Address: 1740 West Adams Street
Phoenix, Arizona 85007

Salary: $62,000.00 - $73,000.00 Annually 

Grade: 21

Closing Date: July 23, 2026

The Interstate Regulatory Administrator is dedicated exclusively to the regulatory oversight of out-of-state institutions providing online distance education to Arizona residents. This position will serve as the primary liaison between Arizona and the higher education regulatory authorities in all other 49 states, with core responsibilities include managing the end-to-end registration process for an anticipated influx of 300 to 500 institutions, conducting rigorous financial and academic audits, and enforcing continuous compliance to ensure that Arizona students are protected by state educational standards and financial safeguards.

This position is available for remote work on a full-time basis within Arizona (including virtual office arrangements).

The State of Arizona strives for a work culture that affords employees flexibility, autonomy, and trust. Across our many agencies, boards, and commissions, many State employees participate in the State’s Remote Work Program and are able to work remotely in their homes, in offices, and in hoteling spaces. All work, including remote work, should be performed within Arizona unless an exception is properly authorized in advance.

• Application & Pipeline Management - Overseeing the end-to-end registration process for all 300 to 500 anticipated out-of-state institutions. This involves processing initial applications, auditing school progress, and following up on stalled applications.
• Financial Auditing - Verifying financial protection for Arizona students by analyzing federal financial composite scores, which must be greater than 1.5. This includes determining required surety bonds, cash deposits, or irrevocable letters of credit based on the institution's prior year gross tuition revenue from Arizona residents.
• Non-Accredited Institution Review - Conducting deep, rigorous reviews of out-of-state institutions that lack standard accreditation. This responsibility requires evaluating program catalogs, course descriptions, faculty qualifications, and minimum credit hour standards.
• Continuous Compliance Monitoring - Constantly tracking 30-day reporting windows to ensure institutions report critical events in a timely manner. These critical events include adverse accreditation actions, financial material changes, or state and federal lawsuits.
• Annual Renewals Processing - Managing the renewal cycle for all registered schools, as out-of-state registrations are valid for only one year. This requires processing renewals annually through a Board-approved application process.
• Interstate Liaison Coordination - Serving as the primary liaison between Arizona and the higher education regulatory authorities in all other 49 states. This involves coordinating directly with these regulatory boards to maintain cross-state compliance.
• Proactive Identification & Enforcement - Proactively identifying out-of-state institutions that are marketing to Arizona residents without authorization and initiating formal contact to mandate registration. This also involves issuing formal warnings or cease-and-desist recommendations for institutions that fail to comply with Arizona law.
• STRF Tracking & Assessment - Tracking newly enrolled Arizona resident students at registered out-of-state institutions. This function includes collecting annual assessments of up to $10 per student for the Student Tuition Recovery Fund (STRF).
• Database Management & Reporting - Maintaining a meticulously organized and highly accurate database of registered, pending, and non-compliant schools. This system is utilized to generate regulatory and compliance reports directly for the State Board.

Knowledge of:

• Higher education regulatory landscapes, particularly regarding out-of-state private postsecondary institutions operating in Arizona;
• Online distance education models and the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA);
• Financial protection mechanisms, including federal financial composite scores, surety bonds, cash deposits, and irrevocable letters of credit;
• Academic standards for non-accredited institutions, including program catalogs, course descriptions, faculty qualifications, and minimum credit hour standards;
• Student Tuition Recovery Fund (STRF) tracking and assessment requirements.

Skills in:

• Financial analysis skills to evaluate institutional financial statements and gross tuition revenues;
• Conducting deep reviews of institutional applications and academic program compliance;
• Relationship management and liaison to coordinate effectively with higher education regulatory authorities across 49 other states;
• Database management skills to maintain a meticulously organized and highly accurate record of registered, pending, and non-compliant schools;
• Written communication and enforcement skills to draft formal warnings or cease-and-desist recommendations.

Ability to:

• Manage an unprecedented, high-volume pipeline of 300 to 500 institutional registrations efficiently;
• Proactively identify non-compliant institutions marketing to Arizona residents without authorization and mandate registration;
• Continuous compliance, including monitoring strict 30-day reporting windows for critical institutional events like adverse accreditation actions or lawsuits;
• Oversee end-to-end administrative processes, from initial application intake and stalled application follow-ups to annual renewals;
• Generate accurate reports for the State Board regarding compliance statuses and institutional metrics.

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in Public Administration, Business Administration, Higher Education Administration, Finance, Pre-Law, or a closely related field, or Master’s degree (MPA, MBA, or M.Ed.) or Juris Doctor (J.D.) with coursework focused on regulatory compliance, administrative law, or higher education policy.
• Experience Equivalency: An equivalent combination of education and professional experience in state authorization, higher education regulation, or compliance auditing that demonstrates the ability to perform the essential functions of the role.

If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements.

All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

The State of Arizona offers a comprehensive benefits package to include:

• Sick Leave
• Vacation with 10 paid holidays per year
• Health and dental insurance
• Retirement plan
• Life Insurance and long-term disability insurance
• Optional employee benefits include short-term disability insurance, deferred compensation plans, and supplemental life insurance

By providing the option of a full-time or part-time remote work schedule, employees enjoy improved work/life balance, report higher job satisfaction, and are more productive. Remote work is a management option and not an employee entitlement or right. An agency may terminate a remote work agreement at its discretion.

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

• Positions in this classification participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS)
• Please note, enrollment eligibility will become effective after 27 weeks of employment

If you have any questions please feel free to contact Rose Ibe at rose.ibe@azdoa.gov.