Personnel Licensing (PEL) and Flight Operations (OPS) Expert, USOAP CMA

Result of Service

- Determining the status of ICAO Member States’ adherence to Standards and Recommended Practices, the level of implementation of the critical elements of safety oversight in a State, and the maturity levels in implementation and maintenance of a State Safety Programme. The impact of these decisions and outcomes will be significant as the determinations could result in other States refusing to operate in that Member State’s airspace system and facilities.

-The incumbent will make proposals with respect to the conduct of USOAP activities, to related documentation under the responsibility of OAS and to the continuous improvement of the Monitoring and Oversight Quality Management System. Recommendations will also be made to States regarding corrective actions and enhancement opportunities.

-Errors made in the conduct of USOAP activities could have a substantial impact on global aviation safety. Lack of verification of a safety problem could result in safety deficiencies or risks remaining unidentified. An overestimation of the problem could result in punitive action by Member States taken vis-à-vis the audited or assessed State.

Work Location

Montreal

Expected duration

The duration of this assignment is 11 months and the consultant is expected to work 5 days a week.

Duties and Responsibilities

THE ORGANIZATIONAL SETTING
The Air Navigation Bureau (ANB) in ICAO is responsible for providing technical guidance to the Air Navigation Commission (ANC), the Council and the Assembly. ANB provides technical expertise in aviation-related disciplines to States, industry and all elements of the Organization. The Bureau is also responsible for maintaining and implementing the Global Aviation Safety Plan (GASP) and the Global Air Navigation Plan (GANP), including its aviation system block upgrades, as well as producing yearly safety and air navigation status reports. The Bureau develops technical studies and proposals for Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs), and Procedures for Air Navigation Services (PANS) for further processing by the governing bodies of ICAO, and develops related procedures and guidance material. The Bureau also manages the Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) Continuous Monitoring Approach (CMA), which monitors all Member States on a continuous basis.

The Safety and Air Navigation Oversight Audit Section (OAS) in Monitoring and Oversight (MO) of the Air Navigation Bureau (ANB) is responsible for the implementation of the ICAO Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP), which is aimed at ensuring the effective implementation by ICAO Member States of safety-related Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) and associated procedures using a continuous monitoring approach. The Section is responsible to identify safety deficiencies in Member States by conducting various USOAP activities such as safety oversight audits, ICAO Coordinated Validation Missions (ICVMs), off-site validation activities, assess associated safety risks, and develop assistance strategies. The Section is also responsible for reporting on audit findings and for determining the impact on aviation safety arising from the lack of effective implementation of the critical elements of a safety oversight system.

The incumbent reports directly to the Chief, Safety and Air Navigation Oversight Audit Section (C/OAS). Under the supervision of C/OAS, the incumbent will be responsible for participating in the USOAP continuous monitoring approach (CMA) activities and give advice to States, in coordination with the Standards and Procedures Officers (SPOs/OAS).

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Function 1 (incl. Expected results)
Participates in USOAP CMA activities, achieving results such as:
• Plan, prepare for, and participate in, the conduct of safety oversight audit and validation missions, either as a team leader or team member, to determine States’ capacity for safety oversight by verifying compliance with the Chicago Convention or national regulations, conformance with ICAO Standards and adherence to ICAO Recommended Practices and procedures and good aviation safety practices.
• Plan, prepare for, and participate in, the conduct of States’ Safety Programme Implementation Assessments (SSPIA), either as a team leader or team member, to determine States’ maturity level in the implementation of its State’s Safety Programme.
• Conduct analyses of USOAP CMA activities’ findings and corrective action plans in the fields of personnel licensing and/or flight operations submitted by States to enable ICAO, States and international organizations to prioritize actions to resolve safety concerns.
• Provide training to team members on the conduct of USOAP activities.

Function 2 (incl. Expected results)
Ensures timely development and preparation of reports for transmittal to Member States, achieving results such as:
• Review audit findings, reports, corrective action plans and any other information submitted by States in the field of personnel licensing and/or flight operations.
• Review updates on the progress submitted by States in reviewing safety-related deficiencies identified through the USOAP for posting on the public website of ICAO and USOAP restricted website.
• Perform quality control on audit, validation and SSPIA reports and related documentation to ensure consistency and adherence to the established report preparation standards and requirements.
• Prepare mission reports and follow up on actions thereof.

Function 3 (incl. Expected results)
Contributes to the evolution of USOAP CMA, achieving results such as:
• Contribute to the activities related to the enhancement of the protocol questions and methodology related to the assessment of the implementation of the State Safety Programme in the areas of Personnel licensing and/or Flight Operations.
• Ensure all questionnaires related to Personnel licensing and/or Flight Operations matters are maintained up to date to keep pace with the latest Annex amendments and associated guidance material.
• Manage and maintain the information contained in the Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) online framework (OLF) primarily in the areas of Personnel licensing and/or flight operations.

Function 4 (incl. Expected results)
Maintains liaison with and provide specialized advice to Member States, ANB Sections, ICAO Bureaus and ICAO Regional Offices and USOAP qualified experts, achieving results such as:
• Coordinate with State National Continuous Monitoring Coordinators (NCMCs), staff from ICAO Regional Offices, and staff from ANB Sections and other ICAO Bureaus on USOAP-related matters, specifically in the fields of Personnel licensing and/or Flight Operations.
• Respond to queries related to USOAP from States, Secretariat and ICAO USOAP qualified auditors, subject matter experts and assessors, primarily in the areas of Personnel licensing and/or Flight Operations.

Function 5 (incl. Expected results)
Supports the implementation of USOAP CMA, achieving results such as:
• Contribute to the improvement of the Monitoring and Oversight Quality Management System by applying quality assurance techniques and participating in the conduct of internal audits, in accordance with ISO requirements.
• Participate in the preparation and conduct of USOAP-related training courses, seminar/workshops in accordance with the Quality Management Systems Procedures (QMSPs).
• Assist in the preparation of reports and working papers for the Assembly, the Council and the Air Navigation Commission.

Function 6 (incl. Expected results)
Performs other duties, as assigned

Qualifications/special skills

Educational background:
A first-level university degree in an aviation-related technical discipline, or in a related field. A technical qualification in aviation such as an Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) or an Air Traffic Control Licence may be accepted in lieu of the first-level university degree is required.

Professional experience and knowledge:
- A minimum of ten (10) years’ working experience in an aviation environment, in the industry and/or in a --State authority or Regional organization is required.
- At least five years’ experience in a Civil Aviation Authority or a Regional Safety Oversight Organization (RSOO) as a personnel licensing inspector or aircraft operations inspector / auditor is required.
- Experience with licensing processes and approval of training programmes / training organizations (TOs) and/or of the process for the issuance of air operator certificates (AOCs) and operation specifications (OPSPECs) is required.
- Certification as a USOAP auditor in Personnel licensing and/or Flight Operations is desirable.
- Experience in safety management (State Safety Programme and/or Safety Management Systems) is desirable.

Competencies:

Professionalism: In depth knowledge of Annex 1 – Personnel Licensing, or Annex 6 – Operation of Aircraft (Parts I, II, III) and Annex 18 – The transport of Dangerous Goods by Air, and Annex 19 – Safety Management, and related procedures and guidance material. Knowledge of ICAO functions, organization and international activities in personnel licensing or aircraft operator. Knowledge of the ICAO Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) Continuous Monitoring Approach (CMA). Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matters; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal interest; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations.

Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style, and format to match the audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

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.

Judgement/Decision-making: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; gathers relevant information before making a decision; considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them; takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization; proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; checks assumptions against facts; determines that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary.

Languages

- Fluent reading, writing and speaking abilities in English is required.
- A working knowledge of any other language of the Organization (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish) is desirable.

Additional Information

Consultants will be held to the highest ethical standards and are required to sign a Code of Conduct and an individual declaration of independence (or statement of confidentiality) upon acceptance of the assignment.
Please note that the daily rate for Band C varies from $402 to $578.

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.