Policy Change Director jobs in Topeka, KS

The Office of Audit, Risk & Compliance (OARC) provides leadership and university-wide services that strengthen accountability, mitigate significant risks, investigate, and resolve allegations, and reduce the consequences of non-compliance with federal and state laws. Reporting to the Vice Chancellor for Audit, Risk & Compliance, the University Policy Officer and Director of Policy Administration provides leadership of the university’s policy program, facilitating the development, review, dissemination, and administration of institutional policies and policy revisions. The position coordinates across constituencies and with various policy owners to ensure appropriate stakeholders are involved in the development and revision of university and campus-wide policies. The incumbent serves as a subject-matter expert to university administrators and constituents regarding policy development processes and ensures policies are well-defined, current, and accessible to the campus community. The position coordinates with the KU Medical Center Policy Program to ensure consistency in policy governance, alignment of policies across campuses, and to share best practices.

The ideal candidate will have the following Key Competencies:

• Technical Competency: subject-matter expertise in policy development and administration within the context of higher education.
• Leadership Presence and Credibility: the ability to hold the room with senior leaders; willingness to engage on difficult issues.
• Action Oriented: the ability and desire to act quickly to resolve issues and develop solutions.
• Communication: effective communication skills with internal clients, team members, peers, and senior leaders.
• Customer and Personal Service: dedication to providing high service levels to internal and external campus stakeholders.
• Utilizing Technology: understanding and expertise with the role technology plays in policy development and management activities.
• Law and Government: knowledge of laws and the regulatory environment that influence higher education and KU.
• Management: the ability to manage individuals with differing backgrounds and experience with a passion for developing talent and fostering opportunity and growth and in a workplace culture that is inclusive and equitable.

In addition to a competitive salary, KU offers great benefits to employees with up to 176 hours of paid vacation per year, 8 hours of sick leave earned every month, nine paid holidays plus one discretionary day, a retirement program, medical & dental insurance, life and disability insurance, other benefit plan options and State of Kansas discounts offered by various vendors. KU also offers employees educational and professional development opportunities. KU is a great place to work! The University actively encourages applications from members of underrepresented groups.

70% Leadership of the University Policy Program:

• Implements, maintains, interprets, and administers a well-defined and user-friendly policy development process. Oversees university-wide procedures and practices, as defined in the University Policy Program policy and the University Policy Development Process, for ensuring that policies are understandable, readily accessible, and adopted through transparent communication and implementation.
• Provides guidance on the formulation, review, publication, and implementation of policies and procedures, including consistency with the university’s mission and values, executive leadership’s vision and stated priorities, and recommendations on involvement of key stakeholders.
• Manages new policy initiatives, develops and coordinates university-wide policy administration, and provides guidance, recommendations, and project support to units and stakeholders in developing policies that can be applied across functional areas of the university.
• Directs a comprehensive, periodic policy review process, providing advice and recommendations to units and administrators, including the determination of whether a new or revised policy is needed and the identification of policies, procedures, processes, or practices that could be applied university-wide, revised, merged, simplified, eliminated, or created to better serve the university community.
• Establishes long-term business plans and strategic objectives for university policy administration.
• Chairs the policy advisory council and works in conjunction with policy owners to develop, review, disseminate, and implement policies.
• Develops and oversees the online repository for university-wide and Lawrence Campus policies; oversees development and classification of policies, procedures, practices, and guidelines.
• Provides guidance for the development of campus and unit policies to ensure compliance with university policies; oversees review and analysis of existing policies for continued applicability and effectiveness.
• Builds relationships with faculty and staff across the university and within campus and functional areas.
• Serves on multiple committees and other working groups; provides strategic direction and project management or oversight.
• Stays current on local, state, and federal law, as well as university initiatives, and works collaboratively with leaders across the university and within units and/or campuses to identify gaps in policies, evaluate current policies, and consider new or revised policies.
• Provides guidance and assistance in the development and implementation of procedures, practices, forms, training, or other necessary elements to promote compliance with policies.
• Coordinates with the KU Medical Center Policy Program to ensure consistency in policy governance, alignment of policies across campuses and to share best practices.

15% Leadership of the Office of Policy Administration:

• Provides leadership, direction, and supervision of the Office of University Policy Administration staff.
• Oversees university policy administration programs on all campuses.
• Directs and oversees, as needed, topical research and comparison/benchmarking against policy practices at other institutions.
• Mentors, encourages, and supports staff’s professional growth and development.
• Administers the unit’s budget.

15% Responsibilities within the Office of Audit, Risk & Compliance:

• In support of the Chief Risk Officer, and through partnership with other OARC and university leaders, assists in the design and implementation of the university ERM program.
• Promotes a risk aware culture that encourages compliance, responsibility, and adaptive decision-making at every level.
• Assists the Chief Risk Officer in identifying emerging risks to achievement of the university’s mission and strategic objectives and proposes policy, mitigation, or other responses (e.g., training), as appropriate.
• Serve on leadership committees to represent OARC and provide compliance expertise as needed/requested, and perform special projects requested by university leadership.

1. Master's degree and 5 years of related experience OR Bachelor's degree and 7 years of related experience in the field.
2. Five years of progressive leadership responsibility and supervisory experience.
3. Demonstrated knowledge of university policy development processes as evidenced by application materials.

1. Demonstrated interpersonal and collaborative skills as evidence by application materials.
2. Demonstrated verbal and written communication skills as evidenced by application and interview.

In addition to the online application, the following documents are required to be considered for this position:

• A cover letter addressing how required and preferred qualifications are met.
• Resume or curriculum vitae.
• Contact information for three professional references.

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Application review begins Monday, October 9, 2023 and will continue until a qualified pool of candidates has been identified.

Cate Neeley
cateneeley@ku.edu

Starting at $95,000, commensurate with experience

8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Mon-Fri

Monday October 9, 2023

Monday November 27, 2023

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