VICE PRESIDENT COMPLIANCE & RISK

Job Description

Job Description

POSITION SUMMARY

Strata is seeking a Vice President of Compliance & Risk in Wichita, Kansas. Responsible for connecting overall business strategy with day-to-day operations, this tactical position is a key member of Strata’s team who will work directly with Strata’s President, having immediate responsibility for connecting Strata’s enterprise risk strategy with operating priorities. The role will lead a team whose daily tasks include ensuring compliance with client contracts; coordinating internally and with external resources to manage risk; complying with federal, state, and local business requirements; and ensuring ongoing day-to-day operational excellence, aligned with our broader strategic goals.

 

Successful candidates will be driven and self-motivated professionals seeking to grow their career toward principled leadership and strategic risk management for a fast-growing small business. Candidates should have experience with contract negotiations and business legal and regulatory compliance requirements in multiple U.S. states and the ability to be flexible and adapt to new and evolving business conditions. Strata’s clients primarily operate in the midstream oil and gas, heavy industrial, and chemical manufacturing industries; familiarity with the oil and gas industry will be critical for success in this role.

 

PRINCIPAL TACTICAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Compliance Governance Execution

• Oversee enterprise regulatory compliance structure (OSHA, DOT, environmental, industry-specific)
• Ensure initial and ongoing compliance with business registration and licensing requirements
• Maintain corporate records and document retention systems
• Ensure audit readiness across operating entities
• Develop and maintain internal policy governance framework
• Monitor contractual compliance obligations

Enterprise Risk & Insurance Strategic Management

• Manage company-wide insurance programs (GL, Auto, Umbrella, Pollution, WC, Professional, Property, etc.)
• Lead broker relationships and annual renewals
• Engage broker for project-specific special insurance packages/coverages
• Oversee claims management and loss mitigation
• Analyze coverage gaps and contractual insurance requirements
• Drive long-term risk cost reduction strategies
• Assess vendor/contractor COIs

Contracting and Legal Decision-Making

• Develop and implement contracting strategy with outside legal counsel
• Review and negotiate MSAs, customer contracts, vendor agreements, leases, and indemnity provisions
• Standardize contract templates and fallback language
• Engage outside legal counsel during negotiations for advice and planning
• Align contract terms with insurance coverage and risk appetite
• Maintain contract governance systems and approval workflows
• Ensure ongoing compliance with client-required safety consortiums
• Manage Strata’s safety consortium for its vendors/contractors
• Escalate material risk items to executive leadership

People Compliance Implementation

• Oversee drug & alcohol testing programs
• Oversee background screening processes
• Prepare, negotiate, and execute employment agreements
• Reporting and KPI/Metrics Tracking
• Develop and update list of key performance indicators related to compliance and risk management
• Prepare and distribute reports to managers
• Engage managers about continuous improvement initiatives based on performance metrics

Executive Strategy and Planning

• Lead the executive team in risk management planning
• Provide recommendations for and the implementation of continuous improvement initiatives
• Perform risk assessments of future growth opportunities

Controls and Systems Development

• Develop and oversee compliance and contracting processes and systems and workflows
• Support the development and maintenance of policy and procedure documents and tools based on current processes and in identified areas of need
• Along with the other members of the executive team, maintain enterprise software systems, including the upgrading, replacements, screening, selection, and/or implementation/roll -out of new systems

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE, SKILLS AND REQUIREMENTS

Experience

• At least fifteen (15) years of leadership and hands-on experience in compliance and risk management, contract negotiation, and administrative structure development and continuous improvement.
• At least five (5) years of staff management and leading cross-functional initiatives as well as engaging a business leadership team to develop strategies, communicate data, reports, strategy, options, and/or seek investment authorization.
• Oil and gas industry experience preferred.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in risk management, pre-law, business administration, or related business field. JD or master’s degree preferred.

Required Skillset

• Contract Intelligence: The candidate must understand indemnification structures, additional insured language, waivers of subrogation, pollution liability, hold harmless clauses, consequential damages, risk transfer mechanics, and be able to simplify these ideas and speak about them fluently to initiate strategies.
• Insurance Literacy: The candidate must understand the concepts of umbrellas, claims-made vs. per occurrence, self-insured retention, total cost of risk, and broker strategies.
• Insurance Assessment: The candidate must be able to identify where insurance coverage does not meet contractual requirements and how best to bridge the gap, waive, increase coverage, substitute, or walk.
• Risk Judgement: The candidate must know from a commercial and operational perspective when to push back, escalate, or accept risk.
• Executive Leadership: The candidate must be able to independently make strategic decisions which align with ownership expectations while overseeing a diverse administrative team. The candidate must be focused on building systems.
• Flexibility and Evolution: The candidate must be capable of working in evolving and ambiguous business environments and skilled at simplifying and clarifying information to improve decision-making under such conditions.
• Service Business: The candidate must be adept at working within a services business that focuses on the ultimate customer and understand their role within the organization as a facilitator as opposed to a roadblock to project success.

