Director of Accreditation and Compliance

Spalding University seeks a detail-oriented and collaborative Director of Accreditation and Compliance to lead the institution's regional and programmatic accreditation efforts and to strengthen a culture of continuous compliance and institutional effectiveness. Reporting to the Provost and working closely with the Executive Director of Institutional Assessment and Planning. the Director serves as a central coordinator for the institution's accreditation relationship with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), manages compliance reporting and substantive change processes, and partners with faculty and administrators to ensure that institutional practices align with professional accreditor and federal requirements.

This role is well suited to a candidate who pairs strong writing and project-management skills with a working knowledge of higher education accreditation, and who can move fluidly between independent narrative work and cross-functional collaboration.

Essential Responsibilities

• Coordinate the institution's ongoing compliance with the SACSCOC Principles of Accreditation, including preparation and submission of the Compliance Certification, Fifth-Year Interim Report, and related reports.
• Serve as the principal support to the Provost as Accreditation Liaison, for communications with SACSCOC, including substantive change notifications, prospectuses, and annual institutional profile submissions.
• Manage the substantive change process — monitoring new and modified programs, instructional sites, and delivery methods to ensure timely notification and approval before implementation or financial commitment.
• Maintain institutional documentation, evidence files, and compliance narratives in an organized, audit-ready system.
• Coordinate programmatic accreditation activities across academic units, tracking standards, self-studies, site visits, and reporting deadlines.
• Support institutional effectiveness processes, including the collection, analysis, and reporting of assessment and student outcomes data.
• Monitor changes in accreditor standards and federal and state regulations (e.g., Title IV, CPE state authorization / NC-SARA) and advise leadership on implications.
• Partner with faculty, deans, and administrative offices to build accreditation literacy and embed compliance into routine operations.
• Prepare written reports, briefings, and presentations for senior leadership, faculty governance, and the Board of Trustees.

Required Qualifications

• Master's degree from a regionally accredited institution.
• Three or more years of experience in higher education with direct involvement in accreditation, compliance, institutional research, assessment, or a closely related area.
• Demonstrated knowledge of regional accreditation processes (SACSCOC experience strongly preferred).
• Exceptional writing, editing, and analytical skills, with the ability to translate complex requirements into clear, well-evidenced narratives.
• Strong project-management skills and the ability to manage multiple concurrent deadlines with a high degree of accuracy and discretion.

Preferred Qualifications

• Earned terminal degree (Ph.D., Ed.D., or equivalent).
• Direct experience preparing a SACSCOC Compliance Certification, substantive change prospectus, or programmatic accreditation self-study.
• Familiarity with institutional research, assessment management systems, and federal data reporting (e.g., IPEDS).
• Experience working within faculty governance and across cross-functional institutional teams.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• High level of integrity and discretion in handling sensitive institutional information.
• Comfort working both independently and collaboratively across departments.
• Detail orientation balanced with the ability to recognize institutional patterns and priorities.
• Calm, organized approach to deadline-driven, high-stakes reporting cycles.

ABOUT SPALDING UNIVERSITY:

Spalding University offers a comprehensive package including medical, dental, vision, Spalding matching contribution up to 5% to your 403b/Roth retirement plan, generous Paid Time Off program, Parental Leave, paid holidays, paid life insurance and long-term disability, paid time for volunteering, and more.

Situated in the heart of downtown Louisville, Kentucky’s largest city, Spalding University combines a rich social justice history and a commitment to community service as we attract students who desire a high-quality education in a very personalized setting. An engaged faculty serves nearly 2,000 students at the bachelors’, master’s and doctoral levels, providing real-world learning in liberal and professional studies.

Faculty, staff and students are united by the institutional mission: Spalding University is a diverse community of learners dedicated to meeting the needs of the times in the tradition of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth through quality undergraduate and graduate liberal and professional studies, grounded in spiritual values, with an emphasis on service and the promotion of peace and justice.

With a focus on service and leadership, Spalding offers all students a mission-driven connection to community and comprehensive learning resources while striking a distinctive balance serving the educational needs of both the traditional student and the working student. In addition, our unique 8-week class delivery format affords students scheduling flexibility amidst other life responsibilities.

Spalding aspires to become the first choice for students of compassion and service.  Celebrated for a rigorous yet nurturing environment, emulated for interdisciplinary collaborations, and acclaimed for contributions to the community. 

Spalding University is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. The University complies with all federal, state and local equal employment opportunity laws. It is the University’s policy not to discriminate against any individual or group of individuals and to provide equal employment opportunity to all qualified persons regardless of race, color, national origin, age, disability, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, military status, veteran status or other protected status. All job offers are contingent upon successful completion of a criminal background check.