Compliance & Investigations Manager

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies; Palo Alto (CA); On-site; USD 135,800 - 169,800; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/Rx insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Job summary

A leading automotive technology company located in Palo Alto seeks a Compliance & Investigations Manager to establish its Corporate Compliance Function. You will be instrumental in implementing a tailored Compliance Management System and ensuring compliance with a complex framework of global regulations. The ideal candidate has 5+ years in corporate compliance and is adept at conducting investigations and managing projects effectively. This position offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• 5-7 years of progressive experience in Corporate Compliance, Legal, or GRC consulting.
• Minimum 3 years of hands-on experience as an in-house Ethics & Compliance professional.
• Proven ability to lead sensitive internal investigations and audits with discretion.

Responsibilities

• Build and launch a tailored Compliance Management System (CMS).
• Conduct comprehensive compliance risk assessments.
• Lead the end-to-end project management of the CMS rollout.

Skills

Project Leadership

Proactive Risk Management

Stakeholder Management

Pragmatic Problem Solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Advanced degree (JD, LLM)

Job description

About Us

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies is a joint venture between two industry leaders with a clear vision for automotive’s next chapter. From operating systems to zonal controllers to cloud and connectivity solutions, we’re addressing the challenges of electric vehicles through technology that will set the standards for software‑defined vehicles around the world. The road to the future is uncharted. By combining our expertise across connectivity, AI, security and more, we’ll map a new way forward. Working together, we’ll create a future that’s more connected, more intelligent, more sustainable for everyone.

Role Summary

RV Tech seeks an entrepreneurial, hands‑on Compliance & Investigations Manager to help establish the Corporate Compliance Function from its foundation. Reporting to the Head of Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC), this high‑impact role is the operational expert responsible for operationalizing and refining a proactive Compliance Management System (CMS) across our dynamic, high‑technology environment.

About The Role

Working closely with Legal and Internal Audit, you will play a critical role in building the operational backbone of RV Tech’s compliance function. You will execute the implementation of the CMS and lead day‑to‑day investigations. You will be responsible for operationalizing the program, conducting the foundational risk assessment and ensuring our joint venture adheres to a complex web of global regulations.

Program Implementation & Strategy

• CMS Operations: Build and launch a bespoke CMS tailored to the unique risk landscape of an agile joint venture, utilizing Rivian’s framework as a foundational baseline.
• Risk Assessment: Partner with the Head of GRC to coordinate and execute comprehensive compliance risk assessments, translating findings into actionable mitigation strategies.
• Strategic Risk Intelligence: Proactively monitor emerging regulatory trends to deploy innovative, non‑bureaucratic solutions that strengthen organizational resilience without slowing velocity.

Operational Execution & Governance

• Program Rollout: Lead the end‑to‑end project management of the CMS rollout, ensuring compliance elements are operationally embedded into business workflows rather than just documented.
• Policy Management: Apply disciplined project management to ethics initiatives, ensuring robust documentation, transparent tracking, and accountability across all business units.
• Continuous Improvement: Define and track key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure program effectiveness, leveraging data insights to drive continuous process optimization.

Culture, Advisory & Communication

• Cross‑Functional Leadership: Drive alignment across engineering and business teams to ensure the sustainability of ethics programs, serving as the primary trusted advisor on regulatory obligations.
• Curriculum Design: Develop and deliver audience‑specific training and communications that engage leadership and embed a culture of integrity across the organization.

Investigations & Whistleblower Management

• Manage Reporting Channels: Operationalize and manage the whistleblower hotline and reporting platform, ensuring a distinct and secure channel for RV Tech employees.
• Lead Investigations: Conduct internal investigations into alleged violations of the Code of Conduct, keeping strict documentation and root cause analysis to support remediation strategies.
• Policy Development: Draft and maintain the Internal Investigations Procedure, ensuring it meets organizational justice standards and is consistently applied.

