Hybrid Senior Manager, DER & DA Misuse Program bei Spirit Airlines

At Spirit, we live “More Fly.” It’s not just about getting from point A to B—it’s about feeling fly while you’re at it. For our Team Members, it means thinking BIG, taking action, making connections, and having a blast while doing it. From the station to the cockpit, the cabin to the computer, every day is an adventure as we redefine travel.

Soar with us and enjoy travel perks that bring you closer to what matters. Join a team that empowers you to bring your full self to work, grow personally and professionally, and fuel the communities we serve. At Spirit Airlines, the sky isn’t the limit—it’s just the beginning!

The Senior Manager of the Drug & Alcohol Program (Designated Employer Representative – DER) is responsible for ensuring compliance with FAA and DOT drug and alcohol testing regulations. This includes overseeing operational execution, regulatory recordkeeping, vendor and stakeholder engagement, and internal education efforts. The Senior Manager provides leadership, guidance, and on-call support to internal teams and ensures the program is always audit-ready. This role is critical to upholding Spirit Airlines’ safety standards and regulatory obligations.

• Enforce safety in the aviation industry by ensuring that their employers and Team Members comply with DOT/FAA’s Drug and Alcohol Testing regulations and internal policies. Direct the execution of all testing protocols—including random, pre-employment, post-accident, reasonable suspicion, return-to-duty, and follow-up—while maintaining the integrity of the testing pool. Supervise and develop a team of compliance specialists and field collectors. Maintain a pool of trained supervisors across the organization to provide support for onsite testing. Provide ongoing education and training across the company on drug and alcohol testing policies and responsibilities.
• Act as the company’s Designated Employer Representative (DER), providing 24/7 support and regulatory guidance during testing events. Serve as the primary liaison with regulatory agencies, third-party administrators, laboratories, and medical review officers; manage collector performance and contract compliance. Responsible for ensuring Spirit meets annual DOT/FAA random testing requirements. Responsible for ensuring integrity of random testing pool. Responsible for reviewing new/updated jobs for their safety sensitive classification. Assist collection agency/collectors with obtaining SIDA badge/airport access. Represent Spirit Airlines in regulatory audits, industry forums, and stakeholder engagements; respond to agency inquiries and ensure audit readiness.
• Champion enterprise-wide education and awareness initiatives to promote a culture of safety and regulatory accountability. Drive continuous improvement through audits, data analysis, and process enhancements to mitigate risk and strengthen program integrity. Ensure all program documentation is accurate, audit-ready, and maintained according to federal requirements. Review and approve vendor invoices and ensure accuracy of billing for testing services.
• Partner with HR, Legal, and Operational leadership to shape and maintain compliant, effective drug and alcohol policies. Serve as a point of contact for union engagement on matters related to drug and alcohol program.
• Maintain executive-level reporting and dashboards to inform leadership of compliance trends, risks, and performance metrics.
• May perform other responsibilities as assigned. Responsibilities and duties may change when circumstances dictate. (e.g., emergency change in workload, rush jobs, or technical developments.)

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience required.
• 6-10 years' experience required.
• 5+ years of experience managing a Drug & Alcohol Testing Program in a regulated environment.
• 5+ years of experience leading teams or direct reports.
• Experience in aviation or airport operations preferred.
• In-depth knowledge of FAA and DOT drug and alcohol testing regulations.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills with a high attention to detail.
• Ability to delegate, lead, and motivate a team.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and conflict resolution capabilities.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook).
• Self-starter with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, changing environment.
• Ability to collaborate across functions while maintaining regulatory authority.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and work collaboratively.
• Domestic & International Travel under 10% of the time. 
• 100% onsite—because connection and collaboration are core to life at Spirit.

We offer a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits to our team members including medical, dental, STD, LTD, life insurance, 401(k), paid time off, travel benefits and much more. We strive to maintain a professional, yet friendly environment and promote professional and career development for our Team Members.

Spirit Airlines is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.  All aspects of employment are governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law.