Sr. Director of Regulatory Affairs

Arizona College of Nursing is growing, and we’re looking for a strategic regulatory leader to grow with us!

We’re seeking a Senior Director of Regulatory Affairs to oversee regulatory operations across our expanding national footprint. This remote role offers flexibility while requiring up to 25% travel to support campus needs, state engagements, and expansion initiatives. In this high-impact position, you will guide state higher education approvals, partner with campus and executive leaders, and shape the regulatory framework that supports our mission to transform nursing education.

If you are a collaborative, detail-driven expert in higher education compliance who thrives in fast-paced environments, this is an opportunity to lead meaningful work that drives real organizational impact.

Arizona College of Nursing is a rapidly growing, nursing school that transforms people’s lives by preparing them for careers in nursing and improving communities through the care its graduates provide. As a leading nurse educator, Arizona College of Nursing offers students the opportunity to earn a bachelor’s in nursing in 3 years or less with qualified transfer credits. Our quality nursing curriculum prepares students for an in-demand career to help communities overcome the chronic, well-known, and increasing nursing shortage. Through the execution of a targeted growth strategy, the college plans to meet the growing demand for nurses by launching campuses in markets where bachelor’s prepared nurses are needed.

Putting students first, we are dedicated to providing students with an exceptional education in growing healthcare fields; teaching them relevant, required skills for today and the future. Our culture is positive, supportive, and collaborative. As a team, we continually embrace our core values:

Passion: We love helping others succeed.
Excellence: We strive to be the best.
Adaptability: We learn, in part by trying new ideas.
Accountability: We own our results.
Integrity: We do the right thing.

The Senior Director of Regulatory Affairs oversees the regulatory affairs functions of Arizona College of Nursing and its affiliated schools (the “College”), including developing, obtaining, and maintaining state higher education board approvals in designated states for current and future locations. This position serves as a liaison to campus Executive Directors of Academic Operations for state and federal responses to program events, completion of annual reports, and ongoing reapproval and reaccreditation.

• Implement policies and procedures to maintain and enhance regulatory compliance; direct the work of Compliance Managers and Specialists to maintain compliance with established policies and procedures.
• Monitor emerging trends regarding industry regulations to determine potential impacts on organizational processes.

  • Proactively monitor and track federal and state legislative and regulatory proposals across AZCN's current and target operating states, focusing on higher education, healthcare, professional licensure, and state authorization.

  • Utilize legislative tracking software and databases (e.g., FiscalNote, LegiStorm, relevant state services) to manage a portfolio of priority bills and regulatory issues.

  • Conduct in-depth policy research on complex topics (e.g., Title IV student aid, gainful employment, nurse-to-faculty ratios, NCLEX pass rate requirements, state reciprocity agreements).

  • Analyze the potential impact of proposed policy changes on AZCN's operations, students, and strategic expansion plans, summarizing findings for executive leadership.

  • Track activities and rulemaking from key federal agencies (e.g., Department of Education, Department of Labor, Department of Veterans Affairs) and state bodies (e.g., State Boards of Nursing, State Boards of Higher Education, State Postsecondary Education Agencies).

• Collaborate with the Senior Director of Nursing Regulatory Affairs to ensure proper alignment between policies and procedures for boards of nursing and state higher education boards.
• Represent the College to state regulatory agencies and develop relationships with agencies to learn about and analyze the potential impacts of proposed policy regulations and market conditions related to the College’s short- and long-term expansion plans.
• Review department submissions to the College’s expansion team to ensure timeliness, accuracy, comprehensiveness, and compliance with regulatory standards, application specifications, and site visit requirements.
• Represent the College to relevant education consultants, lobbyists, and attorneys as needed to clarify requirements, processes, and procedures of rules and regulations.
• Prepare and submit applications and associated reports needed to achieve state approval and meet ongoing regulatory compliance requirements for designated states, in collaboration with the regulatory affairs team and internal College stakeholders.
• Provide regulatory guidance to College leaders regarding institutional policies and practices.
• Advise, guide, and participate in the implementation of “mock” internal regulatory assessments and site visits for campus expansion and ongoing program approvals.
• Develop and maintain a monitoring system to report state boards of higher education regulatory requirements for existing and future locations, in collaboration with the regulatory affairs team.

Other duties as assigned.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent skills and experience required; master’s degree or equivalent skills and experience preferred.
• Minimum three to five years of experience in compliance or regulatory affairs in higher education.
• Minimum of three to five years of relevant experience working with state boards of higher education.
• Experience in state licensure approval processes preferred.
• Experience with assessment and regulatory processes preferred.
• Experience with Department of Education regulations preferred.
• Experience with ABHES accreditation preferred.
• Strong critical thinking skills to assess state requirements that may not be explicit.
• Must possess excellent negotiation, oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong organizational, writing, editing, and computer skills.
• Self-directed leader who can manage strict timelines while delivering quality output.
• Desire to work in a fast-paced, growing organization with high standards of performance.

What We Are Offering You:

• Competitive pay and opportunities for professional development.
• Dynamic organizational culture within a supportive working environment.
• Rest and relaxation with generous PTO and holiday benefits.
• Robust health and welfare benefits package including, but not limited to, medical, dental, and vision.
• Preparation for the future with a 401(k) and company match.

For consideration, only online applications will be accepted. No phone calls, please.

Our schools prohibit discrimination and harassment based on race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender, national origin, citizenship, ethnicity, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law to the extent prohibited by law.