Qualifications

• Track Record: 5‑7 years of progressive experience in Corporate Compliance, Legal, or GRC consulting, specifically within dynamic high‑tech, automotive, or software environments.
• Domain Expertise: Minimum 3 years of hands‑on experience as an in‑house Ethics & Compliance professional or in high‑stakes risk advisory (e.g., corporate crime, internal investigations).
• Investigative Depth: Proven ability and hands‑on experience leading sensitive internal investigations and audits with discretion and procedural rigor.

Required Competencies (Inherent Skills)

• Program Implementation: Demonstrated ability to deploy innovative, low‑friction compliance frameworks that reduce bureaucracy while ensuring robust regulatory adherence.
• Project Leadership: Strong deadline‑centric project management skills, with the agility to drive multiple regulatory workstreams simultaneously in fast‑paced, ambiguous environments.
• Proactive Risk Management: See around corners mindset; ability to identify and remediate emerging issues before they escape into critical business risks.
• Cross‑Functional Alignment: Proven success partnering with technical and engineering teams to operationalize policies and code of conduct obligations without stifling innovation.
• Stakeholder Management: Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to build trust and influence decisions at all organizational levels, from engineering to the C‑suite.
• Pragmatic Problem Solving: Highly self‑driven approach to resolving legal and business challenges, balancing commercial goals with compliance obligations.

Education & Logistics

• Credentials: Bachelor’s degree required. Advanced degree (JD, LLM) or professional certification (CCEP, CFE) is highly preferred.
• Flexibility: Willingness to travel as required to support business needs.

Pay Disclosure

Salary Range/Hourly Rate for Palo Alto, California Based Applicants: $135,800 - $169,800 (actual compensation will be determined based on experience, location, and other factors permitted by law).

Benefits Summary

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies provides robust medical/Rx, dental and vision insurance packages for full‑time and part‑time employees, their spouse or domestic partner, and children up to age 26. Full‑time employee coverage is effective on the first day of employment. Part‑time employee coverage is effective the first of the month following 90 days of employment.

Equal Opportunity

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information or characteristics, physical or mental disability, marital/domestic partner status, age, military/veteran status, medical condition, or any other characteristic protected by law. We are also committed to ensuring compliance with all applicable fair employment practice laws regarding citizenship and immigration status.

Disability Accommodations

We are committed to ensuring that our hiring process is accessible for persons with disabilities. If you have a disability or limitation, such as those covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act, that requires accommodations to assist you in the search and application process, please email us at [e-mail].

Candidate Data Privacy

Rivian and VW Group Technologies (“Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies”) may collect, use and disclose your personal information or personal data (within the meaning of the applicable data protection laws) when you apply for employment and/or participate in our recruitment processes (“Candidate Personal Data”). This data includes contact, demographic, communications, educational, professional, employment, social media/website, network/device, recruiting system usage/interaction, security and preference information. Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies may use your Candidate Personal Data for the purposes of (i) tracking interactions with our recruiting system; (ii) carrying out, analyzing and improving our application and recruitment process, including assessing you and your application and conducting employment, background and reference checks; (iii) establishing an employment relationship or entering into an employment contract with you; (iv) complying with our legal, regulatory and corporate governance obligations; (v) recordkeeping; (vi) ensuring network and information security and preventing fraud; and (vii) as otherwise required or permitted by applicable law. Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies may share your Candidate Personal Data with (i) internal personnel who have a need to know such information in order to perform their duties, including individuals on our People Team, Finance, Legal, and the team(s) with the position(s) for which you are applying; (ii) Rivian and Volkswagen Technologies affiliates; and (iii) Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies’ service providers, including providers of background checks, staffing services, and cloud services. Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies may transfer or store internationally your Candidate Personal Data, including to or in the United States, Canada, and the European Union and in the cloud, and this data may be subject to the laws and accessible to the courts, law enforcement and national security authorities of such jurisdictions. Please see our Candidate Data Privacy Notice (English) and Candidate Data Privacy Notice (Serbian) for more information.

Please note that we are currently not accepting applications from third party application services.