Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer

Texas A&M University System • Kingsville, TX

6d • Onsite

About The Position

The Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer (CECO), reporting to the Chief Administrative Officer, provides strategic leadership, direction, and oversight for Texas A&M University-Kingsville's comprehensive ethics and compliance program. The CECO is responsible for proactively promoting a culture of integrity, accountability, transparency, and ethical conduct while ensuring compliance with applicable federal and state laws, Texas A&M University System policies and regulations, accreditation requirements, and university rules and procedures. The position leads institution-wide compliance initiatives, conducts risk assessments, oversees investigations of compliance-related concerns, coordinates compliance monitoring and reporting activities, and serves as a key advisor to executive leadership on ethics, compliance, governance, and institutional risk matters. The CECO collaborates with university departments, Texas A&M University System offices, legal counsel, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders to support effective compliance management and continuous improvement across the institution.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
• Ten (10) years of progressively responsible professional experience in ethics, compliance, equal opportunity, investigations, risk management, internal audit, legal affairs, higher education administration, or a related field, including at least five (5) years of progressively responsible supervisory, management, or leadership experience overseeing personnel, compliance programs, and/or institutional initiatives.
• Ability to foster a culture of continuous improvement, integrity, and accountability.
• Comprehensive knowledge of federal and state laws and regulations affecting higher education.
• Knowledge of Texas A&M University System policies and procedures, or the ability to quickly acquire such knowledge.
• Strong investigative, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to assess risk and develop effective mitigation strategies.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment in sensitive matters.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to build collaborative relationships and influence stakeholders across all levels of the organization.
• Ability to lead complex projects and manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.
• Strong strategic planning and execution skills with the ability to translate institutional goals into measurable enrollment outcomes.
• Advanced data analysis and interpretation skills, with the ability to use dashboards and metrics to guide decision-making.
• Effective leadership and team management skills, including supervision, coaching, and performance development.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage internal stakeholders, external partners, and prospective students.
• This position is security sensitive
• This position will require export-control authorization prior to starting employment.
• This position requires compliance with state and federal laws/codes and Texas A&M University System/TAMUK policies, regulations, rules, and procedures
• All tasks and job responsibilities must be performed safely without injury to self or others in compliance with System and University safety requirements

Nice To Haves

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) or terminal degree in a related field.
• Experience in higher education compliance, governance, or regulatory affairs.
• Experience within a public university system or state agency environment.
• Demonstrated experience leading enterprise-wide compliance or ethics programs.
• Experience supporting accreditation reviews, external audits, investigations, or regulatory examinations.

Responsibilities

• Provides strategic leadership and oversight for the university's ethics and compliance program.
• Develops, implements, and maintains a comprehensive, risk-based compliance program designed to prevent, detect, and address regulatory, operational, and ethical risks.
• Promotes a culture of integrity, accountability, transparency, and ethical conduct throughout the university.
• Chairs the University Compliance Committee, convenes quarterly meetings, and serves as the university representative at Texas A&M University System compliance meetings.
• Provides guidance and recommendations to executive leadership regarding ethics, compliance, governance, and institutional risk matters.
• Manages the day-to-day operations of the university's compliance program.
• Assists with the initiation, development, implementation, maintenance, and revision of policies, procedures, and standards related to compliance activities.
• Maintains responsibility for official university rules and procedures, including the review, development, approval, and revision processes consistent with Texas A&M University System requirements.
• Establishes compliance program objectives, performance measures, and monitoring activities to assess program effectiveness.
• Ensures proper reporting of significant compliance matters to System Ethics and Compliance officials, executive leadership, and other stakeholders as required.
• Conducts periodic compliance risk assessments to identify areas of vulnerability and institutional risk.
• Develops, implements, and monitors corrective action plans to address identified compliance concerns.
• Oversees compliance reviews and monitoring activities with university departments and officials to evaluate adherence to applicable laws, regulations, and policies.
• Identifies compliance trends and emerging risks and recommends mitigation strategies.
• Receives, reviews, and coordinates the investigation and resolution of reports involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, conflicts of interest, fraud, waste, abuse, and other compliance-related concerns.
• Administers and serves as the university coordinator for the EthicsPoint Waste, Fraud, and Abuse Hotline and other reporting mechanisms.
• Collaborates with appropriate university departments and System offices to direct compliance concerns through established investigative and resolution processes.
• Evaluates allegations of misconduct and recommends or initiates appropriate investigative procedures.
• Serves as an independent reviewer to ensure compliance concerns are appropriately evaluated, investigated, documented, and resolved.
• Works closely with the Office of Employee Services, Equal Opportunity offices, and other stakeholders regarding employee-related compliance matters.
• Receives external charges and complaints filed with regulatory agencies and coordinates responses in consultation with System offices and legal counsel.
• Serves as the primary compliance liaison between university departments and internal, external, regulatory, and System audit organizations.
• Coordinates university responses to compliance reviews, audits, assessments, and regulatory inquiries.
• Serves as liaison to the Texas A&M University System Office of General Counsel on compliance, regulatory, and litigation-related matters affecting the university.
• Supports university leadership during audits, accreditation reviews, compliance examinations, and regulatory investigations.
• Consults with legal counsel regarding complex compliance and regulatory issues.
• Develops and implements training and professional development programs related to ethics, compliance, regulatory requirements, and university policies.
• Provides compliance guidance and consultation to university departments, colleges, and administrative units.
• Maintains an effective compliance communication program that promotes ethical conduct, awareness of reporting resources, and understanding of compliance responsibilities.
• Promotes awareness and appropriate use of the EthicsPoint Hotline and other reporting mechanisms.
• Facilitates campus-wide outreach and education initiatives to strengthen institutional compliance and integrity.
• Collaborates with Human Resources, Internal Audit, Legal Affairs, Information Security, Student Affairs, Research Compliance, Athletics, and other university units to address compliance risks and implement corrective actions.
• Maintains productive relationships with university leadership, Texas A&M University System offices, regulatory agencies, and professional organizations.
• Represents the university on System-wide compliance committees, working groups, and professional associations.

Benefits

• Medical
• Dental & Vision
• Life Insurance, Accidental D&D, Long Term Disability, Flexible Spending Account and Day Care Spending Account
• On-Campus Wellness Opportunities
• Work Life Solutions: Counseling, Work Life Assistance, Financial Resources, and Legal Resources
• Tuition Benefits: Employee Tuition Assistance Program, Book scholarships, Public Service Loan Forgiveness
• Retirement: Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) or Optional Retirement Plan (ORP), dependent on position, Voluntary Tax Deferred Account/Deferred Compensation Plan
• Employee Leave: 8+ hours of vacation per month, 8 hours of sick leave per month, 8 hours of paid Birthday leave, 12-15 paid holidays per year

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive