Senior Compliance Officer

This is a remote role that may only be hired in the following location(s): Maryland.

This position ensures the legal, regulatory, operational, and risk management compliance of Human Resources programs, policies, practices, and systems. Serves as a senior subject matter expert and trusted advisor on Human Resources compliance matters, including employment-related regulations, HR policy governance, regulatory change management, data privacy requirements, and risk mitigation strategies.

Provides strategic guidance to HR leadership and business partners regarding new and existing laws, regulations, and regulatory expectations that impact associates, Human Resources operations, and organizational practices. Leads compliance assessments of HR programs, policies, systems, and business processes to identify emerging risks, regulatory requirements, and opportunities for improvement.

Supports domestic and international business growth initiatives, including mergers, acquisitions, and expansion into new jurisdictions, by evaluating Human Resources compliance obligations and integration requirements. Partners with Legal, Corporate Compliance, Privacy, Risk Management, and business leaders to implement compliant solutions that align with organizational objectives. Assists with regulatory inquiries and special projects. May provide leadership and guidance to less experienced associates within the work group.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Privacy & Data Protection Compliance - Serves as a Human Resources compliance advisor for domestic and international privacy and data protection requirements relating to employee, applicant, contingent worker, and former employee data. Partners with Legal, Privacy, Information Security, and HR teams to evaluate privacy obligations, implement compliant practices, support data subject rights processes, and mitigate privacy-related risks associated with HR programs, systems, and data transfers.

Mergers, Acquisitions & Business Expansion Support - Provides Human Resources compliance expertise for mergers, acquisitions, and domestic or international expansion initiatives. Conducts compliance assessments and due diligence reviews of HR policies, practices, processes, systems, and workforce-related obligations. Supports HR integration planning and implementation efforts to ensure compliance with applicable regulatory requirements and organizational standards.

Strategic HR Initiative Support - Serves as the primary compliance advisor for new or modified Human Resources programs, practices, technologies, and strategic initiatives. Reviews proposed changes to identify regulatory, operational, privacy, and compliance risks and collaborates with stakeholders to develop effective controls and mitigation strategies.

Business Support & Risk Management - Serves as a liaison among Human Resources, Legal, Corporate Compliance, Risk Management, Privacy, Internal Audit, external auditors, regulators, and other stakeholders. Investigates and resolves complex compliance issues, recommends corrective actions, and identifies opportunities to strengthen controls, improve processes, and reduce organizational risk. Provides compliance guidance throughout the implementation and administration of HR programs, systems, vendors, and third-party relationships.

HR Policy Governance - Supports enterprise Human Resources policy governance processes, including policy development, review, approval, implementation, communication, and periodic monitoring activities. Ensures HR policies remain current, compliant, and aligned with organizational objectives, legal requirements, and industry best practices.

Compliance Expertise - Maintains advanced knowledge of employment laws, human resources regulations, privacy requirements, regulatory expectations, and industry practices affecting Human Resources operations. Serves as a subject matter expert and trusted advisor to management and Human Resources leadership on compliance-related matters. Develops and delivers compliance education, training, and awareness programs to strengthen organizational understanding of applicable legal and regulatory requirements. Participates in industry associations, professional organizations, and external forums to remain informed of emerging regulatory developments and leading practices.

Minimum Required Education and Experience: Bachelor's Degree and 8 years' experience OR High School Diploma or GED/Equivalent and 12 years' experience in Compliance, Legal, Audit, Banking or other related experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Expertise in employment law compliance and HR regulatory frameworks.
• Experience developing and maintaining enterprise HR policies and governance frameworks.
• Knowledge of U.S. privacy laws, including CCPA/CPRA and other state privacy requirements.
• Familiarity with international privacy regulations and cross-border employee data considerations.
• Experience supporting mergers, acquisitions, and workforce integrations.
• Experience managing enterprise regulatory change management programs.
• Experience partnering with Legal, Risk, Privacy, Audit, and Compliance functions.
• Professional certifications such as PHR, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, and CIPP/US preferred.

Position Specific Skills

Risk Mitigation 

Critical Thinking 

Compliance Risk

Regulatory Compliance Change Management 

Compliance Framework

Risk Identification 

The base pay for this position is generally between $145,000 and $165,000. Actual starting base pay will be determined based on skills, experience, location, and other non-discriminatory factors permitted by law. For some roles, total compensation may also include variable incentives, bonuses, benefits, and/or other awards as outlined in the offer of employment.

Benefits are an integral part of total rewards and First Citizens Bank is committed to providing a competitive, thoughtfully designed and quality benefits program to meet the needs of our associates. More information can be found at https://jobs.firstcitizens.com/benefits.