Vice President Audit, Compliance, Ethics and Risk Management

Vice President for Audit, Compliance, Ethics and Risk Management

Job

Location:

Augusta University

Employment Type:

Full Time

The Vice President of Audit, Compliance, Ethics, and Risk Management (VP-ACERM) is a senior leader charged with safeguarding Augusta University’s integrity, accountability, and operational resilience. This role provides strategic leadership and oversight across five critical domains:
Internal Audit, Ethics & Compliance, Enterprise Risk Management, Privacy, and Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S). The VP ensures that these entities have implemented appropriate policies, procedures, and education; while ensuring these activities appropriately assess and monitor institutional risks and make executive and senior leadership aware of these risks and the status of mitigation and corrective actions taken by management. The VP ensures that Augusta University operates in full alignment with federal and state laws, University System of Georgia (USG) policies, and the highest ethical standards.

This position is instrumental in promoting a culture of transparency, safety, and continuous improvement, while serving as a trusted advisor to the president, senior leadership and external regulatory bodies. It also serves as a member of the President’s Cabinet and is an active contributing member of the USG Internal Audit, Ethics & Compliance team.

• Creation, oversight and strategic management of the Internal Audit, Compliance, Privacy, Environmental Health and Safety, Ethics, and Risk Management departments and will serve as the Chief Compliance Officer. Reporting to the President and working directly with the Office of Internal Audit, Ethics & Compliance at the University System of Georgia to carry out a systematic approach to audit, risk management, controls and governance processes.
• Oversee an internal audit program that evaluates financial, operational, and compliance controls and follows-up to ensure management has implemented corrective actions.
• Ensures that high‑quality internal audit and advisory services are provided, including overseeing the development and execution of an annual comprehensive risk‑based audit plan in accordance with the professional standards promulgated by the Institute of Internal Auditors.
• Present findings and strategic recommendations to executive leadership.
• Ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations and university policies and procedures.
• Oversee fraud investigations and whistle blower protections.
• Direct the university‑wide ethics and compliance program, including policy development, training, and monitoring.
• Oversee investigations into misconduct, retaliation, and ethical violations and ensure management follow‑up on associated corrective actions.
• Oversee reviews to strengthen the University’s existing processes and systems to measure, monitor, and mitigate risk, and provide recommendations to improve operations.
• Collaborate with accountable institutional offices (e.g., athletics, research, DCG coding, etc.) for compliance with applicable laws, regulations and university policies and procedures.
• Oversee the development and maintain a comprehensive ERM framework that identifies, assesses, and mitigates strategic, operational, financial, and reputational risks.
• Facilitate cross‑functional risk assessments and scenario planning.
• Advise senior leadership on emerging risks and mitigation strategies.
• Integrate risk management into institutional planning and decision‑making.
• Ensures compliance with HIPAA, FERPA, GDPR, and other applicable privacy laws.
• Oversee the development of privacy policies, training programs, and incident response protocols.
• Lead investigations of data breaches and coordinate with IT, legal counsel, and clinical operations.
• Promote a privacy‑aware culture across academic and clinical units.
• Oversee EH&S programs to ensure compliance with OSHA, EPA, and state regulations.
• Promote a safe and healthy campus through proactive risk assessments, emergency preparedness, and safety training.
• Oversee the Institutional Biosafety Committee and Chemical Safety Committee.
• Promote initiatives to improve campus safety, sustainability, and…