Paralegal - Regulatory

Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority•Sarasota, FL

About The Position

The Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority, an independent special district of Florida responsible for operating Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport, seeks a Paralegal - Regulatory in its Legal Affairs & Compliance department. Reporting to the Senior Vice President for Legal Affairs and Compliance, this role supports the Authority’s compliance with federal and state laws affecting the Airport. The position develops and implements regulatory strategies, policies, programs, and practices; tracks changes in requirements; and helps departments apply those requirements to operations, procurement, and documentation. It also conducts legal and regulatory research, supports regulatory interactions and audits, assesses risk, and advises the organization on compliance matters. The role is primarily office-based, with periodic field investigations on airport property and occasional exposure to active airfields, terminals, construction, and operational environments. The employee must comply with federal security background check, airport security badging, and driving requirements.

Requirements

Florida Registered Paralegal (FRP) designation from The Florida Bar or Certified Paralegal (CP) designation from the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA), Inc.
Bachelor’s degree or higher in law, accounting, auditing, finance, business, or public administration.
At least 5 years of regulatory affairs experience in aviation or an equivalent heavily regulated industry.
Strong attention to detail and written and verbal communication skills, with a solid understanding of legislative and regulatory rulemaking processes.
Demonstrated success developing and executing regulatory strategies and obtaining and maintaining regulatory compliance.
In-depth knowledge of relevant regulations and standards, including federal regulations, state statutes, minimum standards, rules, and regulations.
Experience interacting with federal and state regulatory authorities and managing regulatory inspections and audits.
Strong understanding of quality systems and ability to apply regulatory requirements to quality management processes.
Experience developing and maintaining regulatory compliance documentation, including technical files, dossiers, and other relevant documentation.
Must comply with federal security background check, airport security badging, and driving requirements.

Nice To Haves

Professional certifications are a plus.
Strong knowledge of regulatory affairs principles, regulations, and guidelines, particularly in the relevant industry.
Understanding of the product development process and ability to apply regulatory requirements at each stage.
Exceptional attention to detail and ability to review, interpret, and explain laws, regulations, documentation, and regulatory guidelines accurately.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including communicating complex regulatory concepts to legal and non-legal stakeholders.
Strong project management skills and ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
Proficiency with regulatory databases and software applications for tracking and managing regulatory submissions and documents.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including identifying and resolving regulatory issues effectively.
Ability to collaborate in cross-functional teams and influence stakeholders at all levels.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement regulatory strategies, policies, programs, and practices to maintain regulatory compliance.
Stay current on changes in regulatory requirements and translate them into actionable steps for the organization.
Work with regulatory officials, executives, management, and staff to align organizational practices with legislative and statutory requirements, disclose variations, and implement corrective action plans.
Research and draft regulatory reports and correspondence concerning matters including FAA regulations, Federal Grant Assurances, Title VI Civil Rights Programs, the Brooks Act, Florida CCNA, Florida statutes, Authority resolutions, and local codes and ordinances.
Liaise with regulatory authorities and internal stakeholders, serving as the primary point of contact during federal and state inspections, audits, and agency interactions.
Conduct regulatory risk assessments and develop mitigation strategies and practices.
Draft and review policies, standard operating procedures, and other documents for regulatory compliance.
Draft contractual language consistent with federal mandatory and suggested contract provision guidelines.
Monitor practices and procedures and recommend improvements to ensure compliance standards are achieved and documented.
Provide departments with regulatory guidance and support for bids, proposals, qualifications requests, and procurement processes.
Track regulatory compliance metrics and provide assessments and presentations to executive management as requested.
Maintain a thorough understanding of federal and state regulations affecting the Authority and advise it about new rules and regulations.
Conduct legal research and understand and explain existing legislative and case law.
Perform other assignments regarding legal affairs and compliance as requested.