ASSOCIATE – USDOT-FTA DRUG & ALCOHOL COMPLIANCE

ABOUT US
RLS & Associates, Inc. (RLS) is a national consulting firm that works exclusively in the transit industry, providing consulting assistance to small, medium, and large public transit systems, Federal and State departments of transportation, government agencies, and paratransit operators. This woman-owned, certified disadvantaged business enterprise was established in September 1987 and has grown to be a highly respected and sought-after consulting firm in the transit industry today. Since its inception, RLS’ mission has been to “assist the transit community in identifying, facing, and meeting current and future challenges in an affordable, practical, and high-quality manner while maintaining the highest standard of integrity and professionalism.” RLS is headquartered in Dayton, Ohio with offices in Texas, Indiana, and Arkansas.

Regular operating hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday. Under certain circumstances it may be necessary to stay later in the evening, or perhaps come in over a weekend.

JOB DETAILS
RLS is seeking an Associate Reviewer to join its compliance practice and provide technical assistance and on-site regulatory reviews of various transit systems throughout the United States regarding the drug & alcohol testing regulations of the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA). The successful candidate will work in one of the RLS offices operating out of Dayton, OH or San Antonio, TX.

This job will require travel around the United States. Successful candidates will need to be able to travel about 40% of the time.

Applicants should possess a deep understanding of the USDOT-FTA drug & alcohol regulatory landscape. Specifically, applicants must be familiar with USDOT-FTA drug & alcohol testing programs and regulations (49 CFR Part 40 and 49 CFR Part 655).

Successful candidates will be self-motivated with a strong work ethic and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team in dynamic environments. This position requires substantial interaction with project team members, clients and the general public and expects excellent oral and written communication and presentation skills. Strong computer skills preferred. Reports to the Company President and Chief of Operations unless otherwise assigned. Additionally, successful candidates will possess the proven ability to develop and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders, perform qualitative and quantitative analyses, manage multiple workstreams under tight deadlines, ensure strict adherence to project budgets, and travel approximately 40% of the time for project-related work occurring throughout the United States.

Key Responsibilities:

• Coordinate and conduct both virtual and on-site regulatory compliance reviews of various transit systems throughout the United States, including:
• Identifying and documenting findings
• Developing comprehensive action plans to correct compliance deficiencies; recommending best practices to further improve transit systems
• Producing draft and final reports
• Providing technical assistance and follow-up as needed
• At a minimum, the Drug & Alcohol compliance reviews will consist of conducting reviews and assessments of the following major review elements, assessing for compliance with 49 CFR Part 40 and Part 655:
• D&A testing policy reviews;
• Drug & Alcohol Program Manager (DAPM) Interviews;
• D&A testing records management reviews;
• Breath Alcohol Technician (BAT) reviews and interviews;
• Urine Collection Technician (Collector) reviews and interviews;
• Medical Review Officer (MRO) reviews and interviews;
• Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) reviews an interviews;
• Consortium/Third-Party Administrator (C/TPA) reviews and interviews
• Prepare and conduct both virtual and on-site/in person training sessions on a variety of transit related topics.
• Complete on-going research and training to ensure continued expertise in the field of transit regulatory compliance.
• Provides assistance to Senior Associates and the Company President on various types of technical studies, projects, and proposals. In this capacity, completes assigned work within the budgeted number of work hours and determined timeframe.
• Maintains good client relations.
• In consultation with the President, seeks out requests for proposals, bids, and other business development opportunities; prepares proposals and develops budgets in response.
• Maintains an accurate record of time spent on each billable project and on non-billable activities. Responsible for attaining a specified percentage of billable hours each month.
• Records travel expenses and submits expense reports in accordance with client requirements and limitations.
• Requires eight hours of computer usage on a daily basis.
• It is an essential job function of this position to be present in-person at the RLS designated workspace as required.
• Other duties as assigned.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Passionate about improving public and human service transportation and making communities a better place to live;
• Attention to detail and ability to multi-task is a requirement.
• Inquisitive self-starter and a natural problem solver;
• Demonstrated proficiency in use of all applications of Microsoft Office Suite;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills; strong presentation and public speaking abilities;
• Skill in organization, prioritization, and time management;
• Ability to operate necessary equipment, including computers;
• Valid Driver’s License and the ability to travel throughout the United States approximately 40% of the time;
• Ability to sit or stand for long periods of time.
• Ability to lift up to 30 pounds (paper boxes and office supplies)
• Associates Degree, with experience

PREFERRED SKILLS AND BACKGROUND

• Prior experience with a public transit system, state department of transportation, private or non-profit transportation provider, planning organization, or consulting firm;
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university is preferred;
• Willingness to work out of the Dayton, OH or San Antonio, TX RLS office is strongly preferred but not necessarily required depending on the skills and experience of the applicant.

Benefits available for full-time positions include: Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance; 401k and Profit Sharing Plan after introductory period; paid holidays, vacation, PTO, and sick time.

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time

Pay: $60,000.00 - $80,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Relocation assistance

Education:

• Bachelor's (Preferred)

Experience:

• USDOT-FTA regulatory compliance or related : 2 years (Preferred)

Willingness to travel:

• 50% (Required)

Work Location: In person