Scion Executive Search

Lead and manage enterprise-wide compliance programs ensuring regulatory adherence and operational integration. | Requires 5+ years in healthcare or nonprofit compliance, knowledge of Medicaid billing, HIPAA, federal grants, and strong cross-functional leadership. | Scion Executive Search has been retained to identify the incoming Senior Director of Compliance on behalf of our client, Akin, a nonprofit dedicated to helping children and families across Washington state strengthen and grow together. Akin accomplishes this mission by building a brighter future together, rooted in family. We are seeking a proactive, systems-oriented leader with a proven track record of leading compliance programs within growing and evolving organizations. This individual will serve as the organization’s subject matter expert in compliance, trusted by leadership and staff alike to provide guidance, insight, and practical solutions. The ideal candidate is a strategic architect who thrives in a collaborative environment, translating regulations, and policy into actionable strategies that integrate seamlessly across operations. They are intellectually curious, adaptable, and comfortable turning underdeveloped or disparate processes into structured, scalable systems. This full-time, hybrid opportunity is located in Seattle, Washington. To learn more, visit https://akinfamily.org/. POSITION OVERVIEW: The Senior Director of Compliance is responsible for designing, building, and leading Akin’s enterprise-wide compliance program. This role ensures the organization operates in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, contractual requirements, and internal policies. Reporting to the Chief Administrative Officer, this position serves as a key enterprise leader in strengthening regulatory readiness and protecting Akin’s integrity, financial sustainability, and reputation. The Senior Director of Compliance establishes a compliance infrastructure that is proactive, scalable, and integrated across all functions, supporting both current operations and future growth. The Senior Director of Compliance partners closely with Finance, Clinical and Program Leadership, People Services, Quality Improvement (CQI), IT, Development and Grants, and Executive Leadership. The role may also serve as a liaison to Audit Committee or Board-level governance bodies to ensure independent compliance oversight. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: Compliance Program Management • Design, implement, and continuously improve a comprehensive, organization-wide compliance program, including policies, training, reporting mechanisms, and escalation protocols, aligned with regulatory expectations and organizational strategy. • Maintain a formal compliance calendar documenting mitigation strategies, ownership, and monitoring cadence to ensure visibility and accountability. • Provide regular, independent compliance reporting to executive leadership and Board governance committees. • Ensure compliance is embedded in daily operations as a proactive, scalable operational system, not a reactive function. Medicaid Billing and Healthcare Compliance • Serve as the organizational lead for HIPAA Privacy, Security, and Breach Notification compliance, in partnership with IT and program leadership. • Provide independent oversight of Medicaid billing compliance, including documentation standards, authorization requirements, and reimbursement regulations, in partnership with Finance, Billing, and CQI. • Develop policies and controls to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse, in partnership with Finance. • Conduct and oversee compliance audits of billing and documentation practices, in partnership with CQI, which leads performance improvement and quality monitoring. • Identify trends in denials or audit findings and recommend corrective action plans. • Ensure organizational readiness for payer audits, state reviews, and external investigations. • Oversee breach investigation, mitigation, and reporting, in partnership with IT and relevant operational leaders. Federal Grants and Contract Compliance • Ensure compliance with federal grant requirements, including Uniform Guidance, allowable costs, and reporting standards. • Provide compliance oversight of grant-funded programs, in partnership with Finance, Development, and Program leadership. • Support development of pre- and post-award compliance infrastructure and documentation standards. • Monitor contractual obligations with government and funding partners to ensure compliance. • Collaborate with CQI to ensure alignment between compliance requirements and program performance monitoring. Auditing, Monitoring, and Investigations • Design and implement auditing and monitoring systems to identify and mitigate compliance risks. • Conduct and oversee targeted audits, including billing, documentation, and operational practices, in partnership with CQI. • Establish and manage internal and external complaint and reporting processes, including anonymous reporting mechanisms. • Lead or coordinate investigations of alleged noncompliance, misconduct, or fraud, ensuring objectivity, confidentiality, and timely resolution. • Develop and monitor corrective action plans, ensuring sustained remediation. • Prepare reports and summaries for executive leadership and Board-level oversight. Policy, Regulatory Monitoring, and Records Management • Monitor regulatory changes, Medicaid requirements, and grant guidance, and translate them into actionable organizational practices. • Lead development and maintenance of compliance-related policies and procedures. • Ensure effective records management and retention practices, including documentation readiness for audits, subpoenas, and regulatory review. • Maintain systems that ensure compliance documentation is organized, accessible, and defensible. Training, Education, and Culture of Compliance • Develop and deliver compliance training programs across the organization, including role-specific content. • Serve as a trusted advisor to leadership and program managers on regulatory interpretation and compliance implications of operational decisions. • Promote a culture of integrity, transparency, and shared accountability across all sites and functions. • Ensure training participation and compliance activities are documented and tracked. Strategic Growth and Organizational Enablement • Partner with executive and operational leaders to ensure compliance is integrated into strategic planning and growth initiatives. • Conduct compliance readiness assessments for new programs, sites, service lines, and payer models. • Ensure expansion efforts include scalable compliance controls, training, and audit readiness. • Support evaluation of new partnerships, contracts, and collaborations from a compliance perspective. Cross-Functional Leadership and Implementation • Collaborate closely with Facilities, IT, People Services, CQI, and program leadership to ensure alignment. • Build strong, trust-based relationships that enable effective Continuous Quality Improvement efforts. • Travel regularly across sites to support implementation, education, and adoption of compliance practices. • Engage directly with teams to overcome operational and conceptual barriers to compliance integration. QUALIFICATIONS: • Bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration, business, finance, public administration, law, or related field; Master’s degree in a related field preferred. • 5+ years of progressive experience in healthcare, Medicaid-funded services, or nonprofit/government compliance. • Professional certification (CHC, CCEP, CIA, CPA, or equivalent), or ability to obtain within 12 months. • Experience in multi-site operations and regulated service environments preferred. • Demonstrated experience building compliance programs, policies, and audit systems. • Strong knowledge of Medicaid billing compliance, HIPAA and federal grant requirements (Uniform Guidance). • Experience conducting investigations and managing sensitive compliance matters. • Experience supporting external audits, state reviews, and federal monitoring visits preferred. • Ability to interpret complex regulations and translate them into actionable operational practices. • Strong cross-functional collaboration and communication skills. • High integrity, sound judgment, and ability to operate independently. COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS: In addition to a competitive base salary of $140,000 to $165,000, Akin also provides a comprehensive benefits package which includes access to robust health, vision, and dental insurance; 401(k) with up to 3% employer contribution; Employee Assistance Plans (EAP); Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA); Health Savings Account (HSA); Voluntary Long-Term Care Plan; Voluntary Life & Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance; short-term disability insurance; Critical Illness, Hospital, and Accident Insurance; Financial Wellness & Identity Protection; Voluntary Long-Term Care; and 14 days of vacation accrued in the first year, 12 days of sick pay accrued per year, 2 Employee Appreciation days, as well as 14 observed paid annual holidays per year. APPLICATIONS AND NOMINATIONS: Akin has retained the services of Scion Executive Search, a national executive search firm specializing in nonprofit recruitment, to assist in conducting this important search. For immediate consideration, please apply with your resume and cover letter, formatted in Microsoft Word, via: https://scionexecutivesearch.com/job/14331.