Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Aviation Safety Section (AvSS) in the Office of Supply Chain Management (OSCM) within the 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, Uniformed Capabilities Support Division, Global Service Centre, Aviation Safety Section and the Enabling and Outreach Service.

The incumbent will report to the Chief of the Aviation Safety Section or designated official.

Responsibilities

Within limits of delegated authority, the Aviation Safety Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

• Supports the further development, planning, programming, and implementation of the United Nations (UN) Aviation Safety Policy and all related programmes, processes, and procedures (e.g., the Aviation Safety Programme, Aviation Safety Mission Visits Programme, etc.).
• Develops and maintains various monitoring systems (e.g., for flight operations occurrence reports, monitoring of missions’ aviation safety assurance activities Emergency Response Plan etc.).
• Compiles and analyzes aviation safety related statistical data from diverse sources; presents findings, identifying adverse trends, lessons learned, etc.; ensures dissemination of results.
• Provides advice to senior management and clients on issues/problems pertaining to aviation safety.
• Makes recommendations on the improvement of aviation safety aspects of UN air operations with particular attention to vendors’ safety performance, site inspections, occurrences reporting, data collection and analysis, etc.
• Supports and disseminates ICAO Annexes, Standards and Recommended Practices; assesses these standards against UN flight standards and provides inputs and recommendations for review; supports external aviation safety programmes and assessments.
• Assists in the training of new Aviation Safety Officers.
• Contributes to the preparation of various written reports, guidelines, studies, briefings and other communications, and organizes and conducts Aviation Safety meetings.
• Monitors the integration of Aviation Risk Management into aviation safety assurance activities.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Knowledge of the technical field of aviation safety management, accident investigation and prevention, and of the use of ICAO International Civil Aviation Organization standards and recommended practices. Ability to identify issues, formulate opinions, and make 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.

• 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.

• 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.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in aviation, aeronautics related field, or an equivalent military aeronautics degree is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Job – Specific Qualification

Certified Commercial Pilot License with Instrument Rating or Maintenance and Engineering certification, or Air Traffic Control (ATC) certificate or Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) pilot certificate is desirable.

For military personnel, a military pilot license or equivalent based on a Commercial Pilot License with Instrument Rating, Maintenance and Engineering, Air Traffic Control/Service or UAS pilot certificate is desirable.

Formal Training in Safety Management System from a recognized training provider (IATA, Airline, Flight Safety International or equivalent) is required.

Formal Training in aviation accident investigation from a recognized training provider (IATA, Airline, Flight Safety International or equivalent) is desirable.

Work Experience

• A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in aviation safety with an airline, maintenance and engineering provider, military, governmental or inter-governmental organization, is required.

• At least three years of international experience in a civilian or military aviation organisation within a multicultural team is required.

• Experience in the development and implementation of safety management systems and aviation safety assurance is required.

• Experience in aircraft accident investigation 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. Extension of the appointment is subject to the extension of the mandate and/or the availability of funds.

• 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.

• 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, 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.

• 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.

• 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.