University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources
Job Description
This position is responsible for administration of policy, compliance, ethics, and Programmatic Agreements.
The University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) Office of Policy, Compliance, and Programmatic Agreements (PCPA), within the Office of the Controller and Business Services (OCBS), provides leadership for UC ANR policies, compliance obligations, and programmatic agreements, including memoranda of understanding (MOUs). The Director of Policies, Compliance and Programmatic Agreements ensures UC ANR's statewide, regional, and county operations comply with University policy and state and federal law, while applying expert knowledge of University of California (UC) policies and regulatory requirements to guide contract terms, agreements, and governance decisions.
The Director is the division's central resource for all policy matters. The Director oversees policy development, compliance reviews, and programmatic updates. The role includes evaluating emerging laws and regulations, managing delegations of authority, overseeing conflict of interest reporting, and ensuring compliance with state information and transparency laws. The Director also leads UC ANR's records management and privacy programs to promote consistent and lawful information practices.
The Director acts as liaison with the Office of the General Counsel and UCOP administrative offices, advising senior leadership on legal, compliance, and procedural matters. The Director supports the UC ANR Controller, who serves as Campus Ethics and Compliance Officer (CECO) and Locally Designated Official (LDO). The Director contributes to systemwide committees, task forces, and delivers compliance training for UC ANR staff as needed.
In addition, the Director is responsible for the recruitment, supervision, training, and evaluation of unit staff. In this role, the Director fosters a culture of service excellence, accountability, and technological proficiency in support of UC ANR's mission.
This position is a career appointment that is 100% fixed.
This position reports directly to the UC ANR Controller. The selected candidate may designate either Oakland, CA, or Davis, CA, as their primary work location. The position currently follows a hybrid work schedule requiring a minimum of two days per week on-site, with additional on-site presence and travel between locations as needed based on business needs.
Pay Scale: $ 124,700/year to $ 182,800/year
Budget: $140,000/year to $165,000/year
Job Posting Close Date:
This job is open until filled. The first application review date will be 10/12/2026.
Key Responsibilities:
25%
Project Policy Analysis:
Lead the planning, development, and administration of UC ANR policies. Oversee the policy management system and ensure alignment with University-wide standards and applicable laws. Manage complex project and policy analyses and oversee the quality and timely completion of projects. Serve as liaison to the UC Office of the President and Systemwide Policy Officers.
20%
Ethics & Compliance:
Provides leadership and oversight of compliance governance, policies and procedures, training and education, communications and reporting, internal monitoring, and auditing. Plays a key role in developing and implementing strategic plans and priorities. Serves as a subject-matter expert and manages complex analyses of compliance programs, policies, processes, and risks. Ensures alignment with applicable laws, University policies, and ethical standards.
Supports the UC ANR Controller in their roles as Campus Ethics and Compliance Officer (CECO) and Locally Designated Official (LDO). Represents UC ANR on systemwide committees and task forces and develops and delivers compliance guidance and training for UC ANR employees and leaders.
20%
Public Accountability and Governance:
Leads UC ANR's records management and privacy programs. Develops and maintains processes governing the creation, access, retention, security, and disposition of University records, ensuring compliance with applicable laws, University policies, and standards. Serves as the Information Practices Coordinator and manages California Public Records Act requests and related information requests.
Serves as the Conflict of Interest Coordinator and advises leadership on conflict-of-interest requirements. Manages Delegations of Authority and related approval documents. Serves as Privacy Officer, promotes UC privacy principles, advises on privacy matters, and coordinates privacy incident and breach response with the Chief Information Officer.
15%
General Administration:
Guide the resolution of complex procedural issues and facilitate organizational improvements. Proposes and leads policy and planning committees and working groups. Manage and develop a professional staff team.Provides direction & manage professional staff, setting responsibility for results in terms of costs, methods, and resources. Provide highly complex analytical and interpretive support to the Controller and senior managers, serve as primary support to the Controller as needed, and ensure compliance with laws, regulations, and UC policies.
