Executive Director, Ethics & Compliance
Synopsys, Mountain View, CA, United States
Overview
The Executive Director, Ethics & Compliance is accountable for translating enterprise strategy into a practical, scalable global compliance program and ensuring it operates effectively across the business. This role requires a seasoned leader who sets direction and owns execution-driving a best-in-class program through complex regulatory, geopolitical, and high-growth environments.
Reporting to the Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer, the Executive Director is a highly visible leader who partners closely with cross-functional leaders and business teams worldwide. The ideal candidate brings deep compliance and investigations expertise with strong operational leadership and a global perspective, enabling the company to operate responsibly and decisively by embedding integrity, sound judgment, and ethical decision-making into day-to-day operations at scale.
Key Responsibilities
Global Ethics & Compliance Leadership
Lead the execution and continuous improvement of the global ethics and compliance program, ensuring consistent, risk-based application across regions, business models, and growth environments.
Global policy framework & Code of Ethics
Own the Code of Ethics & Business Conduct and the global policy framework, ensuring policies, procedures, and governance mechanisms remain current, effective, and aligned with regulatory expectations.
Compliance risk assessment & monitoring
Design and oversee global compliance risk assessment, monitoring, and reporting to strengthen controls, measure program effectiveness, and drive continuous improvement.
Board & external oversight
Partner with the Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer to support executive and Board-level oversight, including reporting to the Audit Committee and engagement with external auditors.
International and Regulatory Risk Governance
Global risk framework across jurisdictions
Apply the global risk framework to cross-border, geopolitical, and regulatory risks affecting international operations and global business activities.
Regulatory monitoring
Monitor regulatory and enforcement developments in key jurisdictions and adapt compliance strategies and program requirements accordingly.
Cross-border compliance programs
Lead global oversight of anti-corruption, anti-bribery, competition, and related regulatory compliance programs.
Transaction & third-party advisory
Advise on cross-border business transactions, third-party relationships, and international market expansion to proactively identify and mitigate compliance risk.
Sanctions & export controls
Coordinate with Trade Compliance on sanctions and export-related risk escalation, governance, and investigations.
Culture, Speak-Up, Investigations & Enforcement
Integrity culture & training
Advance a strong global culture of integrity through training, awareness, communications, and leadership engagement.
Speak-Up & anti-retaliation
Oversee the company's speak-up and anti-retaliation framework, including confidential reporting mechanisms and issue escalation.
Investigations
Direct the global investigations function, including hotline operations, internal investigations, and regulatory inquiries and enforcement matters, ensuring consistent, timely, and fair resolution.
Leadership & Cross-Functional Partnership
Team leadership
Lead and develop a high-performing, globally distributed team of ethics and compliance professionals across the U.S., EMEA, and APAC.
Operational integration
Partner with Finance, Internal Audit, HR, Sales, and global business leaders and teams to embed ethics and compliance into core processes, strategic initiatives, and business operations.
Transformations & integrations
Support complex business transformations, including post-acquisition integration, to ensure compliance standards are consistently implemented across newly acquired entities.
Qualifications
Legal Credentials
J.D. from an accredited law school and active U.S. bar membership.
Experience
15+ years of legal and compliance experience, including at least 7+ years in a senior in-house leadership role within a large, publicly traded multinational technology company.
Global Expertise
Proven track record of managing compliance across multiple jurisdictions (US, EMEA, APAC) and navigating international enforcement landscapes.
Leadership
Experience building and leading high-performing, multidisciplinary teams of attorneys and compliance professionals.
Executive Presence
Demonstrated ability to influence executives and communicate complex risk profiles to Board-level committees.
#LI-MK1
At Synopsys, we want talented people of every background to feel valued and supported to do their best work. Synopsys considers all applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, military veteran status, or disability.
In addition to the base salary, this role may be eligible for an annual bonus, equity, and other discretionary bonuses. Synopsys offers comprehensive health, wellness, and financial benefits as part of a competitive total rewards package. The actual compensation offered will be based on a number of job-related factors, including location, skills, experience, and education. Your recruiter can share more specific details on the total rewards package upon request. The base salary range for this role is across the U.S.