Computer Skills

• High degree of proficiency in Microsoft Office.
• Extensive experience with various ERPs and safety consortiums is required.
• Familiarity with using artificial intelligence, LLMs, GPTs, and other emerging “AI” applications.

Interpersonal

• Effectively communicate complex and legalistic concepts to management, co-workers, staff, and external parties in a manner that can be understood by all.

Confidentiality

• Must be able to work under attorney/client privilege and respect and uphold Strata and client confidentiality.

Written Communication

• Effective writer for the preparation of reports, plans, memos, letters, etc.
• Hands-on experience in preparation of written reports, tables, charts, and graphs that tell a clear story.

Workload Management

• Able to prioritize and successfully accomplish multiple tasks at once.

Personality Attributes

• Calm under pressure and stress facing tight deadlines
• Must be detail oriented but strategic and flexible
• Self-motivated within the freedom of a growing company
• Commercially minded over bureaucratic
• Meet or beat goals, deadlines, and commitments
• Punctual and communicative
• Able to connect risk aversion to operational targets
• Approach clients and coworkers respectfully and with consideration
• Pursue continuous improvement in quality and efficiency
• Confident during negotiation and comfortable in saying “no” when appropriate

Attention to Detail

• Demand the highest quality of work products including data and information accuracy.
• Verify information with internal and external parties and seek input from coworkers to get the best results.
• Reviews own work prior to requesting internal review.

Physical Activity

• Must be able to climb stairs.
• Must be able to lift and carry up to 25 lbs.

Transportation

• Valid driver’s license and safe driving record.

Travel

• Must be willing and able to travel for at least one week per month.

Authorization to Work

• Must be currently authorized to work in the United States.

Screenings

• This position requires initial and ongoing background checks and drug and alcohol screenings.

 

 

Company Description

WHY JOIN STRATA?

Strata offers flexible work hours, a collaborative environment, and opportunities for professional growth. Team members who demonstrate initiative and a commitment to excellence will find both financial and career advancement.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
Strata offers competitive salaries and an excellent employee benefits package for eligible (full-time) employees, including:

* On the job training provided.
* Fully-paid comprehensive health and dental insurance premium for employees (expandable to family coverage at employee expense)
* Fully-paid vision insurance premium for employee to family
* Remote/hybrid work options available
* 401k retirement plan with company match
* Unlimited Paid Time Off (PTO)
* Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
* Dependent Care Account (DCA)
* Company cell phone or cell phone allowance
* Tuition reimbursement program
* Professional training
* Career advancement opportunities
* Performance bonuses

ABOUT STRATA
Strata is a consulting firm specializing in subsurface salt cavern and injection well design, drilling, and maintenance, as well as environmental regulatory compliance. Our clients include midstream oil and gas, manufacturing, chemical, and heavy industrial companies.

Our tradition fosters innovation. Strata provides incomparable know-how to our clients. We deliver solutions best fit for beneficial outcomes, but above all, we aim to create long-lasting partnerships. Strata has office locations in Wichita, Kansas, and Houston, Texas. View our website at

Strata, LLC is an equal opportunity employer, committed to diversity in the workforce. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply.

Company Description

WHY JOIN STRATA? \r\n\r\nStrata offers flexible work hours, a collaborative environment, and opportunities for professional growth. Team members who demonstrate initiative and a commitment to excellence will find both financial and career advancement.\r\n\r\nCOMPENSATION & BENEFITS \r\nStrata offers competitive salaries and an excellent employee benefits package for eligible (full-time) employees, including:\r\n\r\n* On the job training provided. \r\n* Fully-paid comprehensive health and dental insurance premium for employees (expandable to family coverage at employee expense)\r\n* Fully-paid vision insurance premium for employee to family\r\n* Remote/hybrid work options available\r\n* 401k retirement plan with company match\r\n* Unlimited Paid Time Off (PTO)\r\n* Flexible Spending Account (FSA)\r\n* Dependent Care Account (DCA)\r\n* Company cell phone or cell phone allowance\r\n* Tuition reimbursement program\r\n* Professional training\r\n* Career advancement opportunities\r\n* Performance bonuses\r\n\r\nABOUT STRATA\r\nStrata is a consulting firm specializing in subsurface salt cavern and injection well design, drilling, and maintenance, as well as environmental regulatory compliance. Our clients include midstream oil and gas, manufacturing, chemical, and heavy industrial companies.\r\n\r\nOur tradition fosters innovation. Strata provides incomparable know-how to our clients. We deliver solutions best fit for beneficial outcomes, but above all, we aim to create long-lasting partnerships. Strata has office locations in Wichita, Kansas, and Houston, Texas. View our website at \r\n\r\nStrata, LLC is an equal opportunity employer, committed to diversity in the workforce. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply.