• Function title: Head of Communications, Navigation & Surveillance
• Reference: NOC-NM-2023-AD/642
• Location: Brussels – Information about living in Brussels
• Nature of competition: Internal and external competition
• Applicable regulations: Staff regulations governing officials of the EUROCONTROL Agency
• Type of post: Head of Unit or equivalent
• Job level: AD11-AD12 – Check salary simulations for the basic grade
• Generic job title: Head of Unit
• Number of posts: 1
• Duration of appointment: 5 Year(s) – extension or conversion of the contract is possible – see “Useful information” section
• Security clearance: Security vetting may be required in accordance with the relevant EUROCONTROL security policies
• Directorate/Service: NMD/INF/CNS – Integrated CNS Unit
• Working arrangement: Hybrid work (remote and onsite)
• Competition publication date: 15/06/2023
• Competition closing date: 13/07/2023 (23:59 Brussels time)
• Reserve list: Applicable – See details in the “Useful information” section

Your team

Within the Network Management Directorate, the “Integrated CNS” service covers all Agency research and development activities related to Navigation. This includes the Agency’s contribution to Communication, Navigation and Surveillance support to Deployment and Research projects.

Your role

Your role will be to:

• Maintain, evolve and implement the Integrated Communications, Navigation & Surveillance (CNS) strategy and objectives, manage the range of domains, resources (personnel, budget and technical) and ensure availability of competencies and business continuity.
• Develop, organise and deliver European CNS infrastructure projects, products and common services.
• Monitor the technical performance of the European CNS infrastructure, identify issues, propose remedial actions and provide awareness to relevant stakeholders.
• Provide input to European CNS infrastructure architecture, funding & financing, sustainability and optimisation.
• Manage and coordinate the allocation of pan-European scarce resources, such as Spectrum and radio frequency bands, etc.
• Define and deliver the CNS R&D contribution to research and innovation.
• Develop and maintain the plan for European CNS evolution and support the ATM Master Plan.
• Develop, provide and maintain relevant CNS technical specifications and guidance.
• Work in full cooperation with the SESAR Deployment Manager (SDM) and SESAR 3 Joint Undertaking (S3JU).
• Develop and maintain an effective strategic network and coordination with various stakeholders (e.g. EC, EASA, ICAO), and promote and represent the Unit to (internal/external) high level groups as required.
• Carry out any other task in line with the main purpose of the job.

Required qualifications, experience & competencies

• Completed university studies of 4 years in a relevant domain (e.g. ATM, Civil Aviation) or of 3 years plus 1 year relevant professional experience.
• Internal candidates should go to page check on the intranet to see what level of in-house experience is considered equivalent to educational qualifications where appropriate.
• A minimum of 15 years’ relevant professional experience including 10 years in management or strategic activities, acquired ideally in an international environment.
• Proficiency of the CNS domain.
• Experience in European CNS infrastructure projects.
• Stakeholder Management skills.
• Project / Programme Management skills.
• Managing People: You encourage development in support of business objectives.
• Strategic focus: You develop business/service strategy in line with the Agency’s strategy.
• Communication: You adapt your communication to different situations and audiences.
• Managing change: You know how to effectively manage the change process.
• Networking: You design networks with a view to developing strategic connections.
• Ability to work in a multinational and multicultural environment.
• Professional conduct in line with the corporate behaviours of the Agency, i.e. result-driven, readiness to change, customer focus, integrity and team-player approach.
• The working languages of the Agency are English and French. For this particular job, candidates must be proficient users of English at level C1. The selected candidate will have to acquire at least level A1 in French by the end of the probation period.
  The levels relate to the European-framework-reference Common European Framework of References for languages (CEFR).

Useful information

• Applications will be accepted from nationals of EUROCONTROL Member States only.
• The selected candidate will be offered a contract of 5 Year (s) pursuant to the provisions of the Staff Regulations governing officials at EUROCONTROL. The contract may be renewed up to a maximum of 9 years or converted into an undetermined contract. Before being established in the post, the selected candidate will be requested to provide certified copies of their degrees and successfully serve a probationary period of 9 months.
• Internal candidates
  • If selected, the person will keep their current type of appointment duration (undetermined or determined).
  • The internal staff member with a determined contract will be offered, in principle, an appointment for 5 Year(s) with a maximum total duration of 9 years.
  • This post entails management activities. Established staff members will therefore have to serve a confirmation period of 9 months. This period may be shortened to 6 months if the successful candidate is appointed following a competition preceded by a previous assignment to the post for which s/he was selected. The Director General may also decide not to make subject to this provision if that official has previously been assigned, for a period of 2 years or more, to a post similar to that for which he has been selected and which entailed the same level of management responsibilities.
• The successful candidate shall be appointed at the grade set out in this vacancy notice, or if a group of grades has been published for a job level, in principle at the basic grade of the published job level.
• In case of reserve list: Suitable candidates, however not selected to fill the post, will be placed on a reserve list for similar functions. The period of validity of reserve list is 1 year from the closing date of applications.
• Information on salary and benefits can be found on our Careers site
• EUROCONTROL is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to equality and diversity. In the event of equal merit, preference may be given to the applicant from the under-represented diversity characteristics in order to complement diversity of teams and rebalance the workforce.
• Candidates should go to our Careers site and read the tips on how to apply.