"Director of Compliance and Ethics"

Director of Compliance and Ethics

Company: Virginia Tech

Job Location: Blacksburg, Virginia

Category: Assessment, Accreditation, and Compliance

Type: Full-Time

Job Description

The Director of Compliance and Ethics is responsible for overseeing and advancing Virginia Tech's institutional compliance and ethics program. Reporting to the Vice President for Audit, Risk, and Compliance and Chief Risk Officer, the Director provides strategic leadership and operational oversight of compliance initiatives across the university. The Director serves as a key advisor and liaison to senior university leadership and works collaboratively with various departments to promote a culture of compliance and ethical behavior across the institution.

The role requires a proactive, risk-based approach to identify compliance priorities, facilitate ethical decision-making, and strengthen a culture of integrity, transparency, and accountability across the university. Operating in a decentralized, research-intensive environment, the Director partners with compliance risk owners and university stakeholders to ensure effective oversight, education, communication, and mitigation strategies related to regulatory and institutional compliance.

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership and Strategy:

• Provide leadership and day-to-day management of the university's enterprise-wide compliance and ethics program.
• Maintain deep knowledge of the evolving regulatory landscape and higher education compliance trends.
• Contribute to strategic planning within the Office of Audit, Risk, and Compliance and university-wide compliance governance structures.
• Serve as a resource and advisor to compliance risk owners and decentralized units, offering practical guidance and solutions.

Compliance and Ethics Program:

• Work collaboratively with compliance partners and with all levels of university management to coordinate risk, compliance, and ethics activities, accomplish program objectives, identify educational gaps, and facilitate mitigation of identified risks.
• Coordinate university-wide compliance risk assessments to identify, prioritize, and mitigate areas of potential vulnerability.
• Monitor institutional risks of non-compliance and partner with departments to develop responsive mitigation and improvement plans.
• Develop and implement initiatives that integrate the university's core values into a culture of ethical behavior and compliance.
• Serve as the university's primary point of contact for the Hokie Hotline and coordinate investigations and follow-up actions for compliance-related reports.

Collaboration and Policy:

• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with institutional leadership, internal audit, enterprise risk management, general counsel, and other compliance stakeholders.
• Support and coordinate compliance-related committees and working groups.
• Assist in the development and evaluation of university-wide policies to ensure alignment with applicable laws and standards.

Training and Education:

• Provide guidance, advice, and training and educational programs to raise awareness of compliance risks and promote ethical conduct.
• Institute and maintain an effective compliance communications strategy, promoting awareness of university policy and regulatory requirements relevant to the university, and encourage reporting of suspected non-compliance.
• Encourage a culture of openness, feedback, and continuous learning through accessible resources and engagement initiatives.

Reporting:

• Prepare timely reports and presentations for senior leadership and the Compliance, Audit, and Risk Committee regarding compliance initiatives, risks, and institutional progress.
• Communicates regularly with the Vice President for Audit, Risk, and Compliance and Chief Risk Officer and other key stakeholders (as needed) regarding the operation and progress of compliance efforts.

Required Qualifications

• Advanced degree in a related field or a bachelor's degree with significant related experience.
• Extensive experience in compliance, ethics, risk management, or a related field, ideally in a complex, decentralized organization.
• Strong understanding of compliance risks, laws, and regulatory frameworks applicable to higher education.
• Demonstrated leadership in managing cross-functional teams and large-scale initiatives.
• Proven ability to handle sensitive matters with discretion, sound judgment, and integrity.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to engage diverse audiences, including senior leadership and boards.
• Experience developing data-informed reports and actionable recommendations.
• Commitment to fostering inclusive and equitable environments.

Preferred Qualifications

• Juris Doctorate (JD) or comparable legal/regulatory training.
• Experience in higher education, healthcare, or not-for-profit sectors.
• Familiarity with regulations including FERPA, Title IX, ADA, Clery Act, research compliance, privacy, financial aid, environmental health and safety, and employment law.
• Experience with compliance self-assessments.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency with compliance technology and data visualization tools.
• Relevant certifications (e.g., CCEP, CRCMP, or similar).

Overtime Status: Exempt: Not eligible for overtime

Appointment Type: Regular

Salary Information: Salary range of $125,000 - $175,000

Hours per week: 40

Review Date: 5/7/2025

Additional Information: The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.