Director of Compliance

DIRECTOR OF COMPLIANCE

ADA and Title IX Coordinator

Southern University at New Orleans

POSITION DETAILS

Employment Category: Full-time administrative professional

FLSA Classification: Exempt (salaried)

Salary Range: $70,000-$85,000 annually

Reports to: Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management and Student Success

Supervisory Status: Supervises Office for Compliance staff

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Director of Compliance leads the Office for Compliance and serves as the University Title IX Coordinator and ADA Coordinator. The director provides institution-wide leadership for compliance with Title IX, laws addressing power-based violence, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the Fair Housing Act, and other applicable federal and state requirements.

As Title IX Coordinator, the director develops prevention and education programs, coordinates training, and oversees the University response to reports and complaints of sex discrimination, sexual harassment, and power-based violence. The director ensures that investigations and resolution processes are adequate, reliable, timely, confidential, impartial, and consistent with governing policies and law.

As ADA Coordinator, the director leads the interactive process for employees and members of the public requesting accommodations, evaluates supporting documentation, coordinates reasonable accommodations and accessible services, and receives and investigates ADA-related complaints. The director works across the University to ensure equal access to programs, activities, employment, facilities, and services.

The director reports administratively to the Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management and Student Success and has direct access to the SUNO Chancellor and the System Director for Compliance on substantive compliance matters. The role requires sound judgment, independence, confidentiality, cultural competence, and effective collaboration with students, employees, administrators, and the public.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

Leadership and Administration

• Lead, supervise, and manage the Office for Compliance, including the Disability Services Coordinator, Deputy Title IX Coordinator, and other assigned staff.
• Establish annual priorities, procedures, case-management practices, records standards, and assessment measures for ADA, Section 504, Title IX, and power-based violence compliance.
• Advise senior leadership on compliance risks, trends, systemic concerns, corrective measures, and institutional obligations.
• Maintain independence and direct access to the Chancellor and System compliance leadership for substantive compliance matters.
• Prepare reports, maintain required records, monitor deadlines, and support federal, state, System, and University reporting obligations.

Title IX and Power Based Violence Compliance

• Serve as the University Title IX Coordinator and coordinate compliance with Title IX, the Louisiana Campus Accountability and Safety Act, System policy, University policy, and other applicable requirements.
• Develop, implement, coordinate, and conduct educational programs for students and employees regarding discrimination, sexual harassment, power-based violence, reporting options and responsibilities, supportive measures, confidential resources, grievance procedures, and applicable disciplinary processes.
• Receive and assess reports and complaints; coordinate supportive measures; and oversee intake, investigation, adjudication, remedies, and resolution processes within the authority assigned by policy.
• Ensure investigations and responses are adequate, reliable, timely, confidential, impartial, and appropriately documented.
• Train deputy coordinators, investigators, confidential advisors, decision-makers, appeal officers, and other designated personnel in accordance with applicable requirements.
• Identify patterns or systemic concerns arising from reports and complaints and recommend corrective actions, policy revisions, training, or other preventive measures.
• Monitor and promote employee completion of required compliance training and maintain related records.

ADA and Section 504 Compliance

• Serve as the primary University contact for ADA and Section 504 concerns involving employees and members of the public.
• Conduct intake meetings, review disability documentation, engage in the interactive process, evaluate essential job or program requirements, and develop individualized accommodation plans.
• Coordinate reasonable accommodations and accessible services so qualified individuals have equal access to University employment, programs, activities, facilities, and services.
• Maintain confidential records of accommodation requests, supporting documentation, determinations, implemented accommodations, concerns, and resolutions.
• Receive and investigate ADA complaints pursuant to System and University policy and maintain complete case records.
• Ensure required ADA education and training, including training required by Louisiana law, and provide guidance to supervisors and campus units.
• Collaborate with the Disability Services Coordinator on student access matters and provide assistance with approved testing accommodations when needed.

