Risk and Compliance Counsel

Barnard College; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 160,000 - 175,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a proactive Risk and Compliance Counsel to lead strategic initiatives in risk management and legal compliance. This role is vital in ensuring effective governance and policy development, mitigating risks while advancing institutional priorities. The ideal candidate will possess a Juris Doctor degree and extensive experience in legal compliance, risk management, and insurance oversight. Join a dynamic team that values integrity and collaboration, and contribute to the mission of fostering a safe and compliant educational environment. This position offers a blend of on-campus presence with some remote work flexibility.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of legal, risk management, or compliance experience required.
• Strong project management and organizational skills are essential.

Responsibilities

• Oversee compliance with laws and regulations affecting the College.
• Manage the enterprise risk management program and insurance policies.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders on compliance matters.

Skills

Legal expertise

Risk management

Contract negotiation

Compliance skills

Analytical skills

Project management

Organizational skills

Interpersonal skills

Education

Juris Doctor (J.D.)

Job description

If you are a current Barnard College employee, please use the internal career site to apply for this position.

Job: Risk and Compliance Counsel

Job Summary: Barnard’s Office of the General Counsel is looking for a proactive and organized Risk and Compliance Counsel to provide strategic leadership in risk management and legal compliance. This role ensures effective governance, enterprise risk management (ERM), and policy development to mitigate legal and financial risks while advancing institutional priorities.

Job Description:

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Oversees and monitors and advises on the College’s compliance with applicable Federal, State, Local laws, rules, and regulations including reporting requirements.
• Monitors legislative, regulatory actions and court rulings to ensure that the College is meeting any new or modified compliance and risk management requirements.
• Serve as the primary lead and liaison for risk management and compliance matters.
• Serve as a liaison between the Office of General Counsel, Finance & Operations, and external legal counsel on risk, insurance and compliance matters.
• Oversee the College’s enterprise risk management (ERM) program, identifying, assessing, and mitigating institutional risks.
• Provide legal and risk analysis for College policies, contracts, and initiatives to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
• Ensures appropriate insurance coverage and risk mitigation requirements are present in all contracts being entered into by the College.
• Oversee insurance policies, renewals, claims management, and risk transfer strategies, working across all units of the College and in close coordination with the Finance division.
• Manage the annual non-medical insurance renewal process, collaborating with the College’s external insurance broker and internal departments.
• Partner with the General Counsel on policy development, governance, regulatory compliance, and institutional risk strategy.
• Works closely with internal stakeholders on disaster recovery planning and business continuity strategies.
• Develop and implement institutional policies and processes to streamline risk, compliance, and operational efficiencies.
• Maintains and improves the College’s Compliance Matrix.
• Performs other tasks as assigned.

Skills, Qualifications & Requirements:

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Strong legal and risk management expertise, with the ability to assess and mitigate institutional risks.
• Excellent contract negotiation, compliance, and policy development skills.
• Experience overseeing insurance, claims management, and regulatory compliance.
• Exceptional strategic, analytical, and problem-solving abilities.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Ability to interact and collaborate effectively with senior administrators, trustees, faculty, and external stakeholders.
• High level of integrity, discretion, and ability to handle confidential and sensitive matters.

Qualifications:

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree required.
• Admission to the state bar (New York preferred) and in good standing.
• Minimum of 7 years of legal, risk management, or compliance experience, preferably in higher education, nonprofit, or corporate sectors.
• Experience in enterprise risk management, contract negotiation, insurance, and compliance.
• Supervisory experience with the ability to lead staff, set goals, and manage performance across different College functional areas.
• Higher education experience is a plus.
• Primarily on-campus with the possibility of some remote work.

Salary Range: $160,000 - $175,000 annually

The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The above hiring range represents the College's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.

Company: Barnard College

Time Type: Full time