Chief Executive of Audit, Risk and Compliance

Oregon State University (OSU), Oregon’s land grant institution, seeks an experienced and collaborative leader to serve as the next Chief Executive of Audit, Risk and Compliance (CEARC). The ideal candidate will bring enthusiasm for the role, demonstrated capacity to lead effectively within a highly complex environment, and the ability to foster relationships and build trust with both internal and external stakeholders to advance OSU’s goals and vision for the future while supporting compliance and mitigating risk.

The only R1 public university to have achieved 28 consecutive years of enrollment growth, Oregon State University serves nearly 38,000 students with more than 5,000 faculty and staff, including the fast-growing OSU Ecampus, which has ranked in the top 10 nationally by U.S. News & World Report for 11 consecutive years. With more NSF funding than all other Oregon comprehensive universities combined, OSU is one of only three institutions in the U.S. to hold land, sea, space, and sun grant designations. Additionally, it is Oregon’s only institution to hold both the Carnegie R1 (very research-intensive) designation and the Carnegie Community Engagement classification. Founded in 1868, OSU is an internationally renowned public research institution that attracts students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries. Through its Corvallis and Bend campuses, a leading marine science center in Newport, downtown facility in Portland, agricultural research experiment stations, Extension offices, and research forests, OSU has a presence in all 36 Oregon counties. Under the dynamic leadership of President Jayathi Murthy, the University is making significant investments in research, student success, economic development, and priorities outlined in its 2024-2030 strategic plan, Prosperity Widely Shared: The Oregon State Plan. Central to OSU's mission is its commitment to providing exceptional 21^st-century teaching, scholarship, research, discovery, innovation, and engagement. This commitment is underscored by its status as the largest university in Oregon, offering more majors, minors, and special programs than any other institution in the state. 

The Executive, Audit and Governance Committee (EAGC) of the OSU Board of Trustees approves the appointment of the Chief Executive for Audit, Risk and Compliance, as recommended by the president.  The Chief Executive for Audit, Risk and Compliance reports administratively to the President and functionally to the EAGC and is responsible for providing strategic leadership for the Office of Audit, Risk and Compliance (OARC). The CEARC will lead a team of eight professionals within OARC, guiding the internal audit function, planning and overseeing the university enterprise risk management process, overseeing the institutional compliance program, and maintaining the OSU Accountability and Integrity Hotline, including coordinating investigations with University management. In addition, the CEARC formulates the annual plan of audit coverage, provides guidance to the compliance leader (in coordination with the Office of General Counsel) on state ethics matters, serves as a board liaison (along with the Vice President and General Counsel) for all high-profile compliance and ethics evaluations that require board-level awareness or response, works with senior leaders and the board to identify top enterprise risks that might impede OSU strategic objectives, presents top risks to the EAGC for board-level monitoring and mitigation, and educates university constituents on best practices for evaluating risks. The depth and breadth of the role require a collaborative and collegial approach and strong and effective communication skills with a full commitment to integrity.

Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search process. Confidential inquiries, nominations, referrals, and resumes with cover letters should be submitted below. 

The search advisory committee is chaired by Dr. Maria Chávez-Haroldson, Vice Chair of the Oregon State University Board of Trustees.

IM Partners Rebecca Kennedy and Lindsay Gold are leading this search with Mia Carpiniello and Julia Hochner.

OSU is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability, protected veteran, and other protected status.

OSU is a fair chance employer committed to inclusive hiring. This job has “critical or security-sensitive” responsibilities.  If you are selected as a finalist, your initial job offer will be contingent upon the results of a job-related pre-employment check (such as a background check, motor vehicle history check, sexual misconduct reference check, etc.). Background check results do not automatically disqualify a candidate. 

Final candidates for this position must complete a sexual misconduct reference check, per University Policy 05-010. An offer of employment will be contingent upon satisfactory results from the sexual misconduct reference check.