Higher Education Regulatory Compliance & Policy Analyst

University of California, Irvine • Irvine, CA

8d • Hybrid

About The Position

Under the direction of the Associate Vice Provost (AVP) the Higher Education Regulatory Compliance and Policy Analyst serves as the institution’s primary coordinator of complex regulatory requirements, bridging the gap between external state authorizations and internal campus operations. This role serves as a central liaison, synthesizing vast amounts of educational policy data, dissecting nuanced legislative language, and distilling it into clear, actionable intelligence for diverse campus constituents.
The ideal candidate is an exceptionally organized self-starter who combines solution-oriented thinking with clear communication. The ideal candidate thrives when managing competing deadlines and is skilled at interpreting complex organizational financial statements and campus-level data. Primary responsibilities include overseeing annual regulatory submissions, analyzing higher education policy impacts, and streamlining compliance management workflows to improve operational efficiency.

Requirements

• Knowledge of common organization or research-specific and other computer application programs and the ability to navigate complex system structures.
• The ability to navigate complex system structures and adjust communication styles to influence internal and external stakeholders at all levels. Strong professional writing skills with the ability to adapt tone for different audiences (e.g., formal regulatory boards vs. internal staff).
• Ability to use discretion and maintain all confidentiality.
• Analytical problem-solving skills, with a focus on efficiency; constantly looking for ways to template, automate, or streamline repetitive regulatory tasks. A deep commitment to accuracy and integrity, recognizing that compliance errors can carry significant legal and financial risks for the institution.
• Strong skills in analyzing, researching and synthesizing large amounts of data from dense legislative and academic sources and preparing sound and relevant proposals.
• Ability to multi-task with demanding timeframes focused on efficiency, and pivoting quickly between detailed data entry and high-level strategic thinking.
• Strong policy analysis techniques. Ability to absorb large volumes of disparate information (financial, legislative, academic, quantitative) and distill it into executive-level insights.
• Novice-to-intermediate understanding of statistics and data interpretation; ability to spot trends and anomalies in large datasets.
• Ability to decipher and interpret organizational financial statements and health ratios.
• Sees the big picture of all state authorizations while focusing on the accuracy of every data point.
• Bachelor's degree in related area and/or equivalent experience / training.
• 2+ years of experience in regulatory compliance, policy analysis, or institutional research.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in higher education and familiarity with UC policies.
• Master’s degree in Public Policy, Higher Education Administration, or a related field.

Responsibilities

• Regulatory Submission and Compliance Management Lead the end-to-end preparation, coordination, and submission of state authorization applications, annual renewals, and other submissions.
• Coordinate cross-functional data collection by assigning clear deliverables, timelines, and accountability to stakeholders to ensure timely and accurate submissions.
• Data Integrity and Information Management Retrieve, validate, and organize programmatic, financial, institutional, and other relevant data to ensure accuracy and consistency prior to external reporting.
• Coordinate and review analyses, such as campus finance, enrollment, and student outcomes, to support operational viability determinations and regulatory compliance.
• Maintain a centralized repository of institutional data, prior submissions, and regulatory documentation to support continuity, auditability, and team access.
• Policy Research, Interpretation, and Synthesis Monitor, translate, and distill UC, state, and federal education regulations, navigating state-specific terminology and compliance framework, to inform leadership decision-making and institutional planning.
• Conduct gap analyses comparing institutional operations to new or revised regulations, proactively identifying compliance risks and required operational changes.
• Process Improvement and Efficiency Design and document Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for state authorization workflows to reduce redundancy and increase efficiency.
• Conduct post-submission reviews to identify inefficiencies, reduce redundancy, and implement process improvements for future reporting cycles.
• Communication and Stakeholder Engagement Translate technical regulatory jargon into accessible, user-friendly language for non-technical campus constituents (i.e., faculty, admissions, finance).
• Serve as a Subject Matter Expert (SME), advising campus stakeholders on the regulatory implications of distance education degree programs in specific states.
• Administrative and Leadership Support Proactively support essential administrative tasks to ensure a productive and organized workplace environment.
• Provide VP and AVP support as needed to optimize their workflow and strategic focus.

Benefits

• In addition to the salary range listed below, we offer a wealth of benefits to make working at UCI even more rewarding. These benefits may include medical insurance, sick and vacation time, retirement savings plans, and access to a number of discounts and perks.

What This Job Offers

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