• Function title: Navigation Experts
• Reference: NOC-NM-2023-AD/620
• 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: Administrator
• Job level: AD6-AD9 – Check salary simulations for the basic grade
• Generic job title: Expert
• Number of posts: 2
• 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 – Infrastructure Division
• Working arrangement: Hybrid work (remote and onsite)
• Competition publication date: 04/05/2023
  Competition closing date: 01/06/2023 (23:59 Brussels time)
• Reserve list: Applicable – See details in the “Useful information” section

Your team

Within the Network Management Directorate, Infrastructure” manages the European infrastructure deployment projects and programmes, and aims at making the SES digital sky a reality. It develops, organises and provides European common services including network support services, aeronautical information services and the radio frequency function.

We are looking to fill two Navigation Expert positions, one General Navigation Expert and one Navigation Expert addressing airspace management issues.

Your role

The responsibilities hereunder reflect the generic duties of a Navigation Expert.

1. Support the implementation of Performance-Based Navigation (PBN) in accordance with the European PBN Implementing Rule by evaluating implementation status across the European network, identify trends and challenges and take measures to improve harmonisation in areas such as aeronautical publication, procedure design, flight planning, fleet equipage, navigation infrastructure or GNSS reversion planning.
2. Analyse PBN operations in a variety of operational contexts and propose improvements to PBN procedures to contribute to greater systemisation of airspace and reduction of flown track miles.
3. Contribute to the development of tools (e.g. specify functionalities, update databases, test new versions, etc.) to monitor the evolution and implementation status of both navigation capabilities at European airports and the aircraft fleet.
4. Collaborate with other EUROCONTROL units (CNS, Airspace Management, ATC Simulations, Aviation Sustainability Unit, Airports Unit, etc) and conduct common studies and stakeholder support activities.
5. Contribute to international working groups defining standards for navigation systems, operational concepts and future navigation applications and related topics such as PBAOM (Performance Based Aerodrome Operating Minima).
6. Write technical reports, working papers, international publications, guidance material and develop educational material using a variety of media.
7. Provide training on Performance Based Navigation to stakeholders.
8. Develop and maintain tools to facilitate PBN implementation, for example to contribute to the validation of new instrument flight procedures and evaluate their performance in terms of noise and fuel burn.

The navigation expert addressing airspace management issues will, besides being responsible for the duties explained in bullets 1-7, also carry out the following key tasks:

• Analyse airspace design in a variety of operational contexts (traffic density) and work with stakeholders on projects to facilitate the realization of operational benefits in terms of safety, capacity and efficiency (reduction of environmental impact).
• Contribute to the implementation of future (4D) Trajectory Based Operations.

Required qualifications, experience & competencies

• Completed university studies of 4 years in a relevant domain (e.g. Engineering, Aerospace, Geodesy, Data Science, Information Technology, Operations Research, etc.) or one of the following equivalent licenses:
  • Air Traffic Control (ATCO).
  • Commercial pilot license (CPL) (issued in n accordance with European Union or equivalent standards)
• 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 3 years’ relevant professional experience acquired in the aviation industry or aviation industry-related government roles.
• Generic technical competencies for all Navigation Experts:
  • Experience in at least one of the following areas and understanding of the others:
    • Navigation and flight management systems.
    • Navigation / aeronautical data.
    • Flight planning or aircraft / avionics performance and operations.
    • Navigation infrastructure (GNSS and terrestrial).
  • Experience in a technical or operational role related to navigation would be an advantage (airline operations, air navigation service provision, navigation data provider, avionics industry, etc).
  • Experience in data analysis.
  • Experience in software tool development would be considered an asset.
  • Understanding of Air Traffic Management (ATM) and Performance-Based Navigation (PBN).
  • Experience in project management would be an advantage.
  • Technical writing skills (English).
  • Presentation skills.
  • 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 be required to become at least a basic user of French at level A1 before the end of the probation period.
    The levels relate to the European-framework-reference Common European Framework of References for languages (CEFR).
• In addition to the above, applicants need to have the experience hereunder to take over the tasks related to airspace management:
  • Experience in at least one of the following areas:
    • Airspace Design / Planning
    • Air Traffic Operations
    • Air Traffic Control
• Applicable to all Navigation Experts:
  • Analytical thinking: You analyse information and are able to identify relationships.
  • Communication: You are able to foster two-way communication.
  • Influencing: You tailor your style and approach to influence others.
  • Creativity &Innovation: You apply new approaches.
  • Planning & Organising: You know how to plan ahead and adapt as required.
  • 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.

Useful information

• Applications will be accepted from nationals of EUROCONTROL Member States only.
• Duration of appointment: This is an appointment for a determined period of (s). It could be extended up to a maximum of 9 years or converted into an undetermined contract.
• 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 (s) with a maximum total duration of 9 years.
• 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. Before being established in the post, he/she will be requested to provide certified copies of his/her degrees and successfully serve a probationary period of 9 months.
• 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.