Director of Compliance

Job Title Director of Compliance Job Description The Director of Compliance (North America) is responsible for leading regulatory oversight across the United States and Canada, ensuring full adherence to all applicable laws, accreditation standards, safeguarding and student welfare obligations, and health & safety requirements. Acting as the regional compliance authority, this role holds accountability for policy ownership, risk management, and alignment with KLG global standards. The Director serves as a senior escalation point for safeguarding and incident management while contributing to business-wide compliance governance, reporting, and continuous improvement. The role is also responsible for embedding a consistent, data-driven compliance and incident management framework aligned with KLG global protocols and board-level reporting expectations. Key Responsibilities Regulatory Compliance & Policy OwnershipEnsure full compliance with all federal, state/provincial, and local regulations across U.S. and Canadian operations, while providing strategic guidance and support to schools to maintain high standards of regulatory adherence, reporting accuracy, and staff capabilityMaintain expert, up-to-date knowledge of regulatory requirements across jurisdictions, including immigration, accreditation, safeguarding, and health & safetyOwn and continuously develop regional compliance policies and procedures, ensuring alignment with evolving legislation and KLG standardsMonitor, interpret, and implement regulatory changes (e.g., SEVIS/SEVP, IRCC, provincial and state requirements)In conjunction with School Directors and the Director of Operations, review and approve policy exceptions relating to student welfare, suitability, or operational needs using sound judgement and risk-based decision-makingEnsure timely, accurate, and auditable regulatory reporting and documentation Student Welfare, Safeguarding & Duty of CareProvide strategic leadership for student welfare frameworks, ensuring consistent standards across all schools aligned with KLG duty of care expectationsAct as the senior student welfare escalation point, overseeing serious concerns and ensuring appropriate internal and external reportingEnsure robust student welfare systems are in place, particularly for minors and vulnerable studentsImplement and maintain safeguarding procedures aligned with best practice in international educationEnsure staff are appropriately trained and fully aware of student welfare responsibilities and escalation processesPromote a proactive student welfare culture through continuous monitoring, training, and improvement initiatives Incident Management & Crisis ResponseLead the regional implementation of a standardized incident management framework, including systems, tools, and protocolsOversee the reporting, investigation, and resolution of incidents, including:Safeguarding and student welfare concernsStudent welfare issuesHealth & safety incidentsRegulatory breachesImplement, in partnership with the global compliance team, consistent escalation protocols aligned to incident severity, supported by coordinated crisis and scenario planning and integrated business continuity principlesEnsure timely and accurate reporting to internal leadership and, where required, external regulatory authoritiesOversee incident data management, including tracking, trend analysis, and the development of mitigation strategiesMaintain clear and consistent communication with managers and staff, ensuring appropriate awareness and updates on relevant cases Health & Safety LeadershipProvide strategic oversight of health & safety compliance, systems, and culture across all North American locationsEnsure full adherence to applicable legislation and internal safety standards across all premisesOversee the development and implementation of:Risk assessments and mitigation strategiesAudit frameworks and monitoring processesIncident and accident investigations, ensuring appropriate corrective actionsMaintain comprehensive safety documentation, including compliance with state- and federal-specific requirements (e.g., California Workplace Violence Prevention Plans)Drive continuous improvement and foster a strong, engaged safety culture across all schoolsAct as a key liaison with external stakeholders, including regulatory authorities, inspectors, and insurers Accreditation, Immigration & External RepresentationServe as the primary liaison with accreditation bodies, regulatory agencies, and immigration authorities in the US and secondary liaison in CanadaSupport School Directors in meeting local regulatory requirementsOversee accreditation processes, inspections, and organizational readinessEnsure alignment between accreditation standards and immigration compliance requirementsLead preparation activities, including mock inspections, documentation reviews, and staff readinessBuild and maintain strong relationships with external stakeholders and industry bodies (e.g., ACCET, NAFSA, Languages Canada)Represent the organization in professional forums and regulatory networks when applicable (e.g., conferences and workshops) Governance, Reporting & Global AlignmentParticipate in the Compliance Steering Committee (CSC) and contribute to global compliance strategy and alignmentSupport monthly executive and board-level reporting, including:Incident metrics and trendsRisk management updatesRegulatory developmentsAudit and compliance activityCollaborate cross-regionally to ensure a consistent and cohesive KLG-wide compliance approachDrive standardization across systems, reporting, and compliance processesSupport the development and tracking of compliance KPIs and performance measures Training, Communication & Capability BuildingDesign and deliver structured compliance training programs for school teams, customer care, and sales staffEnsure training covers key areas, including:Immigration complianceSafeguarding and student welfareHealth & safetyAccreditation standardsSupport the rollout and adoption of LMS-based training programsTrain and support US school-based DSOs; serve as P/DSO if possibleCommunicate regulatory updates and policy changes clearly and effectively across all stakeholder groups Risk Management, Audit & Continuous ImprovementMonitor compliance performance and identify emerging or systemic risksLead or support internal audits and investigative processesDrive continuous improvement initiatives across compliance, safeguarding, and health & safetyEnsure alignment between regional practices and global compliance strategy Minimum Qualifications Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience6+ years’ experience in compliance, safeguarding, regulatory affairs, or education administrationExperience managing incident reporting, safeguarding escalations, and/or investigationsStrong understanding of regulatory frameworks in the U.S., Canada, or bothExcellent communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills Preferred Qualifications Experience with international student compliance systems:U.S.: USCIS/ DHS/ SEVP systems (e.g., SEVIS, Case Status Online, FMJfee.com)Canada: IRCC systems (e.g., LOA verification system, semi-annual reporting system)Experience in safeguarding leadership or student welfare oversightExperience in ESL/EFL or international education environmentsLeadership or team management experienceFamiliarity with incident management systems and reporting toolsHealth & Safety certification (e.g., OSHA, NEBOSH or equivalent) Key Skills & Competencies Regulatory and compliance expertise (U.S. & Canada)Strong safeguarding and student welfare leadershipIncident and crisis management capabilityRisk assessment and mitigationGovernance and reporting disciplineSenior stakeholder engagement and influenceAnalytical and data-driven decision-makingCross-functional leadership and collaboration Additional Requirements Ability to travel occasionally across North AmericaFlexibility to respond to incidents or escalations outside standard working hoursAuthorization to work in the United States or Canada Once hired, must Be aware of who is the designated safeguarding Lead for Kaplan LanguagesBe aware of how to identify safeguarding concerns and how to appropriately respond to theseComplete, in a timely fashion, any safeguarding training assigned to youReport any safeguarding concerns to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) in the schoolAs a member of the school team, be responsible for all aspects of our students' safeguarding and welfare in conjunction with the wider school and company management teamsMust pass a criminal background check Requirements Physical Requirements SittingStandingWalkingClimbingLifting up to 50+ poundsPullingPushingCarryingGraspingReachingBendingVisual Acuity - Color DeterminationSpeakingListeningAn equivalent degree abroad or acceptable experience in lieu of education: two years of experience for every year of formal education required. Location Boston, MA, USA Employee Type Employee Job Functional Area Accreditation & Compliance Kaplan lnternational is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity. If you require any adjustments or additional support within the recruitment process, please contact us directly. All positions with Kaplan are paid at least $15 per hour or $31,200 per year for full-time positions. Compensation for specific positions are based on job level, skills, years of experience, and education, among other factors. Additionally, certain positions are bonus or commission eligible.