Compliance Officer

COLVILLE TRIBAL HEALTHCARE AUTHORITY

JOB DESCRIPTION

Closing Date: Open Until Filled with Bi-weekly reviews

Position: Compliance Officer

Salary: $42.42 - $51.66 DOE

Reports to: CTHCA CEO

Location: CCT Reservation Wide

 SUMMARY:

The Colville Tribal Health Care Authority is seeking a highly skilled and culturally competent Compliance Officer to oversee, implement and continuously improve compliance across the Health Care program and services. This position plays a critical role in ensuring organizational adherence to federal, state, accreditation, and tribal requirements, including HRSA, IHS, AAAHC and applicable Washington Administrative Code (WAC) requirements for residential SUD treatment and long-term residential care. The Compliance Officer serves as the organization’s subject-matter expert on regulatory readiness and audit preparedness and works collaboratively with the Colville Tribal Health Care Authority leadership, clinical programs, HR, finance, and operations to ensure the organization remains continuously compliant and audit-ready for all funding sources and oversight bodies. This role requires a deep understanding of tribal health governance, respect for tribal sovereignty, and the ability to work effectively within a culturally grounded health system.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Compliance Oversight & Program Management

• Develop, implement, and maintain a comprehensive Compliance Program aligned with tribal governance, federal regulations, state law, and accreditation standards.
• Monitor compliance with:
• HRSA program requirements and Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) conditions
• Indian Health Services (IHS) policies, regulations, and program standards
• AAAHC accreditation standards
• Washington Administrative Code (WAC) and RCW requirements for:
• Residential Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Treatment Facilities
• Long-Term Residential Care and related services
• Ensure compliance with all applicable tribal laws, resolutions, policies and health board directives.

 Audit & Funding Readiness

• Serve as the lead coordinator for internal and external audits, site visits, and reviews, including but not limited to:
• HRSA Operational Site Visits (OSVs)
• IHS reviews
• AAAHC accreditation surveys
• Washington State Department of Health and other state agencies
• Funding source audits and monitoring visits
• Tribal program site visits
• Conduct proactive internal compliance audits, mock surveys, and readiness assessments.
• Develop corrective action plans (CAPs) and track implementation to resolution.
• Maintain audit-ready documentation, policies, procedures and evidence files.

 Policy & Procedure Development

• Draft, review, update and maintain organizational policies and procedures to ensure alignment with regulatory and accreditation standards.
• Ensure policies reflect tribal values, cultural practices, and community priorities while meeting compliance requirements.
• Establish document control, versioning, approval and retention processes.

 Training & Education

• Develop and deliver compliance training for leadership, management and staff.
• Educate staff on regulatory requirements, audit expectations, and best practices.
• Provide targeted training related to HRSA, IHS, AAAHC, WAC and funding-specific requirements.

Risk Management & Quality Improvement

• Identify compliance risks and vulnerabilities and recommend mitigation strategies.
• Collaborate with Quality Improvement, Risk Management, and Clinical Leadership to align compliance activities with performance improvement initiatives.
• Monitor regulatory changes and proactively assess organizational impact.

Tribal Governance & Cultural Competence

• Work in partnership with tribal leadership, CEO of the Colville Tribal Health Care Authority, and Colville Tribal Health Care Authority Health Board, and advisory committees.
• Demonstrative understanding of tribal sovereignty, governance structures, and culturally based health systems.
• Ensure compliance activities respect tribal customs, traditions and community values.
• Support the integration of traditional healing and culturally grounded practices within regulatory frameworks

Reporting & Leadership Support

• Provide regular compliance reports to executive leadership, health board and CBC as applicable.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to leadership on compliance, audit readiness, and regulatory strategy.
• Participate in leadership meetings, committees and planning efforts as assigned.

 KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• The position requires a Bachelor’s degree in Health Administration, Public Health, Nursing, Compliance, Law or related field (Master’s degree preferred)
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in health care compliance, regulatory oversight, or accreditation readiness
• Demonstrated experience with:
• HRSA compliance and audits
• Indian Health Services (IHS) requirements
• AAAHC accreditation standards
• Washington Administrative Code (WAC) and (RCW) related to residential treatment and long-term care
• Proven ability to prepare organizations for multi-funding-source audits
• Strong policy development, auditing, and documentation skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Experience working in tribal healthcare systems.
• Certified Compliance professional or ability to attain within 1 year of hire.
• Experience with residential SUD treatment programs and/or long-term residential care settings.
• Familiarity with federal grant management and funding compliance
• Experience working with governing boards and tribal healthcare boards
• Deep understanding of health care regulatory and accreditation environments
• Ability to interpret complex regulations and translate them into practical operational guidance.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating across departments.
• High level of integrity, discretion and professionalism.
• Demonstrate cultural humility and cultural competence of tribal organizations.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to sit and stand for long periods of time
• Manual and finger dexterity to complete duties
• Ability to frequently bend, stoop, and reach
• Ability to push and pull frequently
• Ability to comprehend complex issues
• Sufficient visual acuity to write, recognize printed materials, computer screen, and notice non-verbal behavior
• Speech and hearing ability to project voice to small and large audiences, carry on telephone conversations, hear and grasp verbal communications and equipment prompts
• Ability to drive in adverse weather conditions
• Deep understanding of health care regulatory and accreditation environments
• Ability to interpret complex regulations and translate them into practical operational guidance.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating across departments.
• High level of integrity, discretion and professionalism.
• Demonstrate cultural humility and cultural competence of tribal organizations.

Note: Pursuant to Tribal Policy, if this position is safety sensitive it is subject to pre-employment drug testing. In addition, this position is subject to reasonable suspicion and post-accident drug testing.

TRIBAL MEMBER AND INDIAN PREFERENCE WILL APPLY; PREFERENCE WILL ALSO BE GIVEN TO HONORABLY DISCHARGED VETERANS WHO ARE MINIMALLY QUALIFIED.

If required of this position, you must possess and maintain a valid Washington State driver’s license and be eligible for the Tribes’ Vehicle Insurance. In addition, this position may be subject to pre-employment background clearances. If applicable, these clearances must be maintained throughout employment.

INFORMATION: Terri Mail, HR Generalist, Colville Tribal Health Care Authority, Human Resources Office, P.O. Box 150, Nespelem, WA 99155, (509) 846.3774. terri.mail.ohc@colvilletribes.com