Chief Compliance Officer

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory•Laurel, MD

16d

About The Position

Are you a leader who enjoys providing strategic oversight of a large compliance function? Are you a leader who thrives at the intersection of regulatory compliance, ethics, and international trade? Are you a leader who enjoys cross-collaboration across various business units? If so, we’re looking for someone like you to join our team at APL. Join our team of experienced professionals working together to support one of the country’s premier research laboratories to think boldly and support the nation on critical national security, space, and global health missions. We are seeking an experienced professional to be the Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) / Group Supervisor to provide enterprise-wide leadership, strategic direction, and independent oversight of the organization’s Ethics and Conduct Office, Equal Employment Opportunity/Accommodations Office, and International Trade Compliance program within a large, mission-driven research and development enterprise. In this capacity, the CCO will ensure that these functions are integrated into a unified, enterprise compliance program while maintaining appropriate operational independence and subject-matter expertise. Reporting to the General Counsel (GC) and Chief Legal Officer of the Laboratory and serving as a member of the GC’s senior leadership team, the CCO is responsible for designing, implementing, and continuously strengthening an integrated compliance framework that supports federally sponsored research, development, analysis, and prototyping; government contracting; national security activities; and university-affiliated operations. This role combines senior professional-level compliance authority with direct line management responsibility for a multi-disciplinary compliance organization. The CCO exercises significant independent judgment, supervises a staff of compliance professionals, and serves as a trusted advisor to executive leadership, governing bodies, sponsors, and regulators. The CCO will be responsible for ensuring close coordination with key stakeholders across APL, including sectors; the Business, Construction, and Facilities Department; Talent Services Department; Environmental Health and Safety; and Security Services Department. As the Chief Compliance Officer and Group Supervisor, you will …

Requirements

Juris Doctor (JD) from an ABA-accredited law school or a Master’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., compliance, business administration, public administration, audit, accounting, or risk management), or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Minimum of fifteen (15) years of progressively responsible experience in E&C, EEO/ADA, international trade compliance, risk management, or related functions within a highly regulated environment.
Demonstrated senior leadership experience managing professional staff and complex compliance programs.
Proven ability to conduct and oversee sensitive investigations with discretion, fairness, and independence.
Exceptional written and oral communication skills, with experience advising executive leadership.
Demonstrated integrity, sound judgment, and the ability to operate independently in complex and ambiguous situations.
Ability to obtain an interim Secret personnel security clearance by your start date, and eligibility to obtain ultimately at least a Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) personnel security clearance. If selected, you will be subject to a government security clearance investigation and must meet the requirements for access to classified information. Eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship.

Nice To Haves

Certified Compliance & Ethics Professional (CCEP), CCEP-I, CPA, CIA, or similar professional certification.
Experience in a UARC, FFRDC, DOE National Laboratory, or comparable institution.
Familiarity with enterprise risk management (ERM) frameworks and DOJ Evaluation of Corporate Compliance Programs guidance.
Demonstrated experience overseeing or advising on EEO, accommodations, or employment-related compliance programs.
Experience with export controls, sanctions, or international trade compliance in a research, government contracting, or national security environment.
Hold an active U.S. Government Top Secret personnel security clearance.

Responsibilities

Lead and oversee a comprehensive, risk-based compliance program addressing federal, state, and local laws; sponsor requirements; and contractual obligations applicable to research, engineering, and national security activities.
Ensure effective internal controls, documentation, and reporting related to allegations, investigations, dispositions, and corrective actions.
Monitor and analyze metrics and trends; prepare reports for senior leadership on the effectiveness of the program and areas for improvement.
Oversee education and training programs for staff and leadership, reinforcing expectations for integrity, ethical decision-making, and personal accountability.
Promote a culture of ethical awareness and speak-up, including confidence in reporting mechanisms and protection against retaliation.
Establish and maintain an enterprise compliance framework aligned with U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) guidance, federal acquisition regulations, and best practices across University Affiliated Research Centers (UARCs), Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) laboratory environments.
Provide enterprise-wide leadership and oversight of the organization’s ethics and conduct program, including development, implementation, and periodic review of the Code of Ethics and Conduct and related communications.
Serve as a principal advisor to executive leadership on ethics-related risks, trends, and emerging issues in a federally funded research and national security environment.
Oversee processes for receiving, assessing, investigating, and resolving allegations of ethical misconduct, conflicts of interest, or violations of standards of conduct, ensuring fairness, confidentiality, and independence.
Coordinate ethics and conduct investigations and referrals for corrective or disciplinary action in collaboration with other business units and senior leadership, as appropriate.
Oversee institutional compliance with Equal Employment Opportunity, Americans with Disabilities, and other accommodation and accessibility requirements.
Ensure appropriate processes are in place for handling EEO-related complaints, accommodation requests, including coordination with Talent Services, OGC, and senior leadership.
Monitor EEO and accommodation compliance risks, trends, and corrective actions, and report material issues to executive leadership as appropriate.
Promote policies, training, and practices that reinforce nondiscrimination, accessibility, and equitable treatment across the organization.
Provide strategic oversight of the organization’s International Trade Compliance program, including export controls (ITAR/EAR), economic sanctions, embargoes, and foreign national access requirements.
Ensure the ITCO function maintains effective policies, procedures, internal controls, and training programs to support compliant research, contracting, technology transfer, and international collaboration activities.
Oversee risk assessments, audits, and investigations related to export controls, sanctions compliance, and cross-border data and technology transfers.
Coordinate responses to government inquiries, audits, disclosures, and enforcement matters related to international trade compliance.
Direct the development and execution of the annual enterprise compliance and risk assessment and work plan as the Chair of the Compliance and Enterprise Risk Committee.
Oversee and, as appropriate, personally conduct internal compliance investigations.
Ensure appropriate corrective actions are developed, communicated, implemented, tracked, and sustained.
Oversee the development, maintenance, and periodic revision of compliance policies, procedures, and internal controls.
Direct enterprise-wide compliance education and training programs tailored to identified risk areas and operational needs.
Work to integrate compliance considerations into institutional decision-making, strategic initiatives, and enterprise risk management activities.
Serve as Group Supervisor for the Compliance organization, providing leadership, mentoring, performance management, and professional development for compliance staff.
Build and sustain a high-performing, collaborative compliance function capable of supporting a complex, matrixed research environment while ensuring appropriate staffing, professional development, and succession planning across all compliance-related functional areas.
Perform other duties as assigned.