• Function title: Network Specialist
• Reference: NOC-NM-2023-FCO/673
• Location: Brussels (The selected candidate must reside either at this location or within a reasonable proximity that allows for the satisfactory execution of their duties). – 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: Operational Staff
• Job level: FCO5-FCO7 – Check salary simulations for the basic grade
• Generic job title: N1: (Operating) Specialist
• Number of posts: 3
• Duration of appointment: Undetermined
• Security clearance: EUROCONTROL, NATO or EU Secret
• Directorate/Service: NMD/NOM/NMOC – Network Management Operations Centre
• Competition publication date: 28/09/2023
• Competition closing date: 26/10/2023 (23:59 Brussels time)
• Reserve list: Applicable – See details in the “Useful information” section

Your team

Within the Network Management Directorate, the Network Manager Operations Centre (NMOC) optimises traffic flows by constantly balancing capacity supply and demand while ensuring the safe and efficient operation of flights going to and over Europe.

Roles within the operations are expected to change due to the next generation of network management operational systems introduced by the iNM Programme, the integrated network management programme. Applicants should be aware of this innovation and be able to demonstrate resilience and change orientation.

The Network Specialist ((Operating) Specialist) within NMOC is a key function which provides the flexibility to operate NM’s operational systems either in Flow Management, Flight Planning or in Airspace Data operations. This function operates the Airports function within Flow Management operations by providing assistance to Airports in optimising their use of available airport capacity taking into account the restrictions and limitations required by Airport authorities and Air Traffic Control.

Your role

Your role will be to :

• Maintain a good level of coordination with airport operations teams and negotiate the best possible Air Traffic Flow & Capacity Management (ATFCM) solutions including highlighting demand and capacity imbalances, negotiating improved capacity, and proposing flights for exclusion and early arrivals.
• Liaise with airports, discuss their daily planning and propose solutions to issues that arise due to ever changing circumstances.
• Provide proactively all reasonable assistance to Airports, Airline Operators (AOs) and Flow Management Positions (FMPs)to allow them to optimise their operations.
• Maintain the principles of Network optimisation and collaborative decision making during all relevant ATFCM processes.
• Disseminate relevant information received form Airport Operations centres to appropriate working positions in the Network Manager Operations Centre (NMOC).
• Provide systematic and comprehensive reporting as required.
• Participate in strategic and post operations evaluation activities as required.
• Assist in the creation and dissemination of the NM Initial Network Plan (INP).
• Assist in the preparation and participate in NMOC tele/web-conferences and meetings.
• Carry out any other tasks in line with the main purpose of the job.

Required qualifications, experience & competencies

• Relevant studies or professional training to carry out the advertised tasks.
• Minimum 5 years’ recent experience in airport operations (Airport Operations Centre (APOC), Airport Collaborative Decision Making (A-CDM), etc.).
• Experience with NM systems (CHMI, NOP Portal).
• Experience in airport operations and procedures.
• Experience with various systems used for airport slots (Online Coordination System (OCS) and Slots.aero).
• Understanding of airport slots and the way they are issued versus ATFM slots in accordance with declared capacities.
• Understanding of AO requirements and scheduling abilities.
• Understanding of meteorological effects on airports.
• Understanding of relevant NM procedures and processes.
• Knowledge of NM applications and tools (e.g. MIRROR).
• Experience in the use of standard office application.
• Communication: You are able to foster two-way communication.
• Result focus: You seek to improve personal performance.
• Analytical thinking: You analyse information and identify relationships.
• Team work: You foster team work.
• Influencing: You tailor your style and approach to influence others.
• 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 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).

Useful information

• Applications will be accepted from nationals of EUROCONTROL Member States only.
• This is an appointment for an undetermined period.
• Before being established in the post:
  • External candidates must provide certified documentation of their completed studies or relevant professional training.
  • Officials in the NMD Operational Staff Service may only be established at the end of a period of training of at least nine months. If the period of training is shorter, it must be supplemented by a probationary period equal to the difference between nine months and that period. When the training has not been completed after 9 months, establishment shall be postponed accordingly until the official has finally completed his/her training.
  • This role requires the attainment and retention of a double validations amongst the following operational domains: Flow Management, Flight Planning and Airspace Data.
  • Acquiring this double validation is mandatory to conclude the training phase.
• 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.