AIR OPERATIONS OFFICER

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Strategic Air Operations Centre (SAOC) within the Air Transport Service (ATS), Logistics Division (LD), Office of Supply Chain Management (OSCM), Department of Operational Support (DOS). The Department of Operational Support was established to provide operational advisory services to client entities across the Secretariat, including other departments, offices-away-from headquarters, field missions, and regional commissions. The Office of Supply Chain Management under the Department of Operational Support includes the Office of the Assistant Secretary-General for Supply Chain Management, Logistics Division, Procurement Division, Uniformed Capabilities Support Division, Global Service Centre, Aviation Safety Section, and the Enabling and Outreach Service. The United Nations Global Service Centre (UNGSC) provides critical Supply Chain, Geospatial, Information and Telecommunications Technologies services and Training to all Secretariat Entities, Peacekeeping and Special Political Missions, Agencies, Funds and Programmes of the UN system worldwide. The position is located in the United Nations Global Service Centre (UNGSC) Brindisi, Italy at the Strategic Air Operations Centre. The incumbent of the post will report to the Chief Strategic Air Operations Centre (SAOC) or designated official.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Air Operations Officer will be responsible for the following duties: • Manages and supervises the activities of the Air Operations Center (Unit). • Monitors that air operations are conducted in compliance with Air Tasking Orders (ATOs), Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), UN directives, Department of Operational Support (DOS) Aviation Manual, UN Aviation Standards for Peacekeeping and Humanitarian Air Transport Operations (UN AVSTADS), UN Aviation Safety Manual, ICAO standards and recommended practices and the host country’s Aeronautical Information Publications (AIPs). • Reviews and approves Air Mission Requests and ensures that the most suitable air asset(s) is/are assigned to a task to achieve the maximum safety, cost efficiency and effectiveness in the mission support. • Verifies the daily projected Air Tasking Orders (ATOs) for conformance and compliance with the requested tasks, resolves conflicting priorities and ensures that ATOs are published and communicated to all relevant elements in accordance with the established procedures and deadlines. • Manages routine (regular passenger/cargo, logistics resupply) flights, special (casualty and medical evacuation, VIP) flights and military operational flights. • Manages the integrated search and rescue operations for UN air assets and other aircraft upon request. • Supervises timely coordination of diplomatic over flight/landing clearances, ground handling support and hotel accommodation/meal/transportation arrangements for aircrews. • Conducts the aviation risk management for UN aviation activities in accordance with the established procedures. • Monitors utilization of UN air assets and analyses the statistical data obtained. • Liaises with other UN units/sections, non-government and government organizations and intergovernmental agencies on aviation matters. • Develops and implements the standard operating procedures for the related aviation processes. • Ensures that aircrews are briefed and conversant with UN policies, aviation safety requirements and the latest applicable aviation standard operating procedures. • Monitors that appropriate reference documents are current, readily available and accessible to all aircrew members and aviation personnel. • Develops inputs for budget proposals for the mission’s air transport operations. • Develops inputs for the Mission’s Statement of Requirements to UNHQ for aircraft acquisition. • Provides responses to UNHQ during aircraft technical evaluations to ensure that vendor’s proposals meet technical requirements. • Supervises the preparation of operational plans, performance reports, and responses to internal and external audit observations. • Analyzes, in coordination with the Aviation Safety Unit/Section, the aviation safety reports, identifies necessary corrective and preventive measures and informs the Chief of Unit, Air Operations on the required actions. • Manages the allocation and rotation of appropriate work assignments. • Coordinates the individual annual work plans and produces detailed performance assessments and evaluations for the subordinate staff members. • Develops and coordinates training courses, workshops and other related training activities. • Performs other related duties as required. • Collects and analyzes data to identify trends or patterns and provides insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting.

Competencies

Professionalism: Knowledge of diverse aviation operations. Knowledge of aviation industry procurement and logistics processes. Knowledge of institutional mandates, ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices and Annexes of the Chicago Convention, policies and guidelines pertaining to air transport operations and related matters. Ability to review alternative options and select most effective and cost-efficient mode of transport of equipment, supplies and personnel. The ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. Shows pride in work and in achievements. Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter. Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results. Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns. Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. Planning and organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies. Identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required. Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work. Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning. Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary. Uses time efficiently. Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in Air Transportation/Aviation Management, Air Traffic Management, Aviation Safety Management, Aerospace/Aeronautical Engineering, or graduation from an equivalent military educational establishment is required. A first level university degree with a relevant combination of education, professional training, certification in air transport operations, and two (2) additional years of work experience in air transport related occupation, may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Job – Specific Qualification

License as a Commercial Pilot, or a Flight Operations Officer/Flight Dispatcher, or an Air Traffic Controller or an equivalent military qualification is required. Professional certification in supply chain (CSCP), Supply Chain Operations Reference (SCOR-P), MCIPS, or Lean Six-Sigma or equivalent is desirable. Certification in Project/Programme Management methodology by an accredited body (e.g. PMP, PGMP, PRINCE 2 Foundation Project Management certification or practitioner level) or equivalent is desirable. Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is desirable.

Work Experience

A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in the aviation industry, air transport management/operations or aviation safety is required. Minimum three (3) years of managerial experience on a position directly related to the coordination of complex strategic air transport operations in the international environment is required. Experience in the use of ICAO standards and recommended practices is desirable. Experience in international operations in a post conflict environment is desirable. Experience in Contract and quality management is desirable. Experience working with data analytics and visualization tools and developing data analytics and visualization reports and dashboards is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English (both oral and written) is required.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice

This position is open for recruitment for an initial period of one year and may be subject to extension. Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. Pursuant to section 7.11 of ST/AI/2012/2/Rev.1, candidates recruited through the young professionals programme who have not served for a minimum of two years in the position of their initial assignment are not eligible to apply to this position.

United Nations Considerations

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.