About this role
Director of Compliance
Position Description: Directs, plans, coordinates and supervises the operations and activities of a specialized unit or small department; develops and implements policies and procedures, administers the budget, organizes tasks and sets priorities. Serves as liaison with university personnel and community at large. Works under general supervision with broad latitude for initiative and independent judgement.
About the University: About the Texas Tech University System Established in 1996, the Texas Tech University System is one of the top public university systems in the nation, consisting of five universities – Texas Tech University, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Angelo State University, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso and Midwestern State University. Headquartered in Lubbock, Texas, the TTU System is a more than $3 billion enterprise focused on advancing higher education, health care, research and outreach with approximately 21,000 employees and 63,000 students, more than 400,000 alumni, a statewide economic impact of $16.4 billion and an endowment valued at $1.7 billion. In its short history, the TTU System has grown tremendously and is nationally acclaimed, operating at 24 academic locations in 20 cities (18 in Texas, 2 international). In addition, the TTU System is one of only nine in the nation to offer programs for undergraduate, medical, law, nursing, pharmacy, dental and veterinary education, among other academic areas.
About the Department and/or College: TTUS is a public university system headquartered in Lubbock, Texas, comprising five component institutions: Texas Tech University (TTU), Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC), Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso (TTUHSC El Paso), Angelo State University (ASU), and Midwestern State University (MSU Texas). The System operates at approximately 22 academic locations across Texas and internationally, with a combined annual operating budget exceeding $3 billion and approximately 21,000 employees. The Office of Compliance is a system-level office providing compliance leadership across all five components and System Administration. The Director of Compliance is one of compliance functions most operationally significant positions, functioning both as the lead compliance professional for System Administration and as the principal architect of systemwide compliance infrastructure. The Director of Compliance reports directly to the Associate Vice Chancellor and Chief Risk and Compliance Officer. The position has no direct supervisory responsibility at time of hire; however, the Compliance program is in an active growth phase, and supervisory responsibilities are expected to develop within the year as staffing expands. The Director will be expected to exercise functional leadership over compliance activities across System Administration departments and to serve as a collaborative resource to compliance officers at each of TTUS’s five component institutions.
Major/Essential Functions: Responsibilities are organized around the seven elements of an effective compliance and ethics program, as established by the U.S. Federal Sentencing Guidelines and recognized as the prevailing standard for institutional compliance programs. 1. Standards, Policies, and Procedures - Develop, maintain, and periodically review compliance policies, procedures, and standards for TTUS System, System Components, and System Administration, ensuring alignment with applicable federal and Texas law, TTUS System Regulations, institutional operating policies, and professional best practices. 2. Compliance Program Oversight and Governance - Lead day-to-day management of the TTUS System Administration compliance program, including program planning, prioritization, and execution. 3. Training and Education - Design and implement a comprehensive compliance training architecture for TTUS System Administration, including initial compliance training, role-based training, and routine refresher programs. Coordinate systemwide compliance training initiatives, collaborating with component institution compliance officers and human resources functions to ensure appropriate coverage. 4. Effective Lines of Communication and Reporting - Administer and manage compliance reporting mechanisms, ensuring appropriate intake, documentation, and routing of concerns. Develop and maintain compliance dashboards, metrics, and reporting tools to support leadership visibility into program performance and risk indicators and provide routine reporting to AVC/CRCO. 5. Monitoring, Auditing, and Risk Assessment - Develop and execute annual compliance risk assessments, using structured methodologies to identify, prioritize, and document compliance risks. Coordinate systemwide compliance risk assessment activities, providing tools, templates, and technical support to component institution compliance officers. 6. Enforcement and Discipline - Support or coordinate compliance investigations as appropriate, working collaboratively with the Office of General Counsel, Equal Opportunity, Human Resources, Audit Services, and/or law enforcement as needed. Identify patterns and root causes across compliance issues to inform systemic program improvements. 7. Response and Continuous Improvement - Lead or coordinate programmatic self-assessments and periodic effectiveness reviews of the TTUS System compliance program. 8. Perform other duties as assigned by the AVC/CRCO.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: • Thorough knowledge of compliance program design and the seven elements of an effective compliance program under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. • Ability to operate effectively within a centralized-federated governance model, building consensus and maintaining relationships across system-level and institutional stakeholders. • Strong analytical and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple complex workstreams simultaneously and meet deadlines. • High level of discretion, professional judgment, and integrity in handling sensitive matters. • Ability to interpret and apply complex federal and state regulatory requirements and translate them into practical guidance. • Demonstrated skill in building productive working relationships with dynamic stakeholders, including legal counsel, audit professionals, senior executives, and institutional compliance officers. • Comfort working in a growth-stage office where structures and processes are actively being designed, and where flexibility and initiative are essential. • Proficiency with standard productivity tools; experience with compliance management systems, hotline platforms, or GRC software is advantageous.
Required Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in related area required plus five years progressively responsible management experience. Additional education may substitute for experience on a year for year basis.
Preferred Qualifications: • Bachelor’s degree in law, business, public administration, public policy, or a related field. • Advanced degree (Ph.D., J.D., M.P.A., M.B.A., or related field). • Seven (7) or more years of progressively responsible experience in compliance, risk management, audit, regulatory affairs, or a related discipline. Education beyond the bachelor’s level may substitute for required experience on a year-for-year basis. • Demonstrated experience designing, implementing, or managing compliance programs or program components, including policy development, training, monitoring, or investigations. • Experience working in a complex, multi-unit organization or regulated environment. • Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate regulatory requirements into clear operational guidance for non-specialist audiences. • Experience in Texas public higher education or a comparable state-governed, multi-institution system. • Professional certification: Certified Compliance and Ethics Professional (CCEP), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), or equivalent. • Familiarity with the Texas regulatory environment, including Texas Education Code, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board requirements, and applicable state agency obligations. • Experience conducting or managing compliance or ethics investigations. • Experience supporting board-level or executive-level compliance governance, including preparation of reporting materials.
Safety Information: Adherence to robust safety practices and compliance with all applicable health and safety regulations are responsibilities of all TTU employees.
Special Instructions to Applicants: The Director of Compliance is a senior professional role in the Texas Tech University System (TTUS) Office of Compliance, responsible for building, implementing, and continuously maturing the compliance program for TTUS System Administration. This position also serves as the central coordinating resource for systemwide compliance across TTUS’s five component institutions, providing technical leadership, tools, and structure that enable each institution to meet its compliance obligations while coordinating and advancing a coherent, system-level compliance culture. The Director reports directly to the Associate Vice Chancellor and Chief Risk and Compliance Officer (CRCO) and operates as a key member of the Risk and Compliance leadership team. This is a builder’s role: the TTUS Compliance function is in active development, and the Director will have the opportunity and responsibility to design and implement program infrastructure from the ground up — including policies, monitoring frameworks, training architecture, governance structures, and reporting mechanisms. The position is grounded in the Federal Sentencing Guidelines’ seven elements of an effective compliance program, which provide the structural framework for all program design and assessment activities. It operates within TTUS’s centralized-federated governance model, in which the CRCO sets systemwide standards and the Director coordinates compliance activity while component institutions retain primary ownership of their own compliance operations.
Pay Statement: Compensation is commensurate upon the qualifications of the individual selected and budgetary guidelines of the hiring department, as well as the institutional pay plan.
EEO Statement: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information or status as a protected veteran.