10%
MOUs and Programmatic Agreements:
Involves structuring, and/or administering contracts and agreements, including MOUs and leases. Ensure compliance with University policies, state, and federal regulations. Collaborate with stakeholders and engage subject-matter experts as needed.
10%
Legal liaison:
Serve as liaison with the Office of the General Counsel (OGC). Advise senior leadership on legal and procedural matters to reduce risk and disruption to ANR Programs and operations. Support OGC attorneys and consult on quasi-legal issues
Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training.
- Broad knowledge of ethics and compliance, including professional standards, internal controls, investigation practices, and applicable state and federal laws, as well as organizational processes, policies, and procedures in large, complex institutions.
- Comprehensive project management, analytical, and problem-solving skillsto lead complex, cross-functional initiatives, evaluate risks, develop solutions, and ensure compliance with organizational priorities and requirements.
- Strong ability to analyze legal documents, conduct policy analysis, and translate complex requirements into clear, actionable recommendations.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to brief leadership, guide staff, and engage effectively across all organizational levels and stakeholder groups.
- Professionalism, discretion, and sound judgment in managing sensitive issues and fostering collaborative, solutions-oriented outcomes with faculty, staff, management, legal representatives, and external partners.
- Demonstrated leadership, professional judgement and supervisory skills with the ability to guide, develop, and evaluate staff while fostering a culture of integrity, accountability, compliance, and service excellence.
Preferred Skills:
- Advanced degree (e.g., JD, MBA, MPA, or related field) or equivalent experience in policy, compliance, or legal administration.
- Professional certification(s) in compliance, ethics, auditing, or related areas (e.g., CCEP, CIA, CCEP-I).
- Demonstrated experience in higher education, research administration, or large public institutions with complex governance structures.
- Familiarity with the University of California's policies, systems, and administrative processes.
- Experience with public records laws.
- Skills, knowledge, and experience with internal workplace investigations and monitors or mentors internal and external investigations.
Special Conditions of Employment:
- Must possess valid California Driver's License to drive a County or University vehicle. Ability and means to travel on a flexible schedule as needed, proof of liability damage insurance on vehicle used is required. Reimbursement of job-related travel will be reimbursed according to University policies.
- The University reserves the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of the background check. This is a designated position requiring a background check and may require fingerprinting due to the nature of the job responsibilities. UC ANR does hire people with conviction histories and reviews information received in the context of the job responsibilities.
- As of January 1, 2014, ANR is a smoke- and tobacco-free environment in which smoking, the use of smokeless tobacco products, and the use of unregulated nicotine products (e-cigarettes), is strictly prohibited.
- As a condition of employment, you will be required to comply with the University of California Policy on Vaccination Programs, as may be amended or revised from time to time. Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.
- Exercise the utmost discretion in managing sensitive information learned in the course of performing their duties. Sensitive information includes but is not limited to employee and student records, health and patient records, financial data, strategic plans, proprietary information, and any other sensitive or non-public information learned during the course and scope of employment. Understands that sensitive information should be shared on a limited basis and actively takes steps to limit access to sensitive information to individuals who have legitimate business need to know. Ensure that sensitive information is properly safeguarded. Follow all organizational policies and laws on data protection and privacy. This includes secure handling of physical and digital records and proper usage of IT systems to prevent data leaks. The unauthorized or improper disclosure of confidential work-related information obtained from any source on any work-related matter is a violation of these expectations.
- Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts an offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of substantiated misconduct with a previous employer.
- "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies governing employee conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, or discrimination, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC's policies addressing some forms of misconduct:
To apply, please visit: https://careerspub.universityofcalifornia.edu/psc/ucanr/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM_FL.HRS_CG_SEARCH_FL.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST_FL&JobOpeningId=89115&PostingSeq=1&SiteId=17&languageCd=ENG&FOCUS=Applicant