Executive Director of ORCA

The Executive Director of the Office of Rights, Compliance and Accountability (ORCA) provides strategic, university-wide leadership to advance a safe, respectful, accessible, and welcoming learning and working environment while ensuring compliance with federal and state laws, Board of Regents Policy, and University regulations. Reporting to the Associate Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs, this position oversees the administration of ORCA, including associate directors, investigators, case managers, and professional staff, while providing executive oversight of Title IX, ADA/Section 504, Clery Act, student conduct, CARE, civil rights compliance, and related institutional compliance programs. Serving as the University's ADA/504 Coordinator and Chief Student Conduct Officer, the Executive Director helps coordinate and at times leads investigations involving discrimination, harassment, sexual misconduct, student misconduct, accessibility, and other complaints; develops and implements institutional policies, procedures, and prevention strategies; oversees the university's threat assessment and CARE teams; manages compliance reporting and case management systems; and serves as the primary resource for complex compliance matters across the institution. The Executive Director collaborates extensively with university leadership, faculty, staff, students, community partners, and external agencies to promote a culture of accountability, safety, and respect through education, training, outreach, policy development, and continuous improvement while managing departmental operations, personnel, and budget in support of the university's academic, research, and student success missions.

To thrive in this role, the successful candidate will possess a thorough knowledge of federal and state civil rights and higher education laws, as well as demonstrated experience interpreting and applying complex laws, regulations, policies, and higher education best practices. You will be an accomplished leader with experience managing professional staff, fostering collaboration, and building strong partnerships across diverse stakeholder groups. The successful candidate will demonstrate exceptional analytical, investigative, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, along with the ability to exercise sound judgment in sensitive and complex situations. Strong written and verbal communication skills are essential, as is the ability to effectively engage with a wide array of communities. Experience with case management databases and enterprise systems, such as Banner, is highly desirable, along with a strong understanding of trauma-informed practices and their application in investigations, student conduct, and civil rights compliance.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, student affairs, legal studies, Counseling, Business, Law or a related discipline. Equivalent training, knowledge and experience may be substituted.  Preferred - Master’s degree in HR, student affairs, legal studies or JD.

Must be able to pass a criminal background check and obtain CJIS - criminal justice information system clearance.

Writing skills test may be required at the time of the interview.

A valid Alaska Driver's License and clean driving record in compliance with UA Safe Driving Criteria.

Position Details:

This is a full-time, executive position complete with both a competitive salary and full employee benefits package. UA provides a generous compensation package that includes retirement options, annual leave, 12 paid holidays per year, tuition waivers for employees and family members, and affordable medical, dental, and vision care coverage. Salary will be aligned with qualifications and experience.

Application review will be on August 17, 2026, at 11:55 PM Alaska Time. Applications received by this date will receive priority consideration; however, the recruitment will remain open until filled.

📃To view the full list of job responsibilities, please click HERE.

☎️If you have any questions regarding this position, please contact Bridget Thimsen, Signers' Business Office, HR Coordinator at bmthimsen@alaska.edu.

*To be eligible for this position, applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without restriction.  Applicants who now or may in the future require visa sponsorship to work in the United States are not eligible.

This position is designated as an officer of the university or senior administrator at the discretion of the president.

The University of Alaska (UA) is responsible for providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities throughout the applicant screening process. If you need assistance in completing this application or during any phase of the interview process, please contact the ADA team at ua-ada@alaska.edu.

The University of Alaska (www.alaska.edu) is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access Employer and Educational Institution.  The University is committed to a policy of non-discrimination (www.alaska.edu/nondiscrimination) against individuals on the basis of any legally protected status.

The successful applicant is required to complete a background check. Any offer of employment is contingent on the background check.

Your application for employment with the University of Alaska is subject to public disclosure under the Alaska Public Records Act.

All employees at the University of Alaska are expected to uphold the highest standards of ethics and professionalism when conducting or engaged in university business.

*Each university within the University of Alaska system publishes an Annual Security and Fire Safety Report which contains information regarding campus safety and security including topics such as: campus law enforcement authority; crime reporting policies; campus alerts (Timely Warnings and Emergency Notifications); fire safety policies and procedures; programs to prevent dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking; the procedures the University will follow when one of these crimes is reported; and other matters of importance related to security on campus. The report also contains information about crime statistics for the three most recent calendar years concerning reported crimes that occurred on campus; in On-Campus Student Housing Facilities; in Noncampus buildings or property owned or controlled by the University or a recognized student organization; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus.  The report also contains fire statistics for any fires occurring in an On-Campus Student Housing Facility during the three most recent calendar years.  

Access to the reports is available at:

UAA: (Addresses Anchorage campus, Aviation Technology Complex, JBER - Elmendorf Extension, JBER - Richardson Extension, Kenai Peninsula College - Kachemak Bay campus, Kenai Peninsula College - Kenai River campus, Kodiak College, Kodiak High School Extension, Matanuska-Susitna College, Prince William Sound College, and Prince William Sound College - Cordova Extension) Online: https://www.uaa.alaska.edu/students/safety. Request a paper copy in person: UAA Police Department Office at Room 114 of Eugene Short Hall on the Anchorage campus / UAA Dean of Students Office at Room 122 of Rasmuson Hall on the Anchorage campus. Request a paper copy by mail: 907-786-1120 or police@uaa.alaska.edu / 907-786-1214 or uaa_deanofstudents@alaska.edu. 

UAF: (Addresses Fairbanks Campus, Bristol Bay Campus, Chukchi Campus, Community and Technical College, Kasitsna Bay Campus, Seward Marine Center, Tok Campus, Kuskokwim Campus, and Northwest Campus) Online: https://www.uaf.edu/orca/files/ASFSR.pdf. Request a paper copy in person: UAF Office of Rights, Compliance and Accountability on the 3rd Floor of Constitution Hall. Request a paper copy by mail: 907-474-7300 or uaf-orca@alaska.edu.

UAS: (Addresses the Juneau Auke Bay Campus, Juneau Technical Education Center, Sitka Campus, & Ketchikan Campus) Online: https://uas.alaska.edu/equity-and-compliance/docs/clery/UAS_ASFSR.pdf. Request a paper copy in person: Hendrickson Building, Suite 202 on the Juneau campus. Request a paper copy by mail: 907-796-6371 or emailing uas.clery@alaska.edu.