Compliance Director

Job Title
:
Compliance Director

Classification
:
Exempt

Department
:
Compliance

Revision Date
:
July 29, 2026

Reports To
:
Vice President of Compliance & Quality

Positions Supervised
:
Compliance Manager

The Compliance Director provides strategic leadership, executive oversight, and governance to ensure agency-wide adherence to all state and federal regulations, including Washington Administrative Code (WAC), DSHS guidelines, and L&I standards. This position is responsible for establishing the organization’s overarching compliance framework, managing organizational risk, and safeguarding the integrity of service delivery. The Director acts as the primary liaison with regulatory bodies and external auditors.

By embedding continuous quality controls, risk mitigation, and the Standard of Excellence into operational workflows, the Compliance Director ensures client-centered care remains fully compliant and operationally sustainable across all programs.

• Consistency in Care:
  Enforce rigorous protocol adherence and precision in support services to guarantee that every client receives the same high standard of care every shift.
• Integrity in Operations:
  Foster a culture of transparency and accountability by demanding absolute clarity in documentation, communication, and compliance.
• Stability & Growth:
  Strengthen the agency's compliance foundation to support full capacity utilization and the long-term vitality of the organization.
• Identify operational barriers quickly and solve them openly.
• Ensure these core pillars are reflected in training, supervision, and daily work across all departments.

• Design, implement, and oversee the agency’s comprehensive compliance and risk management strategy, aligning regulatory protocols with organizational goals.
• Serve as the primary compliance advisor to the Executive Leadership Team (ELT), providing regular reporting on systemic risk, audit outcomes, and regulatory trends.
• Serve as the principal liaison for external regulatory agencies (DSHS, state inspectors) and external auditors.
• Maintain an expert-level understanding of evolving WAC regulations, state mandates, and client support requirements.
• Lead the proactive restructuring of internal operations to maintain compliance.
• Establish and execute the annual organization-wide Risk Assessment Plan and Compliance Self-Assessment framework.
• Author, approve, and enforce high-level agency policies, code of ethics, and governance standards across all departments.
• Direct complex internal audits and sensitive compliance investigations regarding potential regulatory violations, systemic non-conformance, or ethical concerns.
• Oversee the formulation and submission of all official Plan of Correction (POC) responses and remediation plans following state examinations or external audits.
• Partner with department heads to audit client documentation, program planning, and service delivery workflows to guarantee regulatory alignment.
• Directly supervise, mentor, and evaluate the Compliance Manager, fostering a culture of continuous learning and accountability.
• Ensure robust systems are in place for DSHS background clearances, staff credentialing, and state-mandated training compliance.
• Champion data privacy and confidentiality, ensuring full agency adherence to client privacy rights, security standards, and ethical care protocols.

• Minimum age of 18 years.
• Current criminal background check, cleared by DSHS before working alone, unsupervised with clients.
• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Associate or Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services, Social Work, Business Administration, Healthcare, or a related field preferred, but not required.
• Equivalent combination of direct work experience, state regulatory knowledge, and demonstrated leadership may substitute for formal education.

• Language
  
  Skills:
  
  Excellent reading comprehension and written communication skills required. Ability to read, analyze, and interpret documents, reports, technical specifications, governmental regulations, and…