Senior Director, Talent Business Partner

Senior Director, Talent Business Partner 

College Board - Talent 

Location: This is a fully remote role. Candidates who live near CB offices have the option of being fully remote or hybrid (Tuesday and Wednesday in office). 

Role Type:  This is a full-time position 

About The Team

At College Board, the Talent team is the engine behind our people, who in turn power our mission to positively impact millions of students worldwide. We are a dynamic, close-knit group, as passionate about supporting our ~2,000 employees as we are about shaping the future of education. 

Our impact as a mission-driven organization is clear, yet in a rapidly changing world the challenges ahead are more complex than ever. That is why our work in Talent matters. We are not just supporting employees; we are empowering them to rise to these challenges and do the most meaningful, high-impact work of their careers. 

Guided by a clear philosophy, we focus on the end user, use data to solve problems, innovate boldly, and communicate directly and honestly while having fun along the way. Our aim is to build high-performing teams, foster strong and accountable leadership, and create the conditions for every employee to thrive. Together, we help every employee do what matters most with clarity, consistency, and purpose. 

About The Opportunity

The Talent Business Partner is a trusted strategist and thought partner who shapes how we hire, engage, grow, and retain exceptional talent. In this role, you will advise senior leaders and their teams and cast a clear vision that aligns divisional needs with organizational goals. Your impact will be felt in the strength of our teams, the clarity of our culture, and the growth of our people. 

You will report to the Senior Vice President, Global Strategy and Talent and work closely with colleagues across the Talent Business Partner team, Talent Enablement, Talent Acquisition, Talent Operations, and Legal. 

In This Role, You Will:

Drive strong divisional performance in partnership with Division leaders (30%) 

• Support managers to develop strong cultures, set clear expectations, and give consistent feedback so their team members can thrive 
• Work with managers to identify and accelerate action with struggling performers; ensure clear feedback loops that give all staff a chance to succeed; ensure that a high bar is maintained by actively helping transition out those who are not able to meet the performance bar 
• Partner with our talent enablement team to develop and roll out just-in-time tools, modules, and models of excellence that develop a culture of learning within the division 
• Support employee onboarding and offboarding to maximize employee satisfaction and gain valuable learnings about how to improve performance and employee experience 

Ensure an engaged, inclusive team and culture (20%) 

• Work with leaders to analyze data trends (Gallup, 360s, etc) and develop insights 
• Identify and prioritize strategies that directly address identified opportunities and challenges 
• Drive accountability with client leaders against action plans 

Support organizational design, hiring, and talent planning efforts (20%) 

• Support organizational design efforts of division, ensuring teams are structured to optimize outcomes and engagement 
• Guide senior leaders on succession planning, ensuring we have a strong, diverse talent bench 
• Work with managers to identify and accelerate action with top performers; ensure we continue to challenge and support these colleagues (including but not limited to helping find pathways for advancement across College Board) 
• Where applicable, coach senior leaders to develop career tracks that will enable mobility and engagement  
• Offer inputs to our Compensation team to set consistent and equitable salary ranges and quotes for roles, balancing internal equity and market demands 

Effectively mitigate risk (20%)  

• Proactively coach and help managers de-escalate tense, sensitive situations while modeling calm, professional behavior, engaging Legal when a sensitive situation involves legal issues 
• Conduct effective, thorough and objective investigations at the direction of and in consult with Legal 
• Quickly and sensibly handle disciplinary action, consulting Legal for terminations and any disciplinary action in which legal issues arise 

Reinforce organizational policies and lead other strategic projects as needed (10%) 

• Internalize organizational policies and procedures and reinforce these with employees 
• Respond to employee questions in a timely manner, leveraging talent@ to ensure a kind, thorough, and consistent response 
• Lead strategic projects as interest, skill, and capacity allows 

About You

• At least 10 years of work experience and at least 5 years in strategic talent work (aka, roles as a Business Partner, People Partner, or Chief of Staff or owning workstreams such as workforce planning, organizational development, or talent development)  
• SHRM-SCP or SPHR certification (strongly preferred). 
• Demonstrated experience providing counsel to senior leaders (e.g., C-Suite, functional heads). 
• Strong track record in key talent areas: workforce planning, performance management, employee relations, organizational design, leadership coaching, and change management. 
• Exposure to both strategy and execution — comfortable flexing between tactical problem-solving and strategic advisory. 
• Ability to interpret HR analytics and talent data to influence business decisions. 
• Deep knowledge of employment law, compliance, and HR best practices. 
• A strong mission-orientation and dedication to providing students best-in-class services and products 
• A team player with a proven ability to build trusting, collaborative relationships and influence others to action 
• Tremendous communication skills; the ability to hear and be heard 
• Exceptional judgment and discretion; known for ability to provide wise and useful counsel; deeply trusted with sensitive information 
• Exceptional critical thinking skills, including the ability to cut through to the heart of an issue and systematically address root causes of a given problem 
• Strong organization and prioritization skills and the proven ability to move forward multiple projects in concert, both independently and as a member of the team 
• Experience using Workday is preferred 

All roles at College Board require: 

• 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 

About Our Process

• Application review will begin immediately and will 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 College Board, we offer more than a paycheck- we provide a meaningful career, a supportive team, and a comprehensive package designed to help you thrive. We’re 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 $104,000–$165,000. 
• 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 College Board throughout your hiring process. Check out our careers page for more.