Compliance Officer - Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP)

West Virginia Department of Health; West Virginia; On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

West Virginia Department of Health seeks a Compliance Officer to establish and oversee a comprehensive compliance framework for the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). This executive will manage a historic $199 million allocation for 2026 and up to $1 billion over five years, ensuring adherence to regulations, funding constraints, and ethical standards.

Responsibilities include governance leadership, risk assessment, and collaboration with senior leadership to mitigate legal and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• 5–7 years healthcare compliance or governance experience.
• Deep knowledge of federal funding, Uniform Guidance, HIE data governance.
• Compensation commensurate with qualifications.
• Health & wellness plans and generous leave included.
• Work-life balance features with paid state holidays.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement a comprehensive compliance infrastructure for RHTP.
• Oversee federal grant requirements and financial stewardship.
• Lead governance activities and risk mitigation with senior leadership.
• Manage data privacy and security protocols for rural health data.
• Conduct internal reviews and investigations into policy or contract violations.
• Develop policies, guidelines, and standard operating procedures.

Skills

Regulatory compliance

Governance

Risk assessment

Cross-agency collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in healthcare administration, public administration, public health, business administration, law, or related field

Master's degree or Juris Doctor (JD) preferred

Job description

Reports To: Director, Rural Health Transformation Program

Position Type: Full‑Time, Exempt (At‑Will)

Position Overview: The Compliance Officer will establish, oversee, and maintain the comprehensive compliance framework for the WV Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). Overseeing the infrastructure for a historic $199 million allocation for 2026 (and up to $1 billion over five years), this executive role ensures that all operations, rural health initiatives, grant‑funded projects, and organizational partnerships strictly adhere to state and federal regulations, funding constraints, and ethical standards. The position supports the Rural Health Transformation Program by leading governance efforts and advising senior leadership on mitigating legal, contractual, and operational risks.

Key Responsibilities

• Programmatic Review: Design, implement, and monitor a compliance infrastructure tailored to RHTP’s seven core initiatives:
• Connected Care Grid & HealthTech Appalachia: Oversee telehealth credentialing, digital care delivery rules, and technology integration compliance.
• Rural Health Link: Ensure regional patient transportation networks adhere to state safety, liability, and transit regulations.
• Mountain State Care Force & Health to Prosperity Pipeline: Establish compliant frameworks for workforce recruitment incentives, training contracts, and community onboarding programs.
• Personal Health Accelerator & Smart Care Catalyst: Ensure local wellness partnerships, nutrition initiatives, and lifestyle programs meet state health standards.
• Grant & Funding Oversight: Ensure strict adherence to grant requirements, tracking accountability milestones and financial stewardship standards.
• Data Privacy & Security: Manage data governance protocols, ensuring absolute privacy protection for rural community research, health metrics, and participant data.
• Auditing & Risk Assessment: Plan and execute regular internal reviews, procedural audits, and operational vulnerability assessments.
• Policy Development: Create, revise, and distribute organizational guidelines, ethical codes of conduct, and standard operating procedures.
• Investigations & Reporting: Lead independent investigations into reported or suspected policy or contractual violations, document findings, and enact swift corrective action plans.

Core Competencies

• Strategic Risk Management: Advanced capacity to proactively identify operational, legal, and contractual vulnerabilities within diverse programs—such as telehealth, workforce recruitment, and transit infrastructure—and execute systemic mitigation strategies.
• Data Governance & Privacy Leadership: Strong understanding of health data privacy frameworks and state/federal rules to ensure that integrated platforms (like the WVHIN data infrastructure) and analytics engines handle sensitive participant information securely.
• Cross‑Functional & Interagency Collaboration: Proven ability to navigate state agency environments and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with public‑private partners, state departments, and external university evaluation teams.
• Objectivity & Investigative Integrity: Exceptional skills in leading independent, neutral reviews into policy or contractual variations, combined with the administrative diplomacy needed to deliver objective compliance reports and corrective actions to senior leadership.
• Analytical Problem‑Solving: Ability to interpret ambiguous state and federal frameworks, translate complex health delivery rules into actionable operational guidelines, and resolve multi‑faceted structural risks.
• Mission‑Driven Accountability: A strong commitment to public sector integrity, financial stewardship, and the Governor’s mission to build a healthier, stronger, and more self‑reliant West Virginia.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: A bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration, public administration, public health, business administration, law, or related field is required; a master’s degree or Juris Doctor (JD) is preferred.
• Experience: 5–7 years of healthcare compliance, programmatic governance, or operational risk management experience is required. Direct exposure to large‑scale public health initiatives, multi‑site health networks, or state government programs is highly preferred.
• Specialized Knowledge: Deep familiarity with federal funding mechanics, Uniform Guidance compliance, public‑private partnership rules, health information exchange (HIE) data governance, healthcare delivery rules, and the systemic logistical obstacles unique to West Virginia.
• Compensation: Commensurate with qualifications.
• Health & Wellness: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance plans.
• Work-Life Balance: Generous paid leave accrual (vacation and sick time) alongside paid state holidays.

Limited‑Term Notice

This position is a full‑time, term‑limited appointment for a period of up to four (4) years and is contingent upon the award and continued availability of federal funding through the Rural Health Transformation Program. Continued employment beyond the project period is not guaranteed.

Applicants interested in learning more about the program and the State’s proposed approach may review the application materials here: https://governor.wv.gov/rht