Apply Now
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Reporting to the Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer, the Executive Director is a highly visible leader who partners closely with cross-functional leaders and business teams worldwide. The ideal candidate brings deep compliance and investigations expertise with strong operational leadership and a global perspective, enabling the company to operate responsibly and decisively by embedding integrity, sound judgment, and ethical decision-making into day-to-day operations at scale.
Key Responsibilities
Global Ethics & Compliance Leadership
Lead the execution and continuous improvement of the global ethics and compliance program, ensuring consistent, risk-based application across regions, business models, and growth environments.
Global policy framework & Code of Ethics
Own the Code of Ethics & Business Conduct and the global policy framework, ensuring policies, procedures, and governance mechanisms remain current, effective, and aligned with regulatory expectations.
Compliance risk assessment & monitoring
Design and oversee global compliance risk assessment, monitoring, and reporting to strengthen controls, measure program effectiveness, and drive continuous improvement.
Board & external oversight
Partner with the Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer to support executive and Board-level oversight, including reporting to the Audit Committee and engagement with external auditors.
International and Regulatory Risk Governance
Global risk framework across jurisdictions
Apply the global risk framework to cross-border, geopolitical, and regulatory risks affecting international operations and global business activities.
Regulatory monitoring
Monitor regulatory and enforcement developments in key jurisdictions and adapt compliance strategies and program requirements accordingly.
Cross-border compliance programs
Lead global oversight of anti-corruption, anti-bribery, competition, and related regulatory compliance programs.
Transaction & third-party advisory
Advise on cross-border business transactions, third-party relationships, and international market expansion to proactively identify and mitigate compliance risk.
Sanctions & export controls
Coordinate with Trade Compliance on sanctions and export-related risk escalation, governance, and investigations.
Culture, Speak-Up, Investigations & Enforcement
Integrity culture & training
Advance a strong global culture of integrity through training, awareness, communications, and leadership engagement.
Speak-Up & anti-retaliation
Oversee the company's speak-up and anti-retaliation framework, including confidential reporting mechanisms and issue escalation.
Investigations
Direct the global investigations function, including hotline operations, internal investigations, and regulatory inquiries and enforcement matters, ensuring consistent, timely, and fair resolution.
Leadership & Cross-Functional Partnership
Team leadership
Lead and develop a high-performing, globally distributed team of ethics and compliance professionals across the U.S., EMEA, and APAC.
Operational integration
Partner with Finance, Internal Audit, HR, Sales, and global business leaders and teams to embed ethics and compliance into core processes, strategic initiatives, and business operations.
Transformations & integrations
Support complex business transformations, including post-acquisition integration, to ensure compliance standards are consistently implemented across newly acquired entities.
Qualifications
Legal Credentials
J.D. from an accredited law school and active U.S. bar membership.
Experience
15+ years of legal and compliance experience, including at least 7+ years in a senior in-house leadership role within a large, publicly traded multinational technology company.
Global Expertise
Proven track record of managing compliance across multiple jurisdictions (US, EMEA, APAC) and navigating international enforcement landscapes.
Leadership
Experience building and leading high-performing, multidisciplinary teams of attorneys and compliance professionals.
Executive Presence
Demonstrated ability to influence executives and communicate complex risk profiles to Board-level committees.
#LI-MK1
At Synopsys, we want talented people of every background to feel valued and supported to do their best work. Synopsys considers all applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, military veteran status, or disability.
In addition to the base salary, this role may be eligible for an annual bonus, equity, and other discretionary bonuses. Synopsys offers comprehensive health, wellness, and financial benefits as part of a competitive total rewards package. The actual compensation offered will be based on a number of job-related factors, including location, skills, experience, and education. Your recruiter can share more specific details on the total rewards package upon request. The base salary range for this role is across the U.S.
Apply Now
#J-18808-Ljbffr