Posting Summary:

Teachers College, Columbia University is seeking a Director of Compliance and Risk (DCR) to oversee and manage compliance and institutional risk management programs to ensure that the College is upholding best practices, fostering ethical behavior and maintaining standards and operates in accordance with regulatory requirements, law and College policies.

Job Summary/Basic Function:
The inaugural Director of Compliance and Risk (DCR) oversees and manages compliance and institutional risk management programs to ensure that Teachers College, Columbia University is upholding best practices, fostering ethical behavior and maintaining standards and operates in accordance with regulatory requirements, law and College policies. As the compliance and risk leader, the DCR is responsible for analyzing and assessing strategic, financial, compliance, and operational risks across the College and, in coordination with operational and compliance subject matter experts (SMEs), designing and stewarding effective compliance and risk management strategies, structures, and processes.

CHARACTERISTIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The DCR position reports to the General Counsel regarding compliance and to the Associate Vice President and Controller regarding risk management and internal audit. Through regular reporting, the DCR must provide a high level of assurance to the Audit Committee and senior management that adequate and effective policies are in place to ensure the College is following prescribed rules and regulatory requirements and meeting obligations to prevent, detect and correct risk. The DCR must also provide assurance that there are effective policies, contracts, programs and procedures in place to identify, manage, and mitigate operational and emerging risks that threaten the College’s mission, attainment of its strategic goals and non-compliance.

In addition, the DCR interfaces regularly with senior officers of the College and compliance and operational SMEs across campus.

Compliance 

• Develop and implement processes to measure, monitor, and continuously strengthen the College’s compliance program, including working with all campus leaders and SMEs to address critical risk areas and ensures compliance with relevant federal, state, and local laws, regulations and TC policies
• Promote communication, coordination, and collaboration regarding compliance and risk throughout the College, including developing and maintaining a compliance and risk website
• Conduct compliance and ethics training and awareness in collaboration with SMEs
• Organize regular ongoing briefings to the Compliance Steering Committee (CSC) by SMEs and other key compliance owners; ensuring that the CSC serves as an independent review and evaluation body for compliance, and ensuring compliance concerns are being appropriately evaluated, investigated and resolved in a timely manner
• Serve as a member of the Policy Review Committee
• Identify ongoing and emerging compliance requirements and prepare reports detailing compliance initiatives and recommend improvements or changes to the overall compliance program for leadership’s consideration.
• In collaboration with SMEs, develop and implement corrective action plans for resolution of compliance issues and provide guidance on methods of avoiding recurrence
• Lead and oversee investigations of alleged violations of rules, regulations, policies, procedures, and standards of conduct by coordinating with the Office of General Counsel, Human Resources, and other departments
• Manage Certificates of Insurance, including maintenance of vendor/partner COIs and requests for the College’s COIs

Risk Management 

• Identify, measure, and manage insurable or hazard risks as well as financial, operational, and compliance risks and implement risk analysis tools and solutions that help to evaluate, avoid, transfer and mitigate risks optimizing operations
• Evaluate, procure, and maintain commercial insurance products and services in collaboration with insurance brokers and serve as a College-wide resource for risk management and insurance information
• Collaborate with various College departments on contract terms and provisions to assess risk exposure and tolerance
• Oversee the management of claims and loss control activities, management of relationships with third-party service providers including brokers, insurers, and consultants

Other 

• Support the outsourced internal audit function and assisting with monitoring corrective action status relating to findings and recommendations identified in audits and reviews
• Support the evaluation and management of the annual conflict-of-interest disclosure process
  Managing the EthicsPoint/Whistleblower review platform
• Other duties/responsibilities as assigned

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree 
• Minimum of 5-7 years of related experience in compliance and/or risk fields
• Experience in risk management with respect to finance, construction, facilities, security, technology, cybersecurity, and/or property management a plus
• Demonstrated management or supervisory experience
• Self-starter, highly motivated, well organized and able to think analytically and critically
• Exceptional judgment and discretion
• Demonstrated strong written and verbal skills
• Ability to serve as a trusted leader across campus, demonstrated experience coordinating work among other personnel/units whether or not in a direct reporting relationship
• Experience in developing and delivering training and other compliance-related programs
• An expert problem-solver, able to inspire confidence and trust among a constituency and to develop creative approaches and solutions that result in effective resolution of identified issues

Preferred Qualifications:

• Relevant Master’s Degree or Juris Doctor 

Salary Range:

$173,600 - $193,000

Work Modality:

Hybrid

Competitive Compensation and Benefits

The salary range reflects the College’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the compensation for the position at the time of the job posting.  Salary decisions are dependent on several factors including but not limited to market and organizational considerations, experience, and qualifications of a selected candidate as well as internal and external equity.

Our benefits contribute significantly to the total compensation package that includes medical, dental, vision, and supplemental insurance plans; flexible and hybrid work schedules; tuition remission; life insurance; short and long-term disability insurance; an exceptional employer retirement matching program; health savings accounts (HSA), flexible spending accounts (FSA), Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligibility, and a robust Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

If you would like to request any disability-related accommodations to complete the job application or to participate in the interview process, please email: oasid@tc.columbia.edu.

Hybrid/Remote

Teachers College maintains a hybrid work environment, which provides employees with flexible work arrangements while ensuring we preserve the important aspects of our unique in-person college-campus culture. Depending on role and business needs, colleagues will either work onsite or in a hybrid model (a combination of in-office and virtual days). Employees are expected to live within a 150-mile radius of the College.  

We will consider qualified candidates that reside beyond this radius based on the responsibilities and duties expected of the position.  All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply.