises and promotions.
• A mission-driven workplace where your impact matters.
• A team that invests in your development and success.

Key skills/competency

• Digital Product Management
• Operational Excellence
• Strategic Planning
• Cross-functional Leadership
• Process Improvement
• Communication Strategy
• Performance Management
• Data-Driven Decision Making
• Stakeholder Influence
• AI in Education