Policy Education and Campus Collaboration

• Develop and update compliance policies, procedures, forms, notices, websites, training materials, and educational programming.
• Interpret professional guidance, governmental regulations, System policies, and University procedures and communicate requirements clearly to varied audiences.
• Build effective working relationships with students, faculty, staff, administrators, law enforcement, health and counseling professionals, community partners, and the general public.
• Perform other related duties assigned by System or University policy or by the appropriate institutional authority.

SCOPE OF RESPONSIBILITY AND INDEPENDENT JUDGMENT

The director exercises independent judgment in assessing reports, determining applicable processes, coordinating supportive measures and accommodations, evaluating documentation, identifying compliance risks, and recommending corrective action. Decisions must be consistent with applicable law, System and University policy, due-process requirements, confidentiality obligations, and delegated authority. Matters involving significant institutional risk, conflicts of interest, policy exceptions, or executive action must be elevated to the appropriate University or System official.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

The director supervises assigned Office for Compliance personnel, including the Disability Services Coordinator and Deputy Title IX Coordinator. Responsibilities may include assigning and reviewing work, coaching and training employees, evaluating performance, recommending personnel actions, and ensuring operational coverage and compliance with University policy.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master's degree from an accredited institution.
• At least five years of professional experience in higher education.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the ADA Amendments Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, Title IX, and the Louisiana Campus Accountability and Safety Act.
• Experience administering compliance programs, accommodations, investigations, training, policy implementation, or closely related responsibilities.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Juris Doctor or other relevant terminal degree.
• Professional experience serving as a Title IX Coordinator, ADA Coordinator, compliance officer, investigator, or comparable higher-education administrator.
• Relevant professional training or certification in Title IX, ADA, investigations, accommodations, or compliance administration.

KNOWLEDGE SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Comprehensive knowledge of Title IX, power-based violence requirements, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the ADA Amendments Act, Section 504, and related federal and state requirements.
• Ability to conduct or oversee impartial investigations, evaluate evidence, manage sensitive cases, identify systemic concerns, and maintain accurate confidential records.
• Strong analytical, policy-development, organizational, project-management, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication, including the ability to prepare reports and procedures and present complex information to students, employees, leadership, and the public.
• Demonstrated cultural competence, discretion, neutrality, sound judgment, and ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds and with varied accessibility needs.
• Proficiency with word processing, spreadsheets, online systems, case records, and other technology used to administer compliance programs.

WORK ENVIRONMENT PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND TRAVEL

Work is primarily performed in a professional office environment and requires frequent interaction with individuals involved in sensitive or confidential matters. The position requires travel between campus departments and may require availability outside regular business hours for urgent compliance matters, training, or campus events.

• Ability to sit, stand, and walk as needed; climb stairs; communicate verbally and in writing; use a keyboard and computer for extended periods; and lift or carry materials weighing up to 10 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Routine travel between campus locations is required. Occasional local or professional travel may be required for training, conferences, investigations, or University business.

ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Employment is contingent upon successful completion of all University-required pre-employment screenings. The employee must maintain confidentiality, complete required training, avoid conflicts of interest, and comply with all applicable System and University policies.

BENEFITS

Eligible employees may participate in health insurance offered through the Louisiana Office of Group Benefits, retirement through the Teachers' Retirement System of Louisiana, dental and vision coverage offered through UNUM, and applicable paid time off benefits. Benefit eligibility is determined by the employee's appointment, plan requirements, and University and Southern University System policies.

HOW TO APPLY

Applicants should submit all required application materials through the Southern University at New Orleans employment application process. Applications must clearly demonstrate that the applicant meets the required qualifications.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND NON DISCRIMINATION

Southern University at New Orleans is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The University prohibits discrimination and harassment based on any status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law in employment and University-administered programs and activities.

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT STATEMENT

SUNO complies with applicable federal and state disability laws and provides reasonable accommodations for qualified applicants and employees. Individuals needing an accommodation during the application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, or to access employment benefits should contact the Office of Human Resources.

STATE AS A MODEL EMPLOYER

Louisiana is a State as a Model Employer that supports the recruitment, hiring, and retention of individuals with disabilities.