Senior Air Operations Officer In Mogadishu, Somalia

Job Title:	Senior Air Operations Officer
Grade:	P4
Section:	Joint Mission Air Operations Centre
Reports to:	Chief of Joint Mission Air Operations Centre
Duty Station:	Mogadishu, Somalia

2.    JOB PURPOSE:

Efficiently and effectively manage all air operations of the mission.

3.    MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Plan, evaluate and assess suitable air assets to meet mission needs, and review and clear technical and operational aircraft specifications with the African Union (AU) headquarters;

• Develop Invitation to Bid (ITB) and evaluation of bids for mission level procurement actions related to air operations;

•        Provide assistance and technical advice in all aspects of aviation to the mission management;

•        Ensure safe, efficient and economical air transportation support is provided to meet operational and administrative requirements of the mission;

•        Assess cost estimates and prepare aviation budget;

•        Liaise with relevant sections on all matters related to air assets contracts and insurance;

•        Approve advice to Property Survey Board, Claims Review Board and Board of Inquiry;

•        Act as the principal liaison between the mission and Headquarters and with supporting partners, specifically the United Nations Support Office for AMISOM (UNSOA) on Aviation matters, and coordinate day-to-day support of air operations;

•        Manage and supervise the air operations, including risk management, budget, staffing and development, and aviation training;

•        Develop and implement the Mission Aviation Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in compliance with the current AU Air Operations Manual, Host Nation AIPs, the Chicago Convention and its annexes and national civil aviation regulations;

•        Comply with PSOD Aviation Safety Program and UN/DPKO Aviation Standards and correct deficiencies in coordination with the mission aviation safety officer;

•        Monitor the contract compliance of operators and units and evaluate their performances on a periodical basis;

•        Verify, supervise and approve the certification of services rendered by contracted operators;

•        Develop aviation administrative, logistics and technical standard operations procedures;

•        Oversee planning of the use of air assets to achieve pre-determined outcomes using cost effective and efficient methods to deliver services;

•        Consult with the representatives of the principal components on satisfying air transport needs and coordinate acquisition and deployment of resources accordingly;

•        Develop guidelines and instructions, review them periodically with the line managers and, through regular field trips inspections and meetings, evaluate the extent to which delegated responsibilities are being effectively carried out;

•        Verify and advise on the serviceability of aircraft and aviation equipment in use and on the disposal of the unserviceable;

•        Oversee the preparation of technical reports, statistics, and other documents required on ad hoc basis and related to air operations;

•        Prepare the annual budget;

•        Oversee review and control of all expenditures from the approved aviation budget to ensure that the requirements of the mission are met within allocated funds;

•        Assess aviation human resource needs and provide advice to personnel;

•        Supervise aviation staff throughout the mission area;

•        Review mission requirements and initiate action to acquire air assets to meet the needs.

•        Ensure that requirements and specifications are complete and accurate;

•        Investigate, testify and provide technical expertise and advice before the aircraft accident Boards of Inquiry;

•        Represent the AU and the mission during contingency owned equipment (COE) pre-deployment visits of aviation components in Troop Contributing Countries; and

•        Perform any other duties as directed/requested.

4.    QUALIFICATIONS:

Advanced University Degree (Master’s degree of equivalent) in Aviation Management, Aerospace/Aeronautical Engineering or Business Administration or graduations from equivalent military establishment or military flight/air traffic control training. Training as a Professional Pilot or Aeronautical Engineer or Air Traffic Controller or Flight Dispatcher qualification, or equal military certification, is desirable. A first level university degree with a relevant combination of education, professional training, certification in air transport, and strong managerial experience in air transportation-related occupation, may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

5.    EXPERIENCE

At least 7 years of progressively responsible experience, with at least two years at the international level, in occupations related to air transportation. Managerial experience in air operations of international, peacekeeping or military nature is required. Experience in quality assurance/control in airline/airport is desirable. Knowledge of African Union (AU) financial rules and regulations is desirable. Managerial experience of air charter operations is desirable.

6.     SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES REQUIRED:

•         Ability to work closely with governments, NGOs and multi-lateral institutions in complex political affairs, peace and security undertakings;

•         Capable of working in an intense, high tempo operational environment under hardship conditions;

•         Advanced technical qualifications, including authoritative knowledge and wide exposure to the full range of air operations and air safety issues;

•         Recognized expertise in the field; demonstrated capacity for intellectual leadership and ability to integrate knowledge with broader strategic, policy and operational objectives and translate it into a results-oriented work programme;

•         Ability to comprehend and reconcile the diverse features of air operations;

•         Strong negotiating skills and ability to influence others to reach agreement on difficult issues, contracts and assistance agreements with aviation contractors, vendors, national government representatives, supporting partners and others;

•         Excellent knowledge of institutional mandates, policies and guidelines pertaining to air operations and related matters;

•         Proven record of building and managing teams and creating an enabling work environment, including the ability to effectively lead, supervise, mentor, develop and evaluate staff and design training/skills enhancement initiatives to ensure effective transfer of knowledge/skills;

•         Identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required;

•         Delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards

•         operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules;

•         Supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments;

•         Computer literate and well versed in the use of the Internet, Power Point, Excel and Word;

•         Ability to work in a multicultural setting;

•         Must be prepared to work in a hardship, pressurized and sometimes hazardous environment.

7.    AGE REQUIREMENT:

Candidates must preferably be between 35 to 50 years old.

8.    LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT:

Fluency in spoken and written English is required. Knowledge of other working languages of the African Union would be an added advantage (Arabic, French and Portuguese).

9.    GENDER MAINSTREAMING:

The AU Commission is an equal opportunity employer and qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.

10.  TENURE OF APPOINTMENT:

The appointment shall be for an initial period of one (1) year, the first three (3) months of which shall be on probation. It shall be renewable subject to performance and availability of funds.

11.  REMUNERATION: The salary attached to the position is an annual lump-sum of US$ 113,483.60 inclusive of all allowances for internationally recruited staff, and

US$ 101,878.35 inclusive of all allowances for locally recruited staff

Applications must be made through the AUC E-recruitment Website http://www.aucareers.org not later than12^th November 2012.

Directorate of Administration and Human Resource Management

African Union Commission

Addis Ababa (Ethiopia)