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Job Title

Job Description

The Director of Compliance (North America) is responsible for leading regulatory oversight across the United States and Canada, ensuring full adherence to all applicable laws, accreditation standards, safeguarding and student welfare obligations, and health & safety requirements.

Acting as the regional compliance authority, this role holds accountability for policy ownership, risk management, and alignment with KLG global standards. The Director serves as a senior escalation point for safeguarding and incident management while contributing to business-wide compliance governance, reporting, and continuous improvement.

The role is also responsible for embedding a consistent, data-driven compliance and incident management framework aligned with KLG global protocols and board-level reporting expectations.

Key Responsibilities

1. Regulatory Compliance & Policy Ownership

• Ensure full compliance with all federal, state/provincial, and local regulations across U.S. and Canadian operations, while providing strategic guidance and support to schools to maintain high standards of regulatory adherence, reporting accuracy, and staff capability
• Maintain expert, up-to-date knowledge of regulatory requirements across jurisdictions, including immigration, accreditation, safeguarding, and health & safety
• Own and continuously develop regional compliance policies and procedures, ensuring alignment with evolving legislation and KLG standards
• Monitor, interpret, and implement regulatory changes (e.g., SEVIS/SEVP, IRCC, provincial and state requirements)
• In conjunction with School Directors and the Director of Operations, review and approve policy exceptions relating to student welfare, suitability, or operational needs using sound judgement and risk-based decision-making
• Ensure timely, accurate, and auditable regulatory reporting and documentation

2. Student Welfare, Safeguarding & Duty of Care

• Provide strategic leadership for student welfare frameworks, ensuring consistent standards across all schools aligned with KLG duty of care expectations
• Act as the senior student welfare escalation point, overseeing serious concerns and ensuring appropriate internal and external reporting
• Ensure robust student welfare systems are in place, particularly for minors and vulnerable students
• Implement and maintain safeguarding procedures aligned with best practice in international education
• Ensure staff are appropriately trained and fully aware of student welfare responsibilities and escalation processes
• Promote a proactive student welfare culture through continuous monitoring, training, and improvement initiatives

3. Incident Management & Crisis Response

• Lead the regional implementation of a standardized incident management framework, including systems, tools, and protocols
• Oversee the reporting, investigation, and resolution of incidents, including:
  • Safeguarding and student welfare concerns
  • Student welfare issues
  • Health & safety incidents
  • Regulatory breaches
• Implement, in partnership with the global compliance team, consistent escalation protocols aligned to incident severity, supported by coordinated crisis and scenario planning and integrated business continuity principles
• Ensure timely and accurate reporting to internal leadership and, where required, external regulatory authorities
• Oversee incident data management, including tracking, trend analysis, and the development of mitigation strategies
• Maintain clear and consistent communication with managers and staff, ensuring appropriate awareness and updates on relevant cases

4. Health & Safety Leadership

• Provide strategic oversight of health & safety compliance, systems, and culture across all North American locations
• Ensure full adherence to applicable legislation and internal safety standards across all premises
• Oversee the development and implementation of:
  • Risk assessments and mitigation strategies
  • Audit frameworks and monitoring processes
  • Incident and accident investigations, ensuring appropriate corrective actions
• Maintain comprehensive safety documentation, including compliance with state- and federal-specific requirements (e.g., California Workplace Violence Prevention Plans)
• Drive continuous improvement and foster a strong, engaged safety culture across all schools
• Act as a key liaison with external stakeholders, including regulatory authorities, inspectors, and insurers

5. Accreditation, Immigration & External Representation

• Serve as the primary liaison with accreditation bodies, regulatory agencies, and immigration authorities in the US and secondary liaison in Canada
• Support School Directors in meeting local regulatory requirements
• Oversee accreditation processes, inspections, and organizational readiness
• Ensure alignment between accreditation standards and immigration compliance requirements
• Lead preparation activities, including mock inspections, documentation reviews, and staff readiness
• Build and maintain strong relationships with external stakeholders and industry bodies (e.g., ACCET, NAFSA, Languages Canada)
• Represent the organization in professional forums and regulatory networks when applicable (e.g., conferences and workshops)

6. Governance, Reporting & Global Alignment

• Participate in the Compliance Steering Committee (CSC) and contribute to global compliance strategy and alignment
• Support monthly executive and board-level reporting, including:
  • Incident metrics and trends
  • Risk management updates
  • Regulatory developments
  • Audit and compliance activity
• Collaborate cross-regionally to ensure a consistent and cohesive KLG-wide compliance approach
• Drive standardization across systems, reporting, and compliance processes
• Support the development and tracking of compliance KPIs and performance measures

7. Training, Communication & Capability Building

• Design and deliver structured compliance training programs for school teams, customer care, and sales staff
• Ensure training covers key areas, including:
  • Immigration compliance
  • Safeguarding and student welfare
  • Health & safety
  • Accreditation standards
• Support the rollout and adoption of LMS-based training programs
• Train and support US school-based DSOs; serve as P/DSO if possible
• Communicate regulatory updates and policy changes clearly and effectively across all stakeholder groups

8. Risk Management, Audit & Continuous Improvement

• Monitor compliance performance and identify emerging or systemic risks
• Lead or support internal audits and investigative processes
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across compliance, safeguarding, and health & safety
• Ensure alignment between regional practices and global compliance strategy

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience
• 6+ years' experience in compliance, safeguarding, regulatory affairs, or education administration
• Experience managing incident reporting, safeguarding escalations, and/or investigations
• Strong understanding of regulatory frameworks in the U.S., Canada, or both
• Excellent communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with international student compliance systems:
  • U.S.: USCIS/ DHS/ SEVP systems (e.g., SEVIS, Case Status Online, FMJfee.com)
  • Canada: IRCC systems (e.g., LOA verification system, semi-annual reporting system)
• Experience in safeguarding leadership or student welfare oversight
• Experience in ESL/EFL or international education environments
• Leadership or team management experience
• Familiarity with incident management systems and reporting tools
• Health & Safety certification (e.g., OSHA, NEBOSH or equivalent)

Key Skills & Competencies

• Regulatory and compliance expertise (U.S. & Canada)
• Strong safeguarding and student welfare leadership
• Incident and crisis management capability
• Risk assessment and mitigation
• Governance and reporting discipline
• Senior stakeholder engagement and influence
• Analytical and data-driven decision-making
• Cross-functional leadership and collaboration

Additional Requirements

• Ability to travel occasionally across North America
• Flexibility to respond to incidents or escalations outside standard working hours
• Authorization to work in the United States or Canada

Once hired, must

• Be aware of who is the designated safeguarding Lead for Kaplan Languages
• Be aware of how to identify safeguarding concerns and how to appropriately respond to these
• Complete, in a timely fashion, any safeguarding training assigned to you
• Report any safeguarding concerns to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) in the school
• As a member of the school team, be responsible for all aspects of our students' safeguarding and welfare in conjunction with the wider school and company management teams
• Must pass a criminal background check

Physical Requirements

• Sitting
• Standing
• Walking
• Climbing
• Lifting up to 50+ pounds
• Pulling
• Pushing
• Carrying
• Grasping
• Reaching
• Bending
• Visual Acuity - Color Determination
• Speaking
• Listening

*An equivalent degree abroad or acceptable experience in lieu of education: two years of experience for every year of formal education required.

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Kaplan lnternational is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity. If you require any adjustments or additional support within the recruitment process, please contact us directly.All positions with Kaplan are paid at least $15 per hour or $31,200 per year for full-time positions. Compensation for specific positions are based on job level, skills, years of experience, and education, among other factors. Additionally, certain positions are bonus or commission eligible.