Paralegal - Regulatory

The Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority is an Independent Special District of the state of Florida responsible for the operation of Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport. This position reports to the Authority’s Senior Vice President for Legal Affairs and Compliance and functions to ensure the Authority’s compliance with federal and state laws affecting the Airport.

1. Responsibilities include developing and implementing regulatory strategies, policies, programs, and practices to maintain regulatory requirements.

2. Stay updated on recurring changes in regulatory requirements and translate them into actionable steps for the organization to ensure compliance.

3. Collaborate with regulatory officials, internal executives, management, and staff to ensure organizational practices align with legislative and statutory requirements, disclose variations, and implement action plans for correction.

4. Research and draft regulatory reports and correspondence as requested, including, but not limited to, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Regulations, Federal Grant Assurances, Title VI Civil Rights Programs, The Brooks Act, Florida Consultant Competitive Negotiations Act (CCNA), Florida Statutes, Airport Authority Resolutions, Local Codes and Ordinances.

5. Liaise with regulatory authorities, executives, management, and staff and act as the primary point of contact during federal and state inspections, audits, and agency interactions.

6. Conduct regulatory risk assessments and develop mitigation strategies and practices to mitigate regulatory risks.

7. Draft and review policies and standard operating procedures, and other relevant documentation to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.

8. Draft contractual language consistent with federal mandatory and suggested contract provision guidelines.

9. Monitor and observe practices and procedures and make recommendations for improvements to ensure standards for compliance are achieved and documented.

10. Provide regulatory guidance and support to departments to ensure that regulatory requirements for requests for bids, requests for proposals, requests for qualifications, and overall procurement processes are fully incorporated.

11. Monitor and track regulatory compliance metrics and provide assessments and presentations to executive management as requested.

12. Achieve and maintain a thorough understanding of federal and state regulations affecting the Authority and provide guidance to the Authority regarding new rules and regulations.

13. Conduct legal research, understand and explain existing legislative and case law.

14. Perform other assignments regarding legal affairs and compliance as requested.

1. Florida Registered Paralegal (FRP) designation by the Florida Bar or Certified Paralegal (CP) designation by the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA), Inc.

2. Bachelor's degree or higher in law, accounting, auditing, finance, business, or public administration.

3. Minimum of 5 years of experience in regulatory affairs in aviation or an equivalent heavily regulated industry.

4. Strong attention to detail, strong written and verbal communication skills, and a solid understanding of legislative and regulatory rulemaking processes.

5. Proven track record of successfully developing and executing regulatory strategies, obtaining and maintaining regulatory compliance.

6. In-depth knowledge of relevant regulations and standards, including federal regulations, state statutes, minimum standards, rules, and regulations.

7. Experience in interacting with federal and state regulatory authorities and managing regulatory inspections and audits.

8. Strong understanding of quality systems and the ability to apply regulatory requirements to quality management processes.

9. Experience in developing and maintaining regulatory compliance documentation, including technical files, dossiers, and other relevant documentation.

10. Professional certifications are a plus.

1. Strong knowledge of regulatory affairs principles, regulations, and guidelines, particularly in the relevant industry.

2. Excellent understanding of the product development process and the ability to apply regulatory requirements to each stage.

3. Exceptional attention to detail and ability to review, interpret, and explain law, regulations, documentation, and regulatory guidelines accurately.

4. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to effectively communicate complex regulatory concepts to both legal and non-legal stakeholders.

5. Strong project management skills and the ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects simultaneously.

6. Proficient in using regulatory databases and software applications to track and manage regulatory submissions and documents.

7. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify and resolve regulatory issues effectively.

8. Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in cross-functional teams and effectively influence stakeholders at all levels.

1. Primarily office environment with periodic field investigations on airport property.

2. Occasional exposure to active airfields, terminal, construction, and operational environments.

3. Must comply with federal security background check, airport security badging, and driving requirements.