Chief Compliance Officer

Worker Type

Regular

Job Description

Summary

The VP and Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) will lead and own AV’s overall compliance program, including the company’s ethics program and oversight of all compliance activities within the organization. The CCO will partner with compliance functions and subject matter experts across the company to provide compliance direction and support to all areas of the company. Activities will encompass compliance activities relevant to U.S. publicly traded companies and U.S. Department of Defense contractors, including, but not limited to, Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX), Security and Exchange Commission regulations, Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) and Defense Federal Acquisition Regulations Supplement (DFARS), cybersecurity and the Cybersecurity Maturation Model Certification (CMMC), U.S. export regulations, anti-corruption and privacy.

Position Responsibilities

• Lead the company’s compliance program to ensure company’s compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including those specifically applicable to U.S. Department of Defense Contractors. Set short-term priorities and long-term compliance strategy to ensure the company’s compliance program is effective in identifying and mitigating compliance risks. Serve as chair of the company’s Compliance Council and as a member of the company’s Enterprise Risk Committee.

• Provide guidance and coaching on compliance matters and compliance best practices to business units and functional areas across the company to create support for compliance initiatives, solve compliance-related business issues and ensure consistent global compliance practices. Collaborate with business and functional leaders to foster a culture of integrity and ethical behavior.

• Conduct compliance risk assessments and coordinate correction actions to address identified compliance gaps. Identify and implement improvements to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the company’s compliance program. Provide strategic support for compliance audits.

• Conduct investigations in partnership with subject matter experts and the Legal Department, as needed. Manage corrective action plans, ensuring timely and effective remediation of identified issues. Ensure documentation and recordkeeping practices meet regulatory expectations and requirements.

• Collaborate with subject matter experts across the company to develop, implement and enforce policies and procedures on a range of compliance areas applicable to the company.

• Serve as the primary owner for identifying, developing, implementing and tracking all company compliance training programs, including reporting compliance training metrics as appropriate.

• Provide periodic reports on the company’s compliance program to the company’s executive team and the company’s Board of Directors and committees.

• Monitor and analyze new regulatory changes affecting the company, ensuring timely adaptation of new and updated internal policies and procedures to address such changes

• Other duties as assigned

Skills

• Strong knowledge of laws and regulations applicable to U.S. Department of Defense Contractors, including without limitation SOX, FAR/DFARS, anti-corruption (including Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and foreign equivalents), False Claims Act, Truth in Negotiations Act, CMMC requirements, export regulations (including International Traffic in Arms Regulations and Export Administration Regulations.

• Extensive experience supporting a global compliance function, preferably at a U.S. publicly traded Department of Defense contractor, with diverse responsibilities across various aspects of business operations, both in the U.S. and abroad.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the proven ability to communicate and interact effectively with personnel at all organizational levels, including the company’s executive leadership team and Board of Directors on complex issues.

• Capability to work autonomously while coordinating efforts with in-house counsel, functional teams, and company leadership.

• Proven ability to develop and execute complex strategies that align policy priorities with business objectives

• Demonstrated ability to cultivate trusted relationships with regulators and compliance professionals and senior leaders within the organization.

• Superior organizational skills and attention to detail.

Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience)

• Education: Bachelor's degree from an accredited 4-year college or university; Juris Doctor (JD) or advanced degree preferred

• Experience: 20 years of compliance, legal, or regulatory experience in the U.S. defense industry, including demonstrated leadership and team management experience.

• Ability to travel to company offices across the U.S. and internationally to support compliance activities.

• Active Top Secret//SCI clearance required.

• Preferred locations are Simi Valley, CA or Washington, DC, however for the ideal candidate, we would consider a commutable distance to any of our locations.

Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

• Strong analytical, critical thinking and interpersonal skills, with the ability to speak and write persuasively

• Demonstrated experience working with cross-functional teams; ability to develop and maintain internal and external trusting, professional relationships

• Uses vision to think beyond the immediate situation, explore multiple potential paths, and adapt decision-making style based on the situational circumstances

• Inspires, motivates, and empowers people to deliver organizational goals, while also delivering value back to employees

• Brings organizational values to life using personality, uniqueness, and the creation of a shared vision

• Champions the process of change and promotes a culture of quick adaptation while helping others deal with the effects of change

• Takes ownership and responsibility for assigned tasks

• Is committed to learning from mistakes and driven to improve and enhance performance of oneself, others, and the company

• Focuses on teamwork and puts the success of the team above one's own interests

Physical Demands

• Ability to sit, stand, stoop, reach, lift (up to 10 lbs.), bend, etc. Hand and wrist dexterity to utilize the computer.

• May require travel to sites/program and special functions.

Environmental Conditions Critical to Performance:

• Work is in an office environment, climate controlled through central air conditioning/heating.

• May have some exposure to outside environment while traveling.

Special Requirements

• U.S. Citizen required.

Clearance Level

TS/SCI

The salary range for this role is:

$245,500 - $393,000

AeroVironment considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the location, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills.

ITAR Requirement:

This position requires access to information that is subject to compliance with the International Traffic Arms Regulations (“ITAR”) and/or the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”). In order to comply with the requirements of the ITAR and/or the EAR, applicants must qualify as a U.S. person under the ITAR and the EAR, or a person to be approved for an export license by the governing agency whose technology comes under its jurisdiction. Please understand that any job offer that requires approval of an export license will be conditional on AeroVironment’s determination that it will be able to obtain an export license in a time frame consistent with AeroVironment’s business requirements. A “U.S. person” according to the ITAR definition is a U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder), or protected individual such as a refugee or asylee. See 22 CFR § 120.15. Some positions will require current U.S. Citizenship due to contract requirements.

Benefits: AV offers an excellent benefits package including medical, dental vision, 401K with company matching, a 9/80 work schedule and a paid holiday shutdown. For more information about our company benefit offerings please visit: .

We also encourage you to review our company website at to learn more about us.

Principals only need apply. NO agencies please.

About AV:

AV isn’t for everyone. We hire the curious, the relentless, the mission-obsessed. The best of the best.

We don’t just build defense technology—we redefine what’s possible. As the premier autonomous systems company in the U.S., AV delivers breakthrough capabilities across air, land, sea, space, and cyber. From AI-powered drones and loitering munitions to integrated autonomy and space resilience, our technologies shape the future of warfare and protect those who serve.

Founded by legendary innovator Dr. Paul MacCready, AV has spent over 50 years pushing the boundaries of what unmanned systems can do. Our heritage includes seven platforms in the Smithsonian—but we’re not building history, we’re building what’s next.

If you're ready to build technology that matters—with speed, scale, and purpose—there’s no better place to do it than AV.

We are proud to be an EEO/AA Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/veterans. AeroVironment, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and welcomes all qualified applicants. Qualified applicants will receive fair and impartial consideration without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic data, sexual orientation, gender identity or other legally protected status.

ITAR

U.S. Citizenship is required. Secret or Top Secret clearance, or the ability obtain a clearance is desired.