Air Operations Officer

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located within the Air Transport Service (ATS), Logistics Division (LD), Office of Supply Chain Management (OSCM), in the Department of Operational Support (DOS) at Headquarters.

The Department of Operational Support was established to provide operational advisory services 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, Logistics Division, Procurement Division, Uniformed Capabilities Support Division, Global Service Centre and the Enabling and Outreach Service.

The Logistics Division (LD) performs a central role in the implementation of end-to-end supply chain management across the United Nations (UN) operations. The LD provides direction and advice on logistical matters, monitors and assesses the delivery of strategic transportation and support services, and directs the delivery of transportation and specialist support services in the functional areas of air transport, ground transport, engineering, medical and supply, inclusive of fuel, rations and general supplies and security equipment.

The Air Transport Service provides aviation support to all Secretariat entities through the timely establishment of the required contracts, in coordination with the Procurement Division, and provides management support to all clients to enhance cost effectiveness and efficiency of aviation operations. The Service is responsible for providing aviation sourcing support, including for unmanned aerial systems, by developing technical specifications, statements of requirements, modalities of long-term versus short-term sourcing and letters of assist versus commercial sourcing, to ensure that clients’ needs are met with the most appropriate services in the most cost effective and efficient manner. The Service is also responsible for improving the management and operations of United Nations aviation support, including by determining aviation requirements, analysing spending and utilization, and exploring new ways of fulfilling client requirements, including through standby arrangements and sharing within the Secretariat. The Service provides guidance to ensure the right configuration of air assets, infrastructure and services in order to facilitate the execution of mandated tasks, while ensuring that contracted services comply with the requirements of the United Nations and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Standards and Recommended Practices. The Service also provides dedicated air transportation support during the start-up, sustainment, transition and liquidation phases of missions; facilitate the planning and implementation of training courses, workshops, and seminars for the development of aviation specialists; and establish operational guidance to support the effective and efficient delivery of capabilities from both commercial providers and Member States.

The Air Operations Officer reports to the Head of Service or their designated official.

Responsibilities

Within the limits of delegated authority, the Air Operations Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

General
• Plans, assesses and works with category teams to define air transportation solutions aimed at satisfying clients’ requirements, based on market analysis, clients’ surveys, analysis of historic data, new trends in the aviation business.

• Manages, administers and monitors UN Long-term Chartered Agreements and Letters of Assist (LOA) contractual issues; liaises with the Procurement Division on procurement related matters. Advises DOS client entities on all aviation matters, providing support and guidance throughout the process.

• Prepares Letters of Assist for the air transport operations relating to the provision of movement of assets by national governments and coordinate the preparation of ITB/RFP for commercial air charter, ensuring that requirements and specifications are accurate and complete, obtain funds availability certification.

• Reviews bid responses and conducts operational and technical evaluation and analysis of the bids to ensure that offers meet technical requirements and operational needs.

• Liaises with the United Nations insurance specialists to ensure aircraft charter services insurance coverage as required in the United Nations standard aircraft charter agreement.

• Coordinates requisition process with purchasing authorities to ensure that bidding and approval processes meet required timetable.

• Participates in technical missions as required; advises on all matters pertaining to the planning and monitoring (including safety) of the provision of air transportation resources to client entities in pursue of clients’ mobility and air surveillance and defense concepts.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Air Transport
• Advises clients on air transport administrative, logistics and technical support policy objectives.

• Assists in the development of air transport and maintenance rules and regulations.

• Plans the use of air transport to achieve pre-determined outcomes using cost effective and efficient methods to deliver services.

• Prepares technical reports, statistics and other documents required for aircraft establishment review and regular and ad-hoc reporting requirements related to air transport operations.

• Participates in planning meetings with senior aviation supplier representatives and government officials, to best scope clients aviation requirements and ensure the provision of adequate solutions.

• Participates with other officers in DOS, Contributing Country representatives, Permanent Mission officials, military advisers, representatives of transport industry, national government representatives, and others in negotiating and approving policies, procedures and operating requirements.

• Contributes to executing transportation of peacekeeping personnel as well as DOS client entities’ personnel to and from DOS entities by most cost effective and efficient contracts in terms of safety and timeliness.

• Assists in the planning, programming and implementation of the UN aviation policy and programmes; establishes and monitors fight standards, execution of site inspections, registration of vendors, certification of aircraft registration, airworthiness, personnel licensing and maintenance plans.

• Compiles and analyzes statistical data from diverse sources; present findings, identifying adverse trends, lessons learned, etc.; ensures dissemination of results.

• Provides advice on issues/problems pertaining to aviation operations.

• Makes recommendations on the improvement of UN air operations with particular attention to vendor performance, site inspections, occurrences reporting, data collection and analysis, etc.

• Follows, maintains, disseminates ICAO Annexes, Standards and Recommended Practices; assesses these standards against UN flight standards and forwards inputs and recommendations for review; monitors external commercial aviation safety programmes and assess their applicability to the UN.

• Assists in the training of new Air Operations Officers.

• Contributes to the preparation of various written reports, guidelines, studies, briefings, and other communications.

Competencies

• Professionalism: 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. Knowledge of computer systems similar to SAP ERP and Power BI applications. Knowledge of UN financial rules and regulations. Knowledge of practices and procedures of large volume transportation operations in the field. Ability to prepare and negotiate contracts with representatives of air transportation media. Knowledge of regulations and requirements designed to ensure the safety of personnel and goods transported by contracted carriers. Ability to conduct research, evaluate and integrate information from a variety of sources, in order to assess impact on air transport operations. 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.

• 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.

• 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 aeronautics or related field is required. A first-level university degree, in aeronautics or related field in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Job - Specific Qualification

• Technical aviation qualification such as Commercial Pilot License, Air Traffic Control License, Flight Operations Officer License, or an equivalent is desirable.

• Certification in Crew Resource Management (CRM) is desirable.

• Just Culture certification in Aviation 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.

• Professional certification in supply chain (SCOR-P, CSCP Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply certification (CIPS) or equivalent is desirable.

Work Experience

• A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in the aviation industry or related area is required.

• Experience in research and development of sourcing solutions for aviation services, including identification of requirements, conducting technical evaluation and contract management in an international organization is required.

• Experience in air transportation management and/or aviation operations in support of field operations (inclusive of peacekeeping operations, special political missions, agencies funds and programmes), or similar organisation is desirable.

• Experience in the use of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards and recommended practices is desirable.

• Experience in the use of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, such as SAP, in support of aviation operations is desirable.

• Experience in the use of Power Business Intelligence (BI) or similar data analysis and visualization tool 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 desirable.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

• This position is funded by the Support Account. The 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 and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

• Applicants from troop and police-contributing countries who are found most suitable and recommended for selection will be given due consideration for positions in a peacekeeping operation or Headquarters support account funded positions in the Department of Peace Operations and the Department of Operational Support, taking into account their contribution to United Nations peacekeeping, in accordance with General Assembly resolutions 66/265 and 67/287.

• Applicants, who successfully go through a competitive recruitment process and are recommended for selection and/or inclusion in the roster of pre-approved candidates for subsequent job openings at the same level and with similar functions, may have their application information and roster status shared with other UN Organizations. Such applicants may be contacted by other UN Organizations for similar job openings, subject to the confirmation of their interest. Placement on the roster is no guarantee of a future selection.

• 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.

• At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.

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.

The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

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.