Senior Director of Compliance & Risk

Scion Executive Search has been retained to identify the incoming Senior Director of Compliance & Risk on behalf of our client, Akin, a nonprofit dedicated to helping children and families across Washington state strengthen and grow together. Akin accomplishes this mission by building a brighter future together, rooted in family. We are seeking a proactive, systems-oriented leader with a proven track record of leading compliance programs within growing and evolving organizations.

This individual will serve as the organization’s subject matter expert in compliance, trusted by leadership and staff alike to provide guidance, insight, and practical solutions. The ideal candidate is a strategic architect who thrives in a collaborative environment, translating regulations, risk, and policy into actionable strategies that integrate seamlessly across operations. They are intellectually curious, adaptable, and comfortable turning underdeveloped or disparate processes into structured, scalable systems. This full-time, hybrid opportunity is located in Seattle, Washington.

ABOUT AKIN:

Akin exists to support and strengthen families in Washington state through a broad range of tailored child and caregiver services. With the primary focus on families with young children, its programs and services are built upon more than a century of experience in fostering nurturing environments and driving systemic improvements for families. Akin’s core values include 1) advocating for and alongside families, 2) cultivating relationships that foster belonging, 3) committing to their work and their communities, and 4) believing in audacious change and intentional transformation.

With compassion and care, Akin meets families where they are, providing immediate support while equipping them with tools for long-term success and growth. Time and time again, it has been seen that what benefits children and families ultimately strengthens communities. As the organization looks to the future, it remains steadfast in its commitment to keeping families together. To learn more, visit https://akinfamily.org/.

POSITION OVERVIEW:

The Senior Director of Compliance & Risk is responsible for designing, building, and leading Akin’s enterprise-wide compliance program and risk management framework. This role ensures the organization operates in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, contractual requirements, and internal policies.

Reporting to the Chief Administrative Officer, this position serves as a key enterprise leader in reducing organizational risk, strengthening regulatory readiness, and protecting Akin’s integrity, financial sustainability, and reputation. The Senior Director of Compliance & Risk establishes a compliance infrastructure that is proactive, scalable, and integrated across all functions, supporting both current operations and future growth.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Compliance Program and Enterprise Risk Management

• Design, implement, and continuously improve a comprehensive, organization-wide compliance program, including policies, training, reporting mechanisms, and escalation protocols, aligned with regulatory expectations and organizational strategy.
• Establish and lead an enterprise risk management (ERM) framework, including annual risk assessments, risk prioritization, and mitigation planning.
• Maintain a formal risk register and compliance calendar documenting key risks, mitigation strategies, ownership, and monitoring cadence to ensure visibility and accountability.
• Provide regular, independent compliance reporting to executive leadership and Board governance committees.

Medicaid Billing and Healthcare Compliance

• Serve as the organizational lead for HIPAA Privacy, Security, and Breach Notification compliance, in partnership with IT and program leadership.
• Provide independent oversight of Medicaid billing compliance, including documentation standards, authorization requirements, and reimbursement regulations, in partnership with Finance, Billing, and CQI.
• Develop policies and controls to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse, in partnership with Finance.
• Conduct and oversee compliance audits of billing and documentation practices, in partnership with CQI, which leads performance improvement and quality monitoring.
• Identify trends in denials, repayment risk, or audit findings and recommend corrective action plans.
• Ensure organizational readiness for payer audits, state reviews, and external investigations.

Federal Grants and Contract Compliance

• Ensure compliance with federal grant requirements, including Uniform Guidance, allowable costs, and reporting standards.
• Provide compliance oversight of grant-funded programs, in partnership with Finance, Development, and Program leadership.
• Support development of pre- and post-award compliance infrastructure, including risk reviews and documentation standards.
• Monitor contractual obligations with government and funding partner