Director Regulatory Affairs

You will be joining a Department committed to a culture of TEAMWORK to accomplish our goals together, where we deliver excellence through COLLABORATION with partners and stakeholders, embody ACCOUNTABILITY through trust and professionalism, and embrace WORK-LIFE BALANCE by prioritizing respect, boundaries, and time. While working at DHEWD you will be helping to develop the workforce of the future Join us as we pursue our vision of "Every Missourian empowered with the skills and education needed for success."

This position leads the Regulatory Affairs team in conducting administrative and compliance tasks associated with public, independent, and private postsecondary education and training providers operating in Missouri. This includes implementing statutes, rules, and policies related to (1) academic program review and approval, (2) mission statement and admissions guideline reviews for public institutions, (3) certifying certain private and out-of-state providers to operate within the state, (4) facilitating participation in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement, and (5) other related activities associated with the coordination of the state's system of higher education. The Director conducts research into assigned matters and prepares analyses for the Assistant Commissioner and other senior leadership. This position oversees and assists team members to verify continuing compliance with regulations and periodically reviews and recommends revisions to such regulatory guidance as necessary to remain up to date with best practices in higher education.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function of the job with or without reasonable accommodation after successful onboarding.

• Review and interpret state and federal regulations as applied to postsecondary education in Missouri

• Become the subject matter expert for staff, institutions, and students on postsecondary compliance

• Collaborate with diverse stakeholders including federal and state regulators, institutional stakeholders, and students to continuously improve compliance regulations and processes

• Lead project teams made up of internal and external members

• Work with all schools on the collection and verification of required data

• Prepare and review reports to the Coordinating Board for Higher Education and other department leaders

• Implement policies, engage in planning for operations, and prepare technical data and reports

• Use software platforms to manage the day-to-day work of regulating different postsecondary education sectors

• Promote and protect the best interests of Missouri students

• Develop a yearly budget for the unit

• Perform other related work as assigned

Competencies you'll utilize:

• Highly organized and able to work under pressure to meet frequent deadlines

• Anticipate issues and solve before they become problems

• Motivate, lead, and manage professional staff

• Synthesize information concisely and communicate in a way appropriate for different audiences

• Work well in a team environment as well as complete assigned tasks independently

• Build relationships with leaders across the state to generate support for department initiatives

• Exercise discretion and build trust with colleagues and stakeholders/partners

• Maintain a professional demeanor and demonstrate respect for citizens and their concerns

• Meet deadlines and demonstrate regular, reliable attendance

• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing

• Beneficial education and/or work-related experience includes technical or professional experience in compliance, law, business licensing, higher education, or closely related area

• Preferred experience includes five or more years of experience in the regulatory compliance of public colleges and universities, approved private institutions, and proprietary schools, and leading statewide teams on statutorily mandated issues

• Proven leadership skills, including a positive history of working collaboratively to establish rapport and credibility among the staff and stakeholders.

• Training, certification, and/or education in continuous process improvement programs such as Lean Six Sigma as well as completion of Missouri Way, Leadership Academy, and similar programs is beneficial

The State of Missouri offers an excellent benefits package that includes a defined pension plan, generous amounts of leave and holiday time, and eligibility for health insurance coverage. Your total compensation is more than the dollars you receive in your paycheck. To help demonstrate the value of working for the State of Missouri, we have created an interactive Total Compensation Calculator. This tool provides a comprehensive view of benefits and more that are offered to prospective employees. The Total Compensation Calculator and other applicant resources can be found here.