Aviation Quality Assurance and Standards Officer

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located 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 end-to-end operational support, advisory services and other solutions to operating entities across the Secretariat, including other departments, offices-away-from headquarters, field missions, and regional commissions. The Office of Supply Chain Management includes the Office of the Assistant Secretary-General for Supply Chain Management, the Logistics Division, the Procurement Division, the Uniformed Capabilities Support Division, and the Enabling and Outreach Service.

The Logistics Division has been mandated to implement the supply chain management vision and strategy for a well-managed and agile supply chain to support the United Nations field missions with effectiveness and efficiency through integrated 'end-to-end' processes, starting with robust planning and managing global demand, strategic sourcing, consolidated delivery and return, supported by a strong performance management framework.

The Air Transport Service provides strategic oversight of the DOS aviation programme. It provides the road map for planning, organizing, training and equipping the UN Operations with aviation assets, personnel and aviation services along with criteria for assessing and evaluating the overall DOS aviation programme.

The Aviation Quality Assurance and Standards Officer reports to the Head of the Aviation Quality Assurance and Standard Unit (AQASU) or their designated official. He/she will provide aviation support to the Air Transport Service (ATS), LD, OSCM/DOS in formulating and promulgating aviation quality assurance and standardization procedures and policies and monitoring the implementation of the same as per industry and UN standards.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the incumbent will be responsible for the following duties:

General:
- Provides guidance and technical support in formulating policy and promulgating aviation quality assurance and standards procedures and policies; and supports in the UN aviation programme.
- Enforces UN Aviation regulatory regime, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPS), common UN Aviation Standards (AVSTADS).
- Follows-up, monitors and ensures quality inspections, audits, corrective actions and that deemed policy, operational, maintenance standards are continuously complied with.
- Supports the management of the air carrier registration process to ensure air operators' compliance with UN aviation requirements for aircraft airworthiness, aircrew qualifications, training, maintenance and safety programmes.
- Maintains and develops aircraft fleet, air carrier's database of UN assets and aircraft performance summary tables, reports and other statistical compilations.
- Ensures maintenance of international civil aviation standards and UN Aviation requirements through periodic inspections and assessments of UN flight vendors, field missions and TCC aviation units.
- Provides summaries of inspection and assessments of current and new carrier registration to Air Transport Section, the Procurement Division, the Aviation Safety Team, Movement Control Section (MOVCON) and logistics Specialists and colleagues in OSCM.
- Prepares Aviation trends Analysis; identifies and analyzes both, positive and negative trends and monitors implementation of the corresponding responses;
- Provides UN Aviation lessons learned from incidents, occurrences and accidents to all missions in order to enhance aviation operations by prevention of similar situations.
- Advises senior management of the Section through the analysis of reports on the utilization of air transport assets by field missions on their cost effectiveness and operational efficiency.
- Reviews and conducts follow up status for corrective actions resulting from BOA, UN BOIs, accident investigations, aircraft and aircrew performance reports, audit reports, incidents, occurrences and industry and manufacturers' changes.
- Standardizes UN air transport operations in accordance with the International Civil Aviation. Standards, best practices in the industry and in line with the UN Aviation Quality Assurance Programmes.

Air Transport Quality and Standards;
- Conducts quality inspection visits to ascertain compliance with UN aviation programmes set forth in the Aviation Manual;
- Conducts Preventive and Surveillance Programmes and monitors air transport operations based upon quality inspections, internal and external aviation audits, safety indicator programmes, initial aircraft and aircrew inspections, quarterly and end-of-contract performance reports to determine the operational and technical capability of the contractor to conduct the proposed operations according to the terms of UN contractual agreement.
- Endeavours to guide the operator in specific organizational and procedural matters related to the field mission and area of operations that may have an impact on required flight services in field missions.
- Revises guidelines and procedures in the UN Aviation Manual.
- Maintains and updates the Section's documentation systems, the library of air carriers' manuals, commercial air carrier and TCC aircraft databases.
- Develops procedures for assessing air operators and aircraft requirements.
- Identifies trends, lessons learned to missions quarterly or priorities required in relation to set standards.
- Conducts market research to be current with the latest technological developments regarding both civilian and military aircraft.
- Develops standard procedures and guidelines for air operators' and aircraft technical evaluation.
- Remains current with the policies and procedures of aviation regulatory bodies.
- Apprises the Chief Air Transport Service, or his designated officer, of changes in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) SARPs, Member States Civil Aviation regulations and standards, and relevant aviation industry development pertaining to the Peace Operations aviation programme.
- Apprises inter-agency agreements within the field of aviation.
- Counsels the Chief of Service, or his designated officer, in the Aviation Technical Advisory Group (ATAG) in reviewing the Aviation Standards (AVSTADS), Technical Agreement between DPO and the World Food Programme (WFP) to ensure common UN aviation standards and inter-operability of air assets between the two.
- Supports AQAS Unit in meeting the demands of the constantly evolving role of the Air Transport Service.
- Performs other functions as requested by and in support of the Chief of Unit in meeting the Unit work objectives.

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of institutional mandates (ICAO standards and Recommended practices and Annexes of the Chicago Convention), policies and guidelines pertaining to Aviation Quality and Standards and operations related matters; Ability to remain current with the international aviation industry standards and familiar with the policies and procedures of the aviation regulatory bodies. Knowledge of diverse transport operations, including phases on the Invitation to Bid, Request for Proposals, Letters of Assist, etc. Ability to review alternative options and select most effective and cost-efficient mode of air transport. Ability to provide technical leadership; strong negotiation skills and ability to influence others to reach agreement. Knowledge of institutional mandates, policies and guidelines pertaining to transport operations and related matters. Ability to complete in-depth analysis and to formulate conclusions and recommendations. 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' need 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 project; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Education

An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent degree) in Air Transportation / Aviation Management, Aviation Quality Management, or Aeronautical Engineering or related area is required. A first-level university degree in one of the above specified fields in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Advanced training and technical knowledge of aviation quality assurance and ICAO SARPs is required. Commercial Pilot License, Air Traffic Control License, Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Certification or an equivalent license from military air transport establishment is required. Aviation Quality/Aviation Standards certification is required. Certification in Prince2 or similar project management method is desirable. Certification in SCOR-P is desirable.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in air transport operations or related area at the international level is required, with at least 5 years of international experience in aviation quality assurance/aviation standards.
Experience in the international development and implementation of Aviation Quality Master Surveillance Plans is required.
Operational experience in the areas of airworthiness or operator certification, with a government department of Civil Aviation or within the airline industry is required.
Experience with implementation of rules, regulations, and development of operating manuals for flight and ground procedures is required.
Experience in Operator Certification or as an Airworthiness or Operations Inspector is desirable.
Experience in the development and implementation of Aviation Quality Audit/Inspector policies and procedures for international air transport operations is desirable.
Experience in managing international, commercial, peacekeeping or military air transport / air charter operations is desirable.
Experience in the use of Power Business Intelligence (BI) or similar data analysis and visualization tool is desirable.
Experience in international air transport operations in a field environment is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required; Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him 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.

This post is financed by the Support Account.

Appointment or assignment against this position is for an initial period of one year.

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.

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.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side 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.