Assistant Vice President, Regulatory Affairs, Compliance, and Policy

Summary

Join American College of Education as the Assistant Vice President of Regulatory Affairs, Compliance, and Policy, a key leadership role ensuring institutional compliance with all federal, state, and regulatory requirements. Lead institution-wide efforts to align college policies and procedures with evolving regulatory expectations and industry best practices. Collaborate with leaders across various departments to develop and sustain frameworks promoting transparency and compliance. Support the lifecycle of academic, operational, and regulatory policies, manage compliance-sensitive processes, and supervise the Regulatory & Compliance Specialists. Ensure new and existing policies meet internal standards and comply with external regulations. Provide legal and regulatory support by liaising with legal counsel on compliance matters.

Requirements

• Master’s degree required; J.D. preferred
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in private higher education compliance, regulatory affairs, legal affairs, or a related field
• Demonstrated experience with regional accreditation and government regulatory processes
• In-depth understanding of higher education regulatory frameworks, accreditation, and federal/state compliance mandates
• Strong leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills
• Ability to manage sensitive and confidential information with discretion
• Skilled in strategic planning, risk analysis, and institutional policy development

Responsibilities

• Maintain expert-level knowledge of federal, state, and local education laws, including NC-SARA, BPE, HLC, and state licensure requirements
• Monitor institutional adherence to all applicable regulatory, accreditation, and policy standards
• Oversee the development, review, and dissemination of all student-impacting institutional policies
• Lead the centralization and lifecycle management of institutional policies using systems such as SharePoint and Wrike
• Develop and maintain standardized templates for policies and contracts with clear ownership, review schedules, and update protocols
• Coordinate input from subject matter experts (SMEs) on evolving policy areas such as information literacy, disability services, and transfer credit
• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with state regulatory officials in all states where the college operates or intends to operate
• Secure and maintain operating and degree-granting authority across states and jurisdictions, as necessary and appropriate
• Manage institutional interactions with state boards of higher education, including the submission of applications, renewals, and change requests
• Maintain a thorough understanding of teacher and principal licensure requirements across applicable states and develop proactive strategies to align academic offerings with those requirements
• Serve on key committees, advising on regulatory and compliance matters throughout planning and implementation processes
• Collaborate with the Chief Academic Officer and Provost on program development and expansion to ensure compliance with internal and external standards
• Provide guidance in the development of academic catalogs, enrollment documents, and marketing materials to ensure accuracy and compliance across all states
• Oversee regulatory and legal review processes for all marketing and advertising content in collaboration with Marketing, Enrollment, and Regulatory Affairs teams
• Offer clear compliance guidance to Enrollment Services on how academic programs can be described and promoted based on state-specific regulations
• Advise Admissions and Registration personnel on policy application for unique student situations
• Coordinate with the internal training team to develop and deliver staff training related to marketing compliance, contract routing, and regulatory decision-making
• Provide legal and regulatory guidance by liaising with legal counsel on matters such as risk management, contract review, and regulatory interpretation
• Establish and enforce contract routing protocols involving legal, IT, academic, HR, and financial stakeholders
• Implement a documented framework for version control, renewal tracking, and expiration monitoring for contracts and institutional policies
• Conduct regular audits of student, faculty, and institutional files to ensure documentation compliance with federal, state, and accreditation standards
• Ensure all regulatory reports are prepared accurately and submitted on time to appropriate state and accrediting agencies
• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership on compliance, risk management, and policy strategy
• Supervise Regulatory & Compliance Specialist(s) and provide clear direction, mentoring, and performance management
• Manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment while maintaining a strong customer service orientation and professional demeanor

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with various state licenses, such as secretary of state, taxation, labor, lender, and debt collection preferred
• Demonstrates self-reliance by meeting/exceeding workflow needs
• Demonstrates positive attitude and motivation, concern for students, teamwork, and excellent time management skills
• Follows established processes as outlined by organization and leadership
• Completes assigned duties based on daily business needs and individual skill set
• Consistently produces a high volume of quality work
• Capable, and adapts as needed, to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines
• Proven ability to work independently with limited supervision and with other department personnel
• Must support and embrace the College’s B Corp mission to improve the people and communities we serve through our civic engagement initiatives
• Must have exceptional communication, organization, and time management skills
• Must be "self-motivated" as well as creative and efficient in proposing solutions to complex, time-critical problems
• Must be collaborative in driving decisions and a team-player
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a high attention to detail
• Builds and maintains student satisfaction
• Recognizes and anticipates student needs

Benefits

• Medical, dental, & vision Insurance
• HSA and FSA options
• Paid parental leave
• Paid volunteer time
• Tuition reimbursement & reduction programs
• Generous PTO
• 401k and employer match
• Full-service wellness and EAP program
• Employee recognition and awards programs
• Employer paid life & AD&D insurance
• Short-term disability
• Employer paid long